Cups & Saucers

Cups and saucers make wonderful collectibles for any tea lover. They are easily found at antique stores, flea markets, estate sales and online. There is a large price range (budget to exorbitant) and a variety of styles and colors, which means something for everyone. There is nothing lovelier than a grouping of pretty cups on display in a china cabinet, or set out ready and waiting for afternoon tea. You can decide to collect pieces from a certain manufacturer like Royal Doulton, Spode, Limoges or Wedgwood. Perhaps your collection will focus on where the cups originated. I like pretty bone china that was made in England, but you may like Czech, Bavaria, France, Occupied Japan and other sources. Learning the history of cups and saucers, the differences in bowl shapes (Pompadour, can, swirled), types of handles (ring, loop,curled), and other features can really add to the enjoyment of building your collection. For example, did you know that the first European teacups didn’t have any handles?