Viandox kopperne
What is Viandox?
Viandox is a French liquid seasoning sauce with a strong salty flavor—a kind of broth with a hint of soy sauce. It is used to add extra depth to soups, sauces, rice, and vegetables.
The product was originally developed in the early 1900s and remains a popular item in France. Just a few drops are enough to add more flavor to your food.
Viandox was invented by Justus von Liebig (the man behind the bouillon cube). The name is a combination of "viande " (meat) and "ox " (cow).
Viandox cups
Viandox cups are small porcelain cups that were produced as advertising and promotional items. The cups were typically used to drink a very hot broth made with Viandox and celery salt. They were particularly popular during and after the war, when food was rationed and in short supply.
The cups were also practical because they could be reused over and over again—something that was important when resources were scarce and people wanted to avoid waste.
The different Viandox cups
Viandox cups come in a variety of colors and styles. We’re often asked why some cups are more expensive than others, so here’s a brief overview of the different cups.
The classic white Viandox, featuring a red logo and brown base, was originallydesigned to withstand the rigors of French bistros and serves as the successor to the yellow version. The porcelain is thick, allowing it to retain heat , and the base is shaped to make the cups easy to stack.
This model dates from around the 1960s and represents an attempt to introduce a more modern cup, as the typography clearly demonstrates.
There are newer Viandox cups that closely resemble standard coffee mugs. They have not been included in this review, as we do not carry them.
The yellow Viandox isa real pop art favorite—and also the cup we sell the most of, because it fits perfectly into Danish interior design. It was introduced in the 1950s and has a chunky look, but is also stackable.
They may vary slightly in shade of yellow, depending on the manufacturer, and some cups have a stamp while others do not. Those without a stamp were produced for French bistros as part of a promotional campaign.
The sister model to the yellow one is the blue Viandox, which also dates from the 1950s, when pastel colors were very popular. The yellow and blue models were designed to complement each other, and a set consisting of one yellow and one blue is highly sought after by collectors today.
The yellow version of this model is hard to find. The reason is that yellow was Viandox’s signature color in the 1950s and matched their labels. The blue version was produced as a limited edition, and many were discarded because the blue color quickly began to look dirty. Today, they are more likely to end up in private collections than on the market.
The Terre de Fer Viandox cup dates from the 1920s–1940s, a period characterized by its distinctive color and typeface. The "original" bistro cup.
They are heavier but also more fragile than the porcelain produced today. That is why many of the cups have cracks in the glaze and some discoloration.
They come in various sizes, and the oldest ones have a handle, which can be seen on the bottom cup in the photo on the left. A smaller hole and more intricate details—and more fragile.
The Viandox cup, featuring the cleanreddish-brown logo in various designs, is—along with the La Santé cup —one of the first models of Viandox cups.
This model was released shortly before the La Santé cup, which focused more on branding than on providing information. The cup dates from the late 1920s to the early 1930s and features an Art Deco design. Like the blue-and-white cup, it is made of terre de fer and is more fragile than the models from the 1950s onward.
The La Santé cup is the first model produced between 1900 and 1920; the text "La Santé par Viandox" serves as a statement that Viandox promotes better health. The red stripe along the rim is painted on, and the cup is made of thinner faience.
Both models are hard to find because they are such sought-after collector's items. This is, of course, reflected in the price.
The last Viandox cup is the garland model. Few of these were produced, and it is designed in a classic Victorian style featuring a garland of leaves and flowering vines. The text is followed by an exclamation mark (!) to highlight the novelty of Viandox. This model dates from the late 1800s.
You can find our selection of Viandox cups here.
We’ll keep adding cups as we find them and bring them back to Denmark.
Viandox cups today
The Viandox mug is popular because it’s authentic. It wasn’t designed to be trendy, but to be used. They’re both beautiful and steeped in history—and are sought after all over the world. The pastel-colored cups, in particular, fit perfectly into a Scandinavian interior design scheme because they add a touch of flair to a minimalist kitchen.
Outside Denmark and France, these cups have become symbols of the French way of life. In countries such as Japan and the United States, large communities of collectors have emerged, where the Viandox cup is seen as the ultimate proof of an appreciation for European history and craftsmanship.
Many collectors don’t use them for drinking at all, but display them as little splashes of color on shelves or use them as planters for small cacti and succulents.
We hope this has given you some insight into the different Viandox cups and why they vary in design and price.
