For generations, we have taken teacups for granted. They were a happy part of family life. But today, due to our egalitarian culture, the teacup is coming under some pressure. While formal dining sets are still widely available, many dishware sets, and not just the cheaper ones, feature only mugs. This is a disturbing trend, as mugs were made for rugged settings; they were not intended for social occasions.
Let us compare the specimens in this picture. The mug has a larger capacity, a heavier build and look than the teacup.
The former’s base has the same diameter as its top giving it a cylindrical look, not unlike a section of 3″ water pipe with a bottom and a handle. The teacup is smaller at the base and opens up at the top at an angle that reminds us vaguely of a blossoming tulip.
The mug sits directly on the table, setting an informal tone. The teacup, on the other hand, is raised slightly above the table by its saucer, which lends a touch of distinction and elegance to the table setting.
Of course, the saucer’s role is clearly secondary when compared to that of the teacup, from which we drink our tea. Its role is one of service. It prevents the used teaspoon from soiling the tablecloth. Yet while practical, this teacup-saucer combination is dignified, harmonious and pleasing to the eye. The saucer, though essentially inferior to the teacup, participates in the dignity of the combination of the two. Should we doubt this, all we have to do is look at the teacup and saucer on their own.
A curious thing: If we were to multiply the number of mugs and teacups on the table, the differences between the two would be magnified, not diminished. Moreover, we would note that the various mugs seem to have a merely quantitative relationship with each other. They lack something to form a proper set. The teacups, on the other hand, would tend to form a set; the relationship between them would be one of quality, not just one of quantity.
The mug in this picture draws one to a rougher, more proletarian mindset, while the porcelain teacup and saucer invite one to something better and higher: the world of manners and social graces.
