Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
British Galleries, Room 125b

Ice Plate

1840-1860 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Object Type
This ice plate was one of many types of dish designed to suit a particular food. Extensive glass table services became increasingly popular towards the end of the 19th century, especially with the introduction of machine-pressed glass. This example, however, is decorated by hand with wheel-cut ornament.

Materials & Making
This piece is made of lead glass. In the 17th century a higher proportion of lead oxide was introduced into glass during manufacture to offset the problems of 'crizzling' (a fine network of tiny internal fissures within the body of the glass). The resultant lead glass was clear and brilliant, and especially suited to cut decoration. Cut patterns are created using rotating disks of various materials and sizes, with a stream of water and an abrasive. First the pattern is painted on the surface and intitially rough-cut. It is then refined with a copper or sandstone wheel, and finally the finished object is polished. Steam-powered wheels were introduced in the early 19th century.

People
John Davenport (1765-1848) founded his own company in Longport, Staffordshire, in about 1797 to make earthenware, hybrid hard-paste porcelain and bone china; on his death his son William took over and continued trading until 1887. John Davenport expanded into glassmaking in 1801 and the company became well known for high-quality plain, cut and engraved tablewares.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Wheel-cut glass
Brief description
Ice plate, England (Longport), probably made by Davenport's, 1820-1850, C.165-1985 .
Dimensions
  • Height: 2.5cm
  • Diameter: 18.4cm
  • Base diameter: 9.5cm
Dimensions checked: Measured; 07/07/1999 by Terry Diameter of base is 9.5 cms
Style
Gallery label
  • Bequeathed by a descendant of Cyrus Hill, an employee at Davenport's glass works in the mid-19th century.
  • British Galleries: A contemporary writer noted that 'Ice has of late years become very cheap and easily obtained, so that it is constantly used in the kitchen....to prepare ices of cream and water with various flavourings.' Ices, served from shaped moulds on to glass plates, were a popular part of the dessert course.(27/03/2003)
Credit line
Bequeathed by Mrs J. Wright
Object history
Probably manufactured by the firm of Davenport, Longport, Staffordshire

Cyrus Hill, the grandfather of Mrs Wright the donor, worked at the Davenport glass works
Summary
Object Type
This ice plate was one of many types of dish designed to suit a particular food. Extensive glass table services became increasingly popular towards the end of the 19th century, especially with the introduction of machine-pressed glass. This example, however, is decorated by hand with wheel-cut ornament.

Materials & Making
This piece is made of lead glass. In the 17th century a higher proportion of lead oxide was introduced into glass during manufacture to offset the problems of 'crizzling' (a fine network of tiny internal fissures within the body of the glass). The resultant lead glass was clear and brilliant, and especially suited to cut decoration. Cut patterns are created using rotating disks of various materials and sizes, with a stream of water and an abrasive. First the pattern is painted on the surface and intitially rough-cut. It is then refined with a copper or sandstone wheel, and finally the finished object is polished. Steam-powered wheels were introduced in the early 19th century.

People
John Davenport (1765-1848) founded his own company in Longport, Staffordshire, in about 1797 to make earthenware, hybrid hard-paste porcelain and bone china; on his death his son William took over and continued trading until 1887. John Davenport expanded into glassmaking in 1801 and the company became well known for high-quality plain, cut and engraved tablewares.
Other number
1067 - Glass gallery number
Collection
Accession number
C.165-1985

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Record createdDecember 13, 1997
Record URL
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