Loving Cup "Romantic Scene"

Around 1900

Two or three handled ceramic cups were once the “in” thing to use at celebrations. These odd-looking drinking cups, known as loving cups, showed up around the 15th Century throughout Europe. Ceremonial cups were popular at big celebrations such as weddings, feasts, and university sporting events. The sharing of punch or wine from a loving cup ensured good health to all who drank from it.

This three-handled porcelain cup shows the stages of love. Everyone loves a good love story, even in the 17th Century. One scene celebrates new love as a young suitor shares a drink with his beloved maiden.  Time passes and the couple reaches the next stage of their love. He plays his lute and sings to his beloved. As they reach the final stage, mature love, he reads to his beloved. The loving cup is made from a mould with added Neoclassical handles in a fish motif. The raised relief design gives a 3-dimensional feeling to the romantic scenes. Made by German Villeroy and Boch, their functional and ornamental pottery was exported around the world.

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