A WHALE of a TALE

Hi, I'm Norm Bergeron, the Designer and Commissioner of this glass product which is called a "CUP-PLATE ".  The final Art Work was done by my brother John D. Bergeron who is pictured below.  We both were born and raised in New Bedford and share a love for the sea and it's related history.

What is a Cup Plate?

A cup-plate is a 3 1/2" to 4 1/4" diameter glass plate made in lead crystal or lime glass.  They are hand pressed from hand carved molds and were the vogue between 1826 and 1860 when fashion decreed handleless tea cups.  Hot tea was poured into the saucers to cool, after which the cup was placed on a dainty small cup-plate preventing damage to the polished table tops, or soiling of one's best linens.

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