Spirit cups after chinese meal

[moworm]

Hi

This is a long shot, but am posting here in the hope that someone might know.

I recently had a Chinese meal in France and after the meal I was served some sort of spirit or liquor in a very amusing cup.

a) I would like to know what the spirit might have been

and more importantly:

B) I would like to try and get hold of some of the cups for a present for someone.

It was like a ceramic cup (similar to a Saki cup), but in the bottom of the cup there was a glass lens. When the cup was full, there was a naked lady that could be seen in the bottom of the cup, but as the cup was empited the image became distorted and was unviewable when empty....... very clever.

They did have chinese style designs on the outside of the cup.

I wished I had asked about them in the restaurant, but my French is not very good.

Can anyone please help.

M

[Koneko]

Could it be 月光杯?

K.

[moworm]

Hi Koneko

I have put your text into an online translator and it comes up with "Moonlight cup". Is that correct.

I have tried googling for "Moonlight cup" and can find nothing like the cup at the restaurant.

[Koneko]

Yes, 月光杯 is Moonlight Cup.

According to ancient legend, the cup could glow under the moonlight.

Anyway, I found the cup you're looking for!

It's known as Anamorphic Cup!

See here for more information.

K.

[moworm]

Thanks for looking Koneko.

Unfortunately, when I search for this all I can find is a cup like:

http://www.lazyboneuk.com/store/pro681.html

Which is nothing like the cup in the restaurant.

There was a definate clear lens in the bottom, through which the naked lady could be seen when the glass was full of clear liquid, but when the glass was empty the light was difracted by the lens and the image could no longer be seen.

Sorry if I sound ungrateful for your help, that is not my intention.

Thanks

M

[Koneko]

No problem, I was just intrigued by its ability to distort images.

Let's try again...

K.

[芳芳]

And for girls, they have the same glasses but you can see naked men. I love the kitscheness of those glasses.

I really don't know the name of this kind of glass but you can find them in shops selling articles for asian restaurants (dishes, cups, bamboo baskets...), if you're still in France it's easy to find in paris, 13th arrondissement.

As for the liqueur, sometimes it is rice alcohol flavored with rose.

[moworm]

Thanks for the reply.

Yes it was kitscheness that I really liked.

Am back in the UK now, was hoping I might be able to find some on-line, but not managed it.... any ideas?

[studentyoung]

Could it be 月光杯?

No. It is called 陶瓷透影杯 or 陶瓷显影杯in Chinese. But I don’t know how to say it in English.

Thanks