A closer look

First-world problems in the 1850s required highly specific ceramic engineering. Victorian men meticulously styled their massive mustaches using heavy wax to keep them stiff and curled. The tragedy occurred when they tried to drink hot tea, which would melt the wax and send a droopy, wet mess into their mouths. To solve this crisis, a British potter invented the 'mustache cup,' which featured a small ceramic ledge inside the rim to protect the facial hair from the perilous steam.