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Azarf (plural: zarfs, zarves;Turkish:zarflar;Arabic:zuruuf) is acup holder, usually of ornamented metal, for a coffee cup without a handle[1] (demitasse orfincan).[2]
Althoughcoffee was probably discovered inEthiopia, it was inTurkey around the 13th century that it became popular as a beverage. As with theserving of tea inChina andJapan, the serving ofcoffee in Turkey was a complex,ritualized process. It was served in small cups without handles (known asfincan, pronounced /finˈd͡ʒan/), which were placed in holders known aszarf (from theArabic:ظرف,romanized: ẓarf; pluralظُرُوفẓurūf, meaning "container" or "envelope") to protect the cup and also the fingers of the drinker from the hot liquid.
Cups were typically made ofporcelain, but also of glass and wood. However, because the holder was more visible, it was typically more heavily ornamented.
When coffee began to be served in cardboard cups in the late 20th century, the zarf became disposable as well. Thecorrugatedcoffee cup sleeve was invented in 1991.[3]
The zarf was often made from metal, withsilver,gold,copper, andbrass being the most common materials used. Others were also made of woods such ascoconut,ebony or other hardwoods, or ofivory,bone,horn, ortortoiseshell. Today,zarf can be the name of a cardboardcoffee cup sleeve.
Metal zarfs were sometimesfiligreed, decorated withchasing,niello,engraving, or set with precious stones.
Sets of zarfs, decorated withenamel and gems, were popular across the Islamic world. During the 19th century, Enamel workshops inGeneva produced large quantities of zarf sets for this market. These were decorated with brightly coloured enamel and motifs that included musical instruments or military trophies.[4]
Wooden zarfs, of which very few remain, were favored because of the natural aroma of the wood from which they were fashioned. They were very fragile.
Tortoiseshell, horn and ivory zarfs required special skill to make. In the first two cases, sheets of the material in question were softened in hot water and then clamped in amold to create the required shape. Ivory was carved in the same way as wood; however, its greater value meant that more care was needed to avoid mistakes.
His mother, said Ian Sapot, didn't like losing. And she never did—not in her family. Not with words such as: Zarf: A metal thing used to hold hot cups of coffee. It's worth 16 points.
The dictionary definition ofzarf at Wiktionary