Antique Cups
Antique cups were not used commonly in Europe until the early 1600’s, after which they became increasingly popular. A desirable collectors item, there are an array of extremely attractive and delicate antique cups to choose from. China or porcelain antique cups are very popular with their vintage feel and pretty appearance; an antique cup can look lovely on display and are suggestive of tea parties long ago past. It is possible to choose antique cups with lovely embellishments, decorations that are ornate, with intricate designs and hand painted detailing and with glazed or metallic rims.
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History of Cups
The usage of cups by humans dates back several millennia; a bowl like container that we drunk liquids from. There are a variety of designs of cups, the first cup is likely to have been made from ceramics or wood, later the goblet became particular popular during medieval times. Goblets were made from metals and feature in works of art dating back thousands of years, a common type of goblet is a chalice. The chalice dates back to the start of the Roman Catholic Church, made from gold or silver and often encrusted with jewels.
Teacups date back to 10th C BC in China and antique porcelain cups were produced solely in China up until the 18th C, hence why many Europeans refer to porcelain as ‘china’. Chinese porcelain cups had some lovely designs, mainly blue and white, they are now very collectable. Initially cups in Europe were made from silver or pewter, which one can imagine did not suit hot beverages, as soon as porcelain was produced in Europe the teacup was produced outside of China. Afternoon tea and tea parties reached the height of popularity in Victorian times and were seen as very fashionable with cups and tea sets given as gifts for occasions such as weddings.
Types of Antique Cups
There are a vast number of antique and vintage cups; commemorative mugs and solid silver cups cups are particularly sought after. Dependant on your desired style there is a lot of distinctive artwork on antique china cups so it is possible to pick up a design suited to your taste.
Antique porcelain and bone china teacups
There are a number of popular manufacturers of antique porcelain cups, including Wedgwood, Royal Doulton, Meissen and Limoges. There are many designs with artwork including floral, Bavarian and lusterware.
Bone antique cups are more valuable than porcelain, pure white in colour and surprisingly resistant to chipping, Spode was the first to produce a reliable bone china recipe around 1799. Davenport are very sought after as bone china collectables, their production starting in 1815, also of note is Royal Winton antique cups, with their famous floral designs, namely the chintz pattern.
Antique Silver Goblet
A silver goblet is likely to be sought after for display purposes as opposed to usage, Scandinavians are thought to have made the first silver goblets around the 16th C, although as previously mentioned they date back further than this. Originally for religious purposes they are often passed down through generations. Particularly nice to use at a ceremony such as a wedding or to give as a gift, they may be engraved to commemorate a certain life event.
An antique cup is a unique dining accessory whether it is used for its purpose or displayed nicely for others and yourself to admire.
