How to Identify an Old Tea Cup & Saucer
Antique and vintage teacups and saucers remind us of old-fashioned, Victorian-era ladies, but these old--and not so old--teacups and saucers are popular collectibles today. The word "old" is a generic description of teacups that can range in age from real antiques over 100 years old to still-valuable vintage teacups that may sell for over $50 at an auction.
Identifying old teacups and saucers requires research online and offline for examples and guides to carefully compare marks and details. A longtime collector can also be an invaluable source of information about how to identify an old tea cup and saucer.
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Instructions
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Carefully examine the tea cup and saucer by looking for any manufacturer's or country marks under the cup and/or saucer. Use a magnifying glass, if necessary, to read any words or numbers that may be hard to see clearly. Write the marks down on the notepad.
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Look up the marks in a porcelain manufacturer's marks book. Check under the company name or marks, looking for an exact match of the cup and saucer's mark, to determine a date of manufacture.
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Note any special features such as gilding or cup or saucer shape. Hold the cup up to the light to see if it is translucent as in fine china.
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Check an antiques guidebook for any information about the marks of specific tea cups, as well as pictures of similar examples to compare with.
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Do an online search using the porcelain manufacturer or pattern names in the mark. Search any website results for information about identifying marks or features, as well as images to compare with.
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Go to eBay.com, and search for the manufacturer or pattern name to find a similar or the same cup and saucer, as well as additional information. Compare the design, marks, color and description of matching cups and saucers, and note for future reference.
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Contact a licensed appraiser knowledgeable in old porcelain tea cups and saucers or a longtime collector for more information and help in identifying a piece if the cup and saucer is unmarked or there is not enough information.
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Tips & Warnings
If you plan to use your old teacup and saucer, try holding the teacup by the handle to see if it is large enough to use and not just a decorative item.
Manufacturer marks can include country of origin, pattern numbers, pattern name, artist's initials and company names.
When buying old teacups and saucers, check carefully for cracks and glued handles, which affect usability and value.
Look closely at the manufacturer markings to spot marks made with a rubber stamp and not fired into the porcelain, which may mean a reproduction or fake.
References
Resources
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Comments
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love to venture into vintage.
