Can you guess what this is?
Ok, it says it at the top of the patent if you look closely...yup, it's a spoon with a moustache guard. Check it out...
Moustache spoon circa 1904 used in Edwardian England. by John Round & Son Ltd. via
This spoon is a typical example of a piece of Victorian specialist cutlery that was developed for one purpose only: to protect a gentleman's moustache while eating soup!
Many Victorian gentlemen followed the fashion for large moustaches which often could be disfigured by food. This special spoon was made with a guard on one side of the spoon's bowl to protect the moustache when eating.
Some of these types of spoons had detachable guards for general use, as the one shown in the patent above. These spoons were also made in right and left-handed varieties.
But there weren't only spoons...
Of course, where there are moustache spoons there are also moustache cups! These cups--like the spoons--either had a built-in moustache guard that was permanently attached to the cup, while some others had a metal clip-on moustache guard that could travel with the owner and be attached when needed.
These cups can still be found in antique shops and offer us a great glimpse into Victorian and Edwardian life; especially the maintenance and upkeep required for a gentleman to keep his moustache looking good!
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