Mustache cups: a response to a Victorian gentleman’s drinking dilemma
McGuffey Moments I
f there is one thing that distinguished the Victorians, it was their ability to blend form, function and design. Everyday household items such as boot jacks, stoves, and chamber pots incorporated aesthetics into practical design. No matter how mundane or ordinary, almost any object could become a decorative household accessory. Such is the case with the mustache cup. Reputedly invented by British potter Harvey Adams ca. 1830, the mustache cup was a practical solution to an annoying problem – how to keep mustache wax from melting into a cup of tea or coffee. Adams figured a bridge formed below the inside lip of the cup would allow the hot liquid to pass through without touching the mustache. The cleverly designed cup accommodated a man’s waxed mustache concerns without upsetting proper Victorians. Attractive surface designs included hand painted seasonal scenes, flora and fauna, animals and roses, a Victorian standard. McGuffey Museum has two mustache cups in its collection. One mustache cup and saucer made by Limoges & Co. features a beetle on the inside bottom
McGuffey Museum 401 E. Spring St. | Oxford, OH 45056 (513) 529-8380 Stephen C. Gordon, Administrator McGuffeyMuseum@MiamiOH.edu MiamiOH.edu/McGuffeyMuseum Hours: Thursday-Saturday, 1-5 p.m.
By Museum Administrator, Stephen C. Gordon
of the cup while the back of the saucer features the cursive greeting, “Merry Christmas, from Lou 1884.” So what about the beetle on the inside bottom of the cup? It so happened in the late 19th century, insects were commonly associated with certain traits, such as industry (bee) and pleasure (butterfly). According to one tea-leaf authority, having a beetle at the bottom a teacup indicates the user is lingering too long in making a decision. Another McGuffey collection mustache cup and saucer were made ca. 1882-1924 by the Rockford Silver Plate Company. Plated silver became widely popular during the mid-19th century and it allowed silversmiths to add intricate designs to the surfaces. The Rockford cup carries the personalized message, “Dr. Bradley, From Charley” flanked by a floral arrangement. Although arcane today, mustache cups reflect genderinfluenced design from the Victorian era, a time when table manners and dining were reflections of good breeding and proper decorum. For today’s clean-shaven modern males, the mustache holder might serve as a convenient place to set a tea bag after steeping.
Above: Mustache cup from the McGuffey collection. Left: the parlor at the McGuffey Museum set with three of the many vintage pieces in the collection. Photos by Dane McGregor