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Two White, Breast-Shaped, Porcelain 'Nipple' Latex Collection Cups
Two white porcelain latex collecting cups approximately 11cm diameter, one etched with the initials HAPM.
This form of marking - etching and dyeing is quite an old technique.
They have the unusual feature of a protrusion on the bottom, often called a nipple, for which the purpose is generally supposed to be associated with an earlier method of hanging these on the tree. However, legend has it that the nipple was added to prevent the tappers taking the cups home to use as tea cups! Similar cups have also been found in varying sizes in glass.
To read a summary of an article entitled “A Collection of Old Latex Cups”, click here.
To view the Patent sketch and description of "Latham’s Spout and Cup Holder", suitable for this cup, click here.
To read more about the history of Rubber Plantations and Tappers, click here.
To read more about actual Rubber Tapping and Production, click here.