Circa 1800’s Set of 5 Antique Victorian-Era Custard Cups

The items are a set of clear, footed glass cups with handles, commonly identified as Victorian-era custard cups. They are also sometimes referred to as small punch cups, jelly glasses, or sweetmeat glasses. 

They are typically hand-blown or pressed clear glass from the 19th century (circa 1800s). The subtle grey hue sometimes found in the glass is characteristic of that period's manufacturing processes.

Each cup features a bowl shape, a short pedestal foot, and an applied handle. The sides of the cups appear to have delicate, engraved, or etched patterns, often a popular fern motif common during the Victorian era. Traditionally, these small glasses were used for serving individual portions of desserts like custards, jellies, or syllabubs, as well as sweetmeats or punch.

Unfortunately 4 out of the 5 cups have crack damage at the handles (please see picture), however no chips visible on any of the cups. This happened most probably due to someone mistaking them for coffee cups.

Height: 7.5 cm, Diameter of base: 6 cm, Diameter of rim: 6 cm