ABSTRACT
The name for small coffee-cup holders used in the Middle East. Zarfs were made in sets with one 'master' cup-holder and six or more uniform smaller ones. The shape resembles that of a short-stemmed egg-cup forming the holder for a porcelain liner for drinking Turkish coffee, holding about 100 ml (3½ fl. oz.) of liquid. When used for ceremonial occasions zarfs were indicators of the owners' wealth, and were therefore among the highly decorated objets de luxe made of precious metals and often enamelled and lavishly studded with diamonds or brilliants.
