The humble egg cup—that cute little soft boiled-egg holding device-- is perhaps not the most frequently used piece of dishware, but it is one of the oldest! Examples of it were found at the Knossos archaeological site in Crete, and dated as early as 1700 BC. Silver versions were also found in the ruins of Pompeii.
The Dark Ages were apparently also dark for the humble egg cup, until it sprung into popularity again in the Elizabethan age (perhaps Shakespeare used one?). The holder was also favored by King Louis XV of France, who was known to show off his “egg beheading” skills to guests. A bit ironic, considering the guillotine legacy of his grandson…
Read on in The Runcible Spoon