Wedgwood
English, founded 1759Cup and Saucer , n.d.
Not on view
Porcelain
Dimensions2 3/16 × 4 1/8 in. (5.6 × 10.5 cm)
Gift of Mr. Harold L. Frank, 1982.447
Because Europeans prepared their tea at a hotter temperature than other regions of the world, the tea bowl needed to be reimagined. By the mid-19th century a handled cup and saucer became the preferred drinking vessel in Europe. The handle prevented fingers from being burnt but it still took a long time for tea to cool in the cup. To speed up the process the saucer was developed. The earliest designs had a distinctive raised lip, so tea could be poured into them to be cooled and sipped. With time, the saucer flattened out and became more like a platform for the teacup.
