Featured 6 silver teacups went cheaply.

There is another year typo at the E mark that I didn't mark. This is from the Egyptian government site.

[Edit for search terms: Egyptian hallmarks date letters, Arabic]

 

I'm sure they were making some beautiful silver in 1292. Not sure they marked it in Latin script though.
But I am glad the Egyptians publish their marks, so many countries don't. Some don't even bother to mark or set up a reliable (government controlled) marking system.

 

I believe it was the British, ever serious about their silver, that set up the Egyptian assay system.

 

The current assay system was initiated in 1906, while Egypt was a Khedivate.
The Khedivate was formally under Ottoman rule, but the Egyptian Muhammad Ali dynasty Khedives were very powerful and semi-independent. The Egyptian Khedivate was highly organized, much like a military state.
The 1906 precious metal assaying and marking system came into use in 1916, when Egypt had been a British protectorate for just 2 years. But it was an Egyptian system, initiated by Egyptians before the country became a British protectorate

Before 1906 there were already very good Ottoman and Ottoman/Khedivate marks. Just like in many other parts of North Africa and the Middles East. Those were just as good as the current ones, just more difficult to read for us simpletons.

 

I found out yesterday why my cups were so much cheaper than expected.
They were listed as tea cups but turned out to be turkish coffee cups. Quite tiny, the saucers are only 3 inches across and the cup about 2 inches.
I am not sorry I bought them, despite the tiny size I am still ahead on the silver value and they are really well made and in good condition, and are now on display at home as they passed the partner approval test although she said "You should have seen your face when you saw how small they are"

The trip to collect them was enhanced with a visit to a 15th C church with many 16th C. figural tombs and a decent lunch, all on a sunny day so it was a trip not a chore.

If they had been listed as coffee cups I would have missed them as my search was for tea cups, so not a bad thing really.

 

Time to start drinking Turkish (Egyptian, etc.) coffee. Or just regard them as very beautiful espresso cups. The height of fashion.

 

I never drink tea or coffee, so any practical use is academic. I just like having nice things around.

 

I only drink herbal tea, no honey, sugar, milk, but I have some very nice silver coffee spoons. I also have an antique Dresden coffee set and some other beauties I never use, just look at.

 

I have some fancy tea cups and demi-tasse around. My tea gets brewed in a mug in the nuker of course, and I drink coffee in at least a 12-ounce mug. Still have the cups however.

 

If necessary, I can lunch with elsewhere with a mug...but in the morning, my coffee is cradled by a thin, rose-trimmed Limoges cup and saucer, and stirred with a silver, initialled, coffee spoon. Tastes MUCH better that way!

 

Since we're adding morning caffeine rituals. I have coffee with a lot of milk (in hot months iced, often with a lot of ice cream) in a massive mug. When I do add sugar, I stir with a beat up, silver plated spoon that has Ollie from Kukla, Fran &... on the end. It actually looks more like a sugar shell, but can't imagine they made one for kids.

 

Tea. Leaf. Fresh boiling water and a proper tea pot - it's actually an early 1960s Old Hall stainless steel one, still the best I've ever had. Steeped for some minutes, milk first in a huge mug, builder's tea poured on.

Coffee later is cafetiere or ibrik, if I can get the proper grind. Otherwise Java/Sumatra black as black can be grind. Proper crema and a smidgeon of milk.

 

I only put milk in coffee if I didn't brew it myself.