Topic: Cut Glass Custard Cups

[petet63]

I have these two cups that were in a boxed lot. Are these known as Custard Cups ? They are very Fragile and I think they are Glass not Crystal as they have no ring at all. Any clues as to age ? They have a pattern 'cut ?' into them, is this hand cut or moulded ? The edges of the pattern are sharp enough to be hand cut which must have been difficult and risky on glass this thin. 6.5cm in height and lip diameter and the pair only weigh 128g. The bottom is quite smooth but in certain light I can see a twisted petal shape as if it has been rotated. I cant get it in a photo.

[Paul S.]

Am assuming Pete that you're saying these came loose in a box lot of various things?

They aren't of a shape that immediately says 'custard cup', but they may well be.       Since their beginnings in the early C19, custard cups traditionally had a rudimentary stem of sorts and separate foot, usually, (or sometimes just the foot) - but they are known without, when they look more like a simple handled cup.       I did wonder if these might have been punch cups, but often those had a more barrel shape to the body.
Silber & Fleming show plenty of custard cups, but all have the very short stem leading into the foot, so I'm inclined to think that if these are for custard then they'd certainly be first half C20 examples.
The decoration is cut, but a very meagre sort of cutting, and yes, you're correct, they are glass   -  but without any lead content - so very utility orientated, and therefore no ring.
At the sort of height that you describe, I really can't think what other use they might have  -  perhaps someone else might have other thoughts.
 

[petet63]

Thanks Paul. I did see the stemmed and footed custards. I can see no real use for these as any spoon ladle or even mouth put anywhere near them would shatter the glass. I have a problem that means I cant throw glass away, the Jobling rolling pin being one example  , if it is undamaged (and some damaged) !!!. Will consign them to the 'no idea what to do with box'