Antique 19th C Greek Key Floral English Porcelain Mustache Tea Cup Saucer Mug

Description: WE MAY COMBINE SHIPPING FOR MULTIPLE ITEM PURCHASES This antique 19th century mustache tea cup and saucer set features a very rare hand painted green and gold Greek key pattern and floral decoration. Made of high-quality porcelain, this unique and decorative set is sure to impress any tea party guest and is a must-have for any collector. Cup measures 3 7/8” H x 4 3/4” W x 3 3/4” D. Saucer measures 6 3/8” in diameter by 1” in height. Total weight 11.5 oz. Offered in excellent antique condition, except a hairline, as shown at pictures. Beards and mustaches have been distinct characteristics of the male figure throughout history. The oldest known portrait showing a shaved man with a mustache is a Scythian horseman from the Gillette Dynasty, ca. 300 BC. It wasn’t until the Victorian era that the extensive regiment of the mustache wearer necessitated the need for a protective guard. Mustache cups, cups sporting a semi-circular ledge over the rim, were invented to protect the extraordinarily magnificent mustaches of the 19th century from the effects of steam resulting from hot drinks and soups. When attending social functions and afternoon teas, two problems arose. Steam from the hot beverages melted the mustache wax and sent it dribbling down the chin, often streaked with dye, right into the cup along with the by then drooping mustache. The other dilemma was that strong coffees and teas often stained and discolored the bottoms of many mustaches. It wasn’t until 1830 that an English potter named Harvey Adams (maker’s mark ‘HA & Co.’) introduced the first mustache cup. The cup had a ledge called a “mustache guard” that stretched across the inside of the cup from rim to rim. The guard had one semicircular opening against the rim of the cup to allow the user’s mustache to rest safely on the mustache guard. The invention of the mustache cup spread over Europe until most potters featured a product with a similar design. Between the years 1850 – 1900, famous manufacturers such as Meissen, Royal Crown Derby, Imari, Royal Bayreuth, Limoges and others created their own versions of this masculine tableware. During the early years of production, mustache cups and saucers were sold as individual items, often ordered by women as gifts for their fathers, brothers, or husbands. During the 1890s, mustache cups reached their peak of greatness. Soon after, masculine mustaches were no longer in vogue and mustache cup production trickled to a halt.

Price: 245 USD

Location: Short Hills, New Jersey

End Time: 2024-11-21T02:40:03.000Z

Shipping Cost: N/A USD