Mustache Cup and Saucer c. 1953

Dana Bartlett made this watercolor rendering of a mustache cup and saucer sometime in the first half of the 20th century. Objects like these, designed for men to enjoy tea or coffee without wetting their mustaches, point to a very particular set of social and cultural conditions. What was the role of grooming and presentation in early twentieth-century life, especially for men? The image creates meaning through visual codes, cultural references, and historical associations. The cup is painted with a sprig of raspberries, giving it a delicate feel that contrasts with its intended use. Note the special lip inside the cup to keep the mustache dry. The original object dimensions indicate that this was not an everyday tea cup but a larger vessel perhaps reserved for special occasions. For historians of art, the social meaning of an object like this lies in its purpose and the wider habits and expectations of its time. Only through sustained attention to such details can we begin to grasp the meanings and uses that everyday things can have in people’s lives.