Richard Culbert's Moustache Cup

Behold the marvelous moustache of Richard Culbert (1853-1932) the youngest son of John Culbert and Mary Ward, who lived at Poplar Farm on the Coursey Line (Lot 19, Concession 2) near Lucan, Ontario, Canada...

Hipster moustaches of today aren't anything new. Facial hair flourished during the second half of the Victorian era. That's why you see so many photos taken during that time of men with beards and moustaches. 

To maintain a moustache of this grandeur, various accoutrements were required. Richard Culbert would have used a moustache brush and/or moustache comb, and moustache wax to keep the hairs in place.

The downside of moustache wax is that it melted when it came into contact with a hot beverage. To remedy this problem, the moustache cup was invented by a British potter named Harvey Adams, around 1860.

Richard Culbert's porcelain moustache cup.

At first glance, the moustache cup looks like a regular tea cup. However, when you look more closely at the photo below, you'll see a ledge (the "moustache guard") attached to the inner rim of the cup. A small opening in that ridge allows a gentleman to drink his tea without wetting or damaging his moustache.

Porcelain "moustache guard" on the inner rim of Richard Culbert's moustache cup.

Richard Culbert's moustache cup is now in the possession of his great-grandson, Phillip Myron "Phil" Culbert of Vernon, British Columbia.

Phis says that this cup (along with a saucer which is now lost) had pride of place in the china cabinet of Phil's grandparents, Myron Manford Culbert and Effie Pearl Taylor of Lucan, Ontario. Myron was the son of Richard Culbert. 

Phil says, "since Myron Culbert never had a moustache, it is assumed that it belonged to his father, Richard Culbert as that is what my father, Ivan Culbert told me. I was given this cup after Grandpa (Myron Culbert) died in November, 1961." 

On the photo below, you can see the initials of the manufacturer, C.T. and the official emblem. C.T. stands for Carl Tielsch, a German merchant who founded a porcelain factory in 1845 in Altwasser. The company was known for its high quality products and artistic value. You can also see the number 187 on the bottom of the cup. We assume this means #187 in a limited series. 

If anyone knows anything more about the provenance of this cup, please contact me (Mary Jane) at this email address...

And if anyone else would like to submit a photo of an heirloom that's been passed down to them, please contact me at that same address.

Jane (Fairhall) Culbert & Richard Culbert at Poplar Farm on the Coursey Line near Lucan, Ontario.