Posted 7 years ago
elanski
(97 items)
A penny lick was a small glass for serving ice cream, used in Victorian times by Street vendors selling ice cream. Each ice cream cost a penny, hence the name. Customers would lick the ice cream from the glass then return it to the vendor who would use it again. The glass was usually made with a thick glass base and a shallow bowl so the seller could pile ice cream on top to make it look like you were getting a lot when in fact the glass was very shallow and there was not much below the surface. (see pictures 3 & 4)
The penny lick was banned in London in 1899 due to concerns about hygiene, as during busy periods the glass was often not washed between customers. Soon afterwards ice cream cones became popular and replaced the penny lick.
Neat item. Is it yummy?
Great narration . Never heard of the practice.
Interesting early merchandizing.
This is so cool!! I never knew what a Penny Lick was until a couple of years ago and my sister found a couple of these in an antique shop and they were sold as shot glasses. I've kept my eye open for one ever since and have yet to come by one. Nice find and nice story.
I have sold a few of these days learnt about them on UK TV programme Bargain Hunt.
Normally Penny Licks don't survive because they were made from poor quality glass. Its the Italians who brought Ice Cream to the UK. Their children would run thru the streets shouting "Uno Poco" basically buy a small one. In a penny lick it would be small. In New Zealand there is a flavour called Hokey Pokey and I loved it, its the evolution of the words Uno Poco that this flavour came about. In Wales UK, more Swansea we have divided camps on Ice Cream tastes. the traditional folk like me who loves Joes (Italian family from the 1800s,} and the more trendy Verdies. There are others but I wont mention them. Nice to see a Penny Lick!