“Legend has it that they’re shaped from Marie Antoinette’s breasts.”
If the internet could talk, I think it would have said, in a Borat voice, “sexy time” as I read the Wine Spectator forums this morning. An interesting question posed by a WS forum member asked about the Champagne glasses pictured to the left that were often seen in old movies. (Image taken from: http://www.crystalandcandleshop.com) The first reply of course was: “Legend has it that they’re shaped from Marie Antoinette’s breasts.” (See thread)
Well as usual, legend is correct. Marie Antoinette, former Queen of France well known for her extravagant lifestyle and famous “Let them eat cake” statement, was infatuated with her body and her perfect figure. She felt her breast would make an ideal Champagne glass and had them shaped into a mold and made into what became known as the “saucer cup”.
“There is even an “original mold” preserved at a museum of France, which is the basis of all coupe glasses.” – WineIntro.com
And why wouldn’t there be! Unfortunately for Queen Antoinette, the shape of the glass was not ideal for keeping the Champagne’s bubbles in the glass over the course of time in which the Champagne was being enjoyed. Therefore, a more practical design, that of today’s Champagne flute, was put in place and the rest in history.
For more on this fun story see this article on WineIntro.com.
[...] a food and wine blog – Baltimore, MD, USA â?? wrote a fantastic post today on “â??Legend has it that theyâ??re shaped from Marie Antoinetteâ??s breasts.â??”Here’s ONLY a quick extract If the internet could talk, I think it would have said, in a Borat voice, “sexy time” as I read the Wine Spectator forums this morning. An interesting question posed by a WS forum member asked about the Champagne glasses pictured to the left that were often seen in old [...]
Darn, I would have preferred a more buxom queen….
Hi Gretchen!
That would have made the original saucers quite interesting!
[...] know, last week it was Mary Antoinette’s breasts, now this week a post about Cleavage. But I assure you oenophiles that this is once again related [...]