Slurping Saucers?
So, the little plate beneath the cup, what’s it for?
The saucer was originally designed to carry a spoon or condiment in the Middle Ages and was quantified then as anything small and bowl shaped to support a cup.
Very useful for holding a wet spoon that may be used again when adding in sweeteners or milk, or for catching drips and spills when carrying a drink from here to there.
When the Victorians got their hands on the design, it evolved to fancy china to support a tea cup perfectly situated in a depression and quickly became associated with high etiquette of tea serving ceremonies.
The teacup and saucer should really be carried with two hands, it rattles as you walk and can be a bothersome undertaking for people who are used to slurping from a mug.
Wait though, there is some evidence that suggests the saucer was used for such slurping activities, pictures by William Sidney Mount (1838) and Konstantin Makovsky (1914) depicted paintings of people with little plates full of tea or coffee allowing it to cool before slurping!
There is also some talk of feeding cats and dogs off unwanted dregs, we aren’t keen on this theory for a few reasons, one; hygiene being a prominent factor and two, do you really want to caffeinate your pets?
So does a saucer have a place in a busy modern world where we carry our beverages in one hand, certainly do not slurp of plates in public and the animal menagerie can stick to good old fashioned water?
If in doubt for a totally unorthodox use for a cup and saucer remove the cup and turn the plate upside down, place it on top of the cup and it will continue to keep your beverage warm and can be carried one handed!
We do recommend a good plate slurping session though, just to say you tried it for ‘historical accuracy.’