Cup, (untitled),

ca. 1745

While the cup known as a trembleuse would today appear ideal for a latte macchiato, in the eighteenth century it was used for drinking costly cocoa, which was heavily sweetened and served boiled in water. In patrician European circles, the colonial product was considered particularly salubrious and was also valued for its aphrodisiac properties. The wreath around the saucer with its filigree openwork provided a better grip on the cup, especially important when drinking hot beverages in bed. The trembleuse was thus by no means created only for jittery or clumsy hands. Scattered carnation, rose, and pansy blooms depicted in their natural colors adorn both the handleless cup and the saucer. Insects were made an integral part of the ornament, ranging from ladybugs and butterflies all the way down to humble moths and even mosquitoes. Depicted with shadows, they have a highly graphic appearance, imitating reality in an almost frightening way. The hallmark of the Meissen porcelain manufactory is crossed swords, derived from the coat of arms of the margraves of Meissen. (Sabine Flaschberger)