Italian Air Force Espresso Set

Officers' Mess Espresso

This two-piece porcelain espresso set was made for the Aeronautica Militare, the Italian Air Force, and used in its officers' clubs and dining halls. The cup carries the service's crowned eagle emblem in blue, and both pieces are trimmed with a navy band. It works as a daily espresso cup, and it is also a real piece of Italian military mess tableware for collectors of aviation and service memorabilia.

Features

• Two-Piece Set — You get one espresso cup and its matching saucer.
• Porcelain Construction — Both pieces are glazed white porcelain, the standard material for European café and mess service.
• Aeronautica Militare Emblem — The front of the cup is printed with the Italian Air Force insignia: a spread-winged eagle beneath a crown.
• Navy Band Trim — A thin navy line runs below the rim of the cup and around the well of the saucer.
• Espresso-Sized Cup — The cup measures 2 1/2 inches (6.4 cm) across and 1 3/4 inches (4.4 cm) tall, sized for a single or double shot.
• Matching Saucer — The saucer is 4 3/8 inches (11.1 cm) in diameter and 3/4 inch (1.9 cm) tall.
• Made By Tognana — Manufactured in Italy by Tognana Porcellane, a commercial porcelain maker that supplied the military.
• Officers' Club Issue — Produced for espresso service to officers in Air Force clubs and dining halls.

Issue Specification

This is original Italian military issue tableware, ordered for the Air Force's officer messes. It follows the plain institutional pattern of the period: heavy white porcelain, a single navy band and the service crest, with a thick ring handle and rounded body meant for daily use in a busy dining hall. Collectors of Italian aviation items, reenactors setting up a mess display and anyone who wants a cup with real service history will find it a good fit.