Ice cream cup
(1745-1760)

• MENNECY PORCELAIN FACTORY, Mennecy (manufacturer)

Ice cream had been made in Europe since the seventeenth century, but this sweet dessert became highly fashionable during the eighteenth century. A wide variety of flavours were available, including chocolate, pistachio, pineapple, orange-flower water, jasmine and even artichoke. These were made either as liqueurs glacées, a type of granita, or neiges, a sweeter version of our modern-day ice cream. It was often served in little cups with handles that would have been presented together on a tazza on the dessert table. Ice cream was also moulded in pewter moulds to create fantastic shapes such as lobsters, pineapples, roses and even candlesticks, before being served. These novelty shapes only added to the dramatic and performative nature of the dessert table.