Language /
"Cup of coffee" translated in Poland as Kubek kawy. Why not a mug? [70]
However, before it started with porcelain it produced faience - wasn't that more affordable?
This was the case with England too. The 'potteries' existed long before the porcelain production and as with Poland it was produced in a part of the country where the local clay was abundant and most suitable. Poland, like England had its pottery guilds and master craftsmen in those early days. As to affordable, as Jon says, the masses pretty much all over Europe in those days were more likely to use wooden vessels than ceramic. But by the mid-Victorian period the English potteries were doing huge business partly due to the coming of the railways which allowed them to transport their wares all over the country in large amounts. I would imagine (more speculation!) that in your region of Poland and the places nearby, the pottery you refer to would have been seen in more prosperous homes, not rich but comfortably off farmers, small business men etc. but I don't think it's likely that it would have been found in most homes in Poland.
On the other hand in the UK there was a pottery in Staffordshire which was producing items which were particularly associated with the working classes and bottom rung of the middle classes, in particular the famous Staffordshire 'dog's which stood either side of the mantel shelf over the fireplace in thousands of humble homes around the country. They also produced satiricial figures which lampooned various political characters of the time or tribute pieces to national heroes. These wares were exclusively aimed at the lower orders of society. They would never have been found in upper class homes.
growing rich burgesses
Oh Paulina, you'd try the patience of a saint. That's the very point I made originally. Class of those days works this way;
Royalty - everybody genuflect please.
Aristocracy, nobility, landed gentry - that's the upper class
Industrialists, big business owners, bankers etc - upper middle class
Professionals such as lawyers, doctors - middle class
White collar workers, bank clerk, teacher, skilled craftsmen such as stonemasons, master cabinet makers - lower middle class
Manual worker of any kind - working class
(In Poland though, you had that particular category of nobility who were noble but often without land or money). The upper and upper middle classes were the market for fine porcelain objects thoughout the the 18th century but in Poland, it remained that way as you missed out on the rapid industrialisation improved and social reforms which lead to increased prosperity among the lower ranks of the UK. This didn't happen in Poland so the spread of the use of china tea sets for everyday use in humble homes never took off in the way it did in Britain (or indeed Ireland which despite the image of poor peasants had quite a large and prosperous middle class).
drinking tea from a glass with a holder (that was what you wrote about) which is, apparently, a specifically Russian custom.
Yes, but apparently from what I've read, when entertaining guests, Russians favour a china tea set and tea pot!
Anyway, the bottom line is that before the advent of the mug in recent years, the tea set was in common everday use in British and Irish households. When I was a kid, we had several tea sets. Many households had a 'breakfast set' complete with cereal bowls, egg cups etc and an afternoon set for teatime. There was always at least one 'good' set in addition used for special occasions or visiting dignitaries! The everyday stuff was generally made by an English factory called Queens or sometimes Duchess and was pretty but sturdier than the 'good' stuff which was almost transparent and very delicate.
