Did you know that the famous champagne coupe, that round, elegant glassware, has its origins in a tribute to two emblematic female figures in French history? And yes, this iconic shape is said to have been directly inspired by a royal or aristocratic breast...
At the end of the 18th century, in 1787 to be precise, after acquiring the Château de Rambouillet, Louis XVI commissioned the construction of a dairy where dairy products could be enjoyed in containers known as "bol-sein" or "jatte téton". Designed by sculptor Louis-Simon Boizot and engraver Jean-Jacques Lagrenée le Jeune, these porcelain bowls imitate the softness and curves of the skin. Their design is inspired by ancient Greco-Roman models, symbols of fertility and abundance. Although Marie-Antoinette never personally ordered these pieces, rumors quickly spread that the champagne glass was molded on her breast. This powerful image, reinforced by the incessant criticism levelled at the Queen of France, largely fuelled the myth that persists to this day.
But that's not the only legend. Some also attribute the birth of this shape to the Marquise de Pompadour, Louis XV's favorite mistress. According to this version, it was her left breast that served as the model for the cup. However, there is no historical evidence to support this hypothesis, which seems more the result of satire aimed at denouncing the favorite's frivolity, while casting a shadow over the discredited Marie-Antoinette.
Behind the bubbles, the champagne glass tells a surprisingly sensual story, combining power and royal legends.
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