1http://collection.shangrilahawaii.org/internal/media/dispatcher/18286/fullPorcelain Coffee Cup and Enamelled Gold Coffee Cup Holder (Zarf)19th centuryEnameled gold, porcelainZarf were used for functional purposes - they both provided a "handle" for the usually handle-less porcelain coffee cups, and protected the fingers from being burned by the hot ceramic - as well as aesthetic reasons. They are often elaborately decorated with enamels, precious stones, and/or fine metals. Zarf often survive without their "matching" coffee cups, as the cups were more fragile. Here however we have the full "set".Metalworkhttp://collection.shangrilahawaii.org/objects/3859/rdf