Food service: Custard cup with lid, belonging to P. T. Barnum
Pot de creme
1810 – 1845 (Date manufactured/created)
Decorative Arts
2 in W
, 2.529 in Diameter
Measurement Notes: For lid
2.5 in W , 2.529 in Diameter Measurement Notes: For cup
2.5 in W , 2.529 in Diameter Measurement Notes: For cup
Custard cup (also called a "pot-de-creme" cup) and lid made of white porcelain and decorated with bands of gold. The cup is one of eleven in a set that likely had twelve originally. The custard cups were used in conjunction with two serving platters especially designed for them, six to a platter.
These items are part of a large dinner service owned by P. T. Barnum, and were acquired by him at an estate auction in Paris about 1846. Darte Freres (Darte Brothers) of Paris produced the custom-decorated dinner service, possibly in the first or second decade of the 1800s, and not later than 1845. Darte Freres designed and made porcelain items of extraordinary beauty and quality, pieces that only the wealthiest patrons and royalty could afford to commission or purchase.
The crest on the cup was adopted by P.T. Barnum when he purchased items in Paris, France, in 1845 at a sale of the man's belongings following his death. In his autobiography, Barnum explains that items with the crest were priced solely on the value of the silver and gold they contained, since the crest was not a desirable feature to wealthy buyers who had their own family crests. Other items such as a large set of dinnerware featuring the crest on each piece seemed of little interest to buyers, but caught his attention in part because the prince's initials were "P" and "T". Thus he only needed to add a "B" to make them his. Barnum never stated the name of the late Russian prince.
Examination of the Russian Empire Roll of Arms, published in 1797 shows that the crest belonged to the Тюфякин family, which can be rendered in the Roman alphabet as Tioufiakin or Tyufyakin, who held the noble rank of "prince" - the highest rank one could have without being a member of the royal family. The last member of the family to hold use the crest was Пётр Иванович, Peter Ivanovich (1769-1845), who spent the last two decades of his life living in Paris opposite the opera house. Prior to that,Tyufyakin was noted for helping to reinvigorate the Imperial Theatres in Russia, making them profitable, and even inviting Western actors to perform in Moscow. He died in February of 1845 with no heirs. In Paris, he was noted for giving grand balls, where doubtlessly the fine china that Barnum purchased was used. It is worth noting that the eagle and the solider in the crest are switched in earlier versions of the family crest. It is unclear when the version painted on the china came into use. It is also unclear how Barnum's three initials were applied to the china, since they are perfectly centered, and that would not be the case if he was adding the "B" to "P T". Barnum continued to use the items he acquired throughout his life, as portions of the sets can be seen in photographs of the dining room in his last home, Marina, which was built in 1888-1889.
The custard cup is the size of a demitasse and has a "teacup handle" and a footed base. In addition to six gold rings of varying widths that encircle the upper portion and base, the cup prominently features the Russian crest, which is directly opposite the side with the handle. The lid features a pointed gold knob for lifting. Three bands of gold decorate the rim and base of the knob. Barnum's initials, PTB, are on one side of the lid.
These kinds of cups became popular in the 1700s, and were called by a variety of names including custard cups, jelly cups, and ice cups, as well as the French term, "pots a jus." In the 1800s their use became more specific, intended for dessert service. Popular deserts at the time included ice cream, custards, and pots de creme, for which these special cups were designed.
Barnum continued to use the items he acquired throughout his life, as portions of the sets can be seen in photographs of the dining room in his last home, Marina, which was built in 1888-1889.
These items are part of a large dinner service owned by P. T. Barnum, and were acquired by him at an estate auction in Paris about 1846. Darte Freres (Darte Brothers) of Paris produced the custom-decorated dinner service, possibly in the first or second decade of the 1800s, and not later than 1845. Darte Freres designed and made porcelain items of extraordinary beauty and quality, pieces that only the wealthiest patrons and royalty could afford to commission or purchase.
The crest on the cup was adopted by P.T. Barnum when he purchased items in Paris, France, in 1845 at a sale of the man's belongings following his death. In his autobiography, Barnum explains that items with the crest were priced solely on the value of the silver and gold they contained, since the crest was not a desirable feature to wealthy buyers who had their own family crests. Other items such as a large set of dinnerware featuring the crest on each piece seemed of little interest to buyers, but caught his attention in part because the prince's initials were "P" and "T". Thus he only needed to add a "B" to make them his. Barnum never stated the name of the late Russian prince.
Examination of the Russian Empire Roll of Arms, published in 1797 shows that the crest belonged to the Тюфякин family, which can be rendered in the Roman alphabet as Tioufiakin or Tyufyakin, who held the noble rank of "prince" - the highest rank one could have without being a member of the royal family. The last member of the family to hold use the crest was Пётр Иванович, Peter Ivanovich (1769-1845), who spent the last two decades of his life living in Paris opposite the opera house. Prior to that,Tyufyakin was noted for helping to reinvigorate the Imperial Theatres in Russia, making them profitable, and even inviting Western actors to perform in Moscow. He died in February of 1845 with no heirs. In Paris, he was noted for giving grand balls, where doubtlessly the fine china that Barnum purchased was used. It is worth noting that the eagle and the solider in the crest are switched in earlier versions of the family crest. It is unclear when the version painted on the china came into use. It is also unclear how Barnum's three initials were applied to the china, since they are perfectly centered, and that would not be the case if he was adding the "B" to "P T". Barnum continued to use the items he acquired throughout his life, as portions of the sets can be seen in photographs of the dining room in his last home, Marina, which was built in 1888-1889.
The custard cup is the size of a demitasse and has a "teacup handle" and a footed base. In addition to six gold rings of varying widths that encircle the upper portion and base, the cup prominently features the Russian crest, which is directly opposite the side with the handle. The lid features a pointed gold knob for lifting. Three bands of gold decorate the rim and base of the knob. Barnum's initials, PTB, are on one side of the lid.
These kinds of cups became popular in the 1700s, and were called by a variety of names including custard cups, jelly cups, and ice cups, as well as the French term, "pots a jus." In the 1800s their use became more specific, intended for dessert service. Popular deserts at the time included ice cream, custards, and pots de creme, for which these special cups were designed.
Barnum continued to use the items he acquired throughout his life, as portions of the sets can be seen in photographs of the dining room in his last home, Marina, which was built in 1888-1889.
2007.002.042.025 AB