To ensure that the support force which is dependent on the pressure of a support fluid is essentially the same also in the edge area of an article (9), especially sheets of (flat) glass, which is to be held or transported, as the support force in the middle area of the surface of the article (9), the device (1) as claimed in the invention on at least one support wall (3 or 5) provides for feed openings (21) to which drain openings (23) are directly assigned.