This is an adorable faïence rooster glazed earthenware egg cup and 7 fluid ounce mug that were handmade by the well known Zell am Harmersbach Pottery in Zell, Germany. Both pieces are beautifully hand painted in vibrant colors, the black roosters are painted on a light yellow ground with light green grass, the rims are painted in a dark green with a scalloped edge. In Germany the most famous “Chicken Eggcup” is hand-painted, from the series "Rooster and Chicken" by the Zeller Ceramics Factory.

The egg cup makes it easy to eat a soft boiled egg, using 'soldiers' to dip the yolk. (Soldiers are strips of toast). Egg cups began to make an appearance in the mid to late 1700s, they are a trend that lasts to this day.

In excellent condition, there are no chips, cracks or repairs. There is minor glaze crazing that is consistent with age and use. Please view all photos to appreciate the beauty, quality and condition of the piece, my photos are part of the description.

Overall Dimensions:
Mug: 3 1/4" H x 4" W (including the handle) x 2 15/16" D, Holds 7 Fluid Ounces
Egg Cup: 2 1/4" H x 2" in Diameter

EGG CUP INFORMATION: Egg Cups are small dishes used to serve soft boiled eggs in. You put the large end of an unpeeled soft boiled egg in the cup, and then cut its tip off, either using an egg cutter or (more commonly) with a sharp blow or two from a knife to crack the shell, then cutting across to cut the top off completely. There were numerous variations on the standard cup format. Double-ended cups with one cup larger than the other were intended to hold a hen's egg in the smaller end and a duck or goose egg in the larger.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO SOFT BOIL AN EGG? ~ The short answer is that it takes six minutes to soft boil an egg with fully set white and a liquid yolk, or 3-5 minutes if you prefer softer, slightly unset whites near the yolk. The long answer is that the time for soft boiled eggs also depends on the size of your egg and the technique used to boil the egg.

ZELL HISTORY: The origins of the factory in Zell can be traced back to October 22nd 1794, when Josef Anton Burger established an earthenware factory in that location. His products were an instant success and in 1802, the businessman Jakob Ferdinand Lenz from Lahr joined Burger as partner. "Zeller Keramik is famous for best quality and craftsmanship of pottery for more than 200 years. Zeller Keramik always attaches great value to real craftsmanship and combines state of the art production and manual work. The moulds are cast by hand and the world-famous patterns “Rooster and Hen”, “Favorite” or “Alt Straßburg” are painted by hand."

My items are from a "Smoke and Pet Free" environment.

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A bit about vintage...a vintage item is at least 20 years old. Sometimes items can be found that have been stored for years and have remained somewhat pristine; others have been gently used and may bear the signs of this but this patina of age can add to the item's charm. All items are described as accurately as I possibly can, any major flaws and defects will be noted in my photos which are provided to illustrate each item. Items may appear larger than they are, make sure you carefully review the dimensions listed in the product description. Colors may vary slightly from lighting or from the color on your screen due to monitor color restrictions.

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