A cup for the moustached, 19th century

The history of the moustache is inevitably intertwined with the history of men's fashion. In many cultures and historical periods, the moustached was a sign of masculinity, courage, physical strength, social status, or property ownership. The moustache was a stylistic element of male appearance, and was also associated with wisdom, experience, and the religious sphere. However, the moustache did not always reflect a higher social status. In many cases, a long beard and moustache have been associated with poverty, neglect, and poor hygiene. This cup reflects trends in male fashion from the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, when having a moustache required many grooming treatments. A proper moustache had to be firm and stiff, well-groomed, neither too long nor too short. For grooming purposes, men carried a special comb inside their coat pocket.