source: www.imperial-group.cz; the kala spa cup.
Several mineral wells exist throughout the Czech countryside. Artifacts such as Celtic coins prove that ancient people used the thermal springs since the first century C.E. Locals in Teplice, the second-largest spa town in the country, tell of how the healing properties of the spring were discovered. In 762, a farmer noticed that his pig’s broken leg fully recovered after it rolled around in the mud from the spring. From then on, locals soaked in the water to cure their ailments.
The spa scene in Czechia boomed in the 19th century. Universities in Prague gave courses on balneology, the study of therapeutic bathing, and medicinal springs. Influential people from around Europe (Beethoven, Peter the Great, Franz Joseph I. to name a few) traveled to the springs.
source: wikipedia; spa cup from 18th century.
Spa cups first appeared in the early half of the 17th century. Throughout the spa towns, local drinking fountains offered guests a taste of the spring water and its healing benefits. In the beginning, spa cups were simple mugs made out of stoneware, and later porcelain. However, since guests took the mugs of water onto the promenade, accidents would occur. The local businesses developed a new spa cup. They attached a straw to the mug, a long spout emerging from the base of the mug.
source: ncsml.org; flat spa cup from 1947.
After 1900, flat spa cups became popular. The elegant and compact design made the cups easier to carry and could fit comfortably into a pocket. Later, designers created more luxurious spa cups, making them art objects instead of everyday use. For example, Štěpán Kuklík designed the Kala Cup for the Karlovy Vary spa (pictured at the beginning of the post). The cup gets its name from the calla flower. Like the plant, the straw emerges from the inside of the cup, and twirly golden designs resemble the flower stems. Over the past century, several other artists created their own version of the spa cup.
Written by Josie Nunn
Sources:
Bradová, Michala. “Po Stopách Lázeňského Pohárku.” CZECHDESIGN, 20 Nov. 2015, www.czechdesign.cz/temata-a-rubriky/po-stopach-lazenskeho-poharku.
“Lázeňský Pohárek - Typicky Česká Záležitost.” Radio Prague International, 7 Apr. 2021, cesky.radio.cz/lazensky-poharek-typicky-ceska-zalezitost-8596501.
“Spa History.” Spa History | Great Spa Towns of Europe, www.greatspatownsofeurope.eu/discover-experience/karlovy-vary/spa-history. Accessed 19 May 2023.
“Teplice – Boasting Historic Spas That Drew the Likes of Beethoven.” Radio Prague International, 13 Aug. 2021, english.radio.cz/best-spas-czech-republic-8721557/7.
“The Gem of Karlovy Vary - Spa Cup Kala.” Spa Cup Kala - Společnost IMPERIAL KARLOVY VARY, www.imperial-group.cz/en/about-the-company/spa-cup-kala. Accessed 19 May 2023.