Monday, November 21, 2011

Mustache Cups ~

I'd heard of them ~ mustache cups ~ but never actually seen one until I bought this one a couple weeks ago during my first visit to Jeffrey's Antique Gallery in Findlay, Ohio, which is the largest antique mall in Northwest Ohio. Their website can be found HERE. Mustache cups are one of those interesting items that, at one time, were very common, so when I saw this one, I couldn't pass it up. They have a semi-circular ledge inside the cup that served to keep men's mustache's dry while sipping tea or coffee.




A little history: mustaches became very popular during the American Civil War and Victorian era. Men would melt a little bit of wax in a pan, and using a special comb, carefully apply the wax to their mustache. It was quite a problem for men prior to the invention of the cups, as the wax would soften, and sometimes melt and drip into the coffee or tea, and fair-haired men's mustaches would become stained. We're talking about some serious, heavy-duty mustaches in those days. Just one example:

John Haskell-King, Civil War Photo

The mustache cup was invented by an English potter named Harvey Adams in 1830. My cup has no manufacturer's mark on the bottom, so I have no way of knowing its' age.  It has a lovely design, though, of purple and pale yellow flowers.



For more history and information on mustache cups, click HERE.
Until next time, thanks for visiting!
Cindy

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22 comments:

  1. Antiques And TeacupsNovember 21, 2011 at 7:50 PM

    So glad you did a neat post on moustache cups. I love them! And that's a great fun thing to collect...such a window on another era! I had a grandfather with one (a Brit wouldn't you know!) who called it his soup strainer! LOL!

    Thanks for linking too! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
    Ruth

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  2. Patti November 21, 2011 at 8:07 PM

    Believe it or not, though I've been into teacups for years, I had never even heard of a moustache cup until about 2 years ago. I ran across one in an antique shop, so I asked the owner about it. Truly, one is never too old to learn!

    Yours is lovely.

    Have a great week, and a happy Thanksgiving.

    Love,
    Patti

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  3. Sandi@ Rose Chintz CottageNovember 21, 2011 at 8:15 PM

    What a great find, Cindy! I have yet to find one myself. Yours is very pretty. Thanks for sharing it with us and have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family this week.

    Blessings,
    Sandi

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  4. PeggyNovember 21, 2011 at 8:24 PM

    Hi Cindy, I have awarded you a Liebster award - please see today's post on my blog @
    http://repeartreedesign.blogspot.com/2011/11/virtual-hugs-aka-blog-awards.html
    I enjoy your blog very much!
    Peggy

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  5. UnknownNovember 21, 2011 at 8:50 PM

    I have often wanted to include a mustache cup into my collection of pretties but I have kept that at bay for now b/c once I start I am sure I will have a hard time stopping and where oh where would I put them! HA! I find it humorous to think of that man drinking tea from that dainty flowered cup! Fantastic history, I loved reading this and shared it with my daughter!!

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  6. AnonymousNovember 21, 2011 at 9:07 PM

    Fun, Cindy! I have one I recently picked up - white with gold grape clusters across the top. It is large - perhaps better suited to coffee - and actually matches the commemorative plate that was made for our city's 150th anniversary this year. Though, they are totally unrelated. But, they do look nice displayed together on the shelf.

    Joy!
    Kathy

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  7. CharlotteNovember 21, 2011 at 10:00 PM

    What a great history lesson...I never knew such a cup existed. Thank you for all this wonderful information. My husband has a mustache, so I know how handy a cup like that could be:)

    Pretty and unique cup!

    Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
    Charlotte

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  8. Ruth...Time Was AntiquesNovember 21, 2011 at 10:11 PM

    I love the photo! What a dude! A great post about such an interesting item! Thanks for your visit and Happy Thanksgiving.
    Cheers!
    R

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  9. Grandma Barb's This and ThatNovember 21, 2011 at 11:59 PM

    Cindy, I have heard of mustache cups but have never seen one. Yours is so pretty. Thanks for the history lesson.
    Barb

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  10. Ellen WhyteNovember 22, 2011 at 3:56 AM

    Now this is interesting! I have never seen one of these cups although I've heard of them Fascinating. And eeeew yuk on the mustache thing. So dirty-looking.

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  11. Johanna GehrleinNovember 22, 2011 at 5:12 AM

    Hi Cindy,
    The mustache cup is a real treasure. Nice idea to keep the mustache clean. LOL
    Best greetings, Johanna

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  12. CindyNovember 22, 2011 at 6:44 AM

    I have seen a mustache cup before but don't own one. I love that you provided us with the history. I didn't know that about the tea staining the mustaches or changing it colour. Happy Thanksgiving

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  13. UnknownNovember 22, 2011 at 7:18 AM

    How very interesting. Thanks for providing me with my "You learn something new everyday" moment!!!

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  14. Confessions of a Plate AddictNovember 22, 2011 at 7:23 AM

    How fun...and pretty! Thanks so much for your congratulations!Happy Thanksgiving!...hugs...Debbie

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  15. KarenNovember 22, 2011 at 2:22 PM

    An interesting post Cindy, and a pretty little cup! Hard to imagine a big burly moustached guy sipping tea out of such a delicate vessel.

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  16. Tea & Chocolate GuyNovember 23, 2011 at 9:32 AM

    Cindy .. your cup is so nice ... that is great history!! Thanks for sharing it with us. Wishing you a blessed week and wonderful Thanksgiving...xo HHL

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  17. ZaaNovember 23, 2011 at 9:46 AM

    Ha Ha .. What a fabulous find and what an original post... I love it .. And such a sweet cup for a man to possess... Bright Blessings

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  18. Liz @ the Brambleberry CottageNovember 23, 2011 at 9:39 PM

    I've owned a few moustache cups in my time. And I've always been quite amused at the fact that the cups - which were meant for moustache-bearing men - were always so delicate and feminine looking. ;)

    Thanks for joining Time Travel Thursday this week, Cindy.

    I hope you have a blessed Thanksgiving!
    Liz @ The Brambleberry Cottage
    http://thebrambleberrycottage.blogspot.com/

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  19. Ivy and ElephantsNovember 24, 2011 at 7:49 AM

    Cindy,
    Now you have gone and done it. That's all I need is another obsession, I mean collection. I love it! Happy Thanksgiving my dear!

    Paula

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  20. suziqu's thread worksNovember 25, 2011 at 2:52 PM

    Hi Cindy thank you for coming to my blog via Cindy! I so loved your fascinating story about the mostache cups - I love fine china and especially pink depression glass, I had never heard of or seen these cups before.
    Wishing you a very happy Thanksgiving.
    Hugs from downunder,
    Suzy

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  21. Alissa@CraftyEndeavorNovember 26, 2011 at 8:56 PM

    That's awesome! I've never heard of such a thing! I want a mustache cup.

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  22. AnonymousDecember 16, 2011 at 10:04 AM

    Very interesting! I never heard of those cups before, but thoroughly enjoyed reading and seeing it. I also love the little artwork inside the teacup! Sandi

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