Collecting Egg Cups

With Easter on the horizon my thoughts turned naturally to eggs, but the collecting of birds’ eggs (oology) although once a popular hobby has been illegal since 1954.

However, if you happen to have an unlimited budget you could always consider the fabulously desirable and valuable Fabergé eggs. The most expensive of these was the 1913 Winter Egg, now said to be worth almost £2 million.  

For those of us with slimmer pockets, there is however nothing to stop us collecting egg cups, the term for which is pocillovy, deriving from the Latin pocillum for small cup, and ovi for eggs.

Whereas in the UK an egg cup is a common item to be found in our kitchens; not surprising given our liking for boiled eggs, on my travels abroad I have noticed that they are few and far between.

Egg cups are a popular collectable item, with even a dedicated newsletter ‘Eggcup Collectors’ Corner’, in addition to conventions held for collectors.

They can be made of a wide variety of substances such as porcelain, pottery, wood, plastic, glass, metal or even a combination of materials.

Unsurprisingly egg cups have been around almost as long as eggs, with evidence that their use dates back as far as pre-historic times; an early silver egg cup from 74BC was found in the ruins at Pompeii.

For collectors they can prove to be an inexpensive hobby; it is easy to pick up cheap and cheerful ones in charity shops and car boot sales, whilst for more serious collectors auction houses and antique dealers can be the source of rare and valuable finds. It all depends on your budget.  

Collecting egg cups is a fairly recent pursuit so finding many that pre-date the 20^th century can be something of a challenge.

The design of egg cups covers a wide range, from the common single egg cup to double egg cups, those that can hold up to five eggs and ones that also serve as holders for your soldiers and salt...

Because of the large variety of egg cups available you may want to specialise in a particular style or design, decorated with flowers for example, or those that have a brand name or advert on them.

My personal favourite is one made for me in a pottery class at school .... not quite a collector’s item but treasured nonetheless.