Of
course the cups had no handles as do our teacups of to-day. The
Chinese cups were in reality small bowls without either saucer or
handle. Therefore the Delft teacups copied from them were made in the
same way. The Chinese did not drink their tea very hot, you see, and
therefore could take hold of the cup without burning their fingers;
moreover, they used in their houses tables of teak-wood to which hot
cups did no injury. Since, however, teak-wood was unknown in England
and oak was in general use the English found that the hot cups marred
their tables and later they invented saucers to go under
them. Nevertheless it was a long time before it dawned on potters that
they could make handles for their cups. One of the ear-marks of tea
sets of early manufacture is these handleless cups. With this advent
of dishes, of Delft plaques to be hung on the wall in place of
pictures, and of Delft tiles, many of the common people for the first
time awakened to the discovery that the interiors of their houses
might be made attractive, and something more than mere shelters from
cold and storm. They began buying vases and crude pottery ornaments,
images of flower-girls, fishermen, and of the saints.
Pages:
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68