Several characteristics of this sugar bowl—the distinctive floral decoration, molded panels, and pear shape—position it within an important group of early Pittsburgh glass that has been traditionally attributed to the Bakewell factory, a Pittsburgh firm known for high-quality flint glass that competed with English and French imports. As an alternative to French-style glass, Bakewell made objects like this sugar bowl with floral engraved decoration (here, a daisy and three-leaf pattern) combined with hand-pressed bases as more affordable complements to its line of luxurious presentation glass.