Things You Should Know When Collecting Antique Cups And Saucers

You may not know it but you could be in possession of rare heirlooms passed down by your great grandparents

. In the world of rare antique finds, antique cups and saucers may not be on the list of Tomb Raiders or Indiana Jones but that doesn't make them less rare, precious or collectable. So dust them off because if you know the value of them, the manufacturers history and the family history then collecting more antique cups and saucers could become a lifelong pastime.

Are you really aware of the value of your antique cups and saucers?

It is important for an antique cup collector to know the value of each piece in your collection. And the best way to start it is by knowing its background and everything that surrounds it.

Silverware and Porcelain

While very early cups were made of silver for the wealthy, today these are expensive and not as easy to collect as porcelain. The huge variety of colors, shapes and manufacturers that produced porcelain tea sets makes collecting easy and inexpensive. Once you know the style of what you like, the era and what you will happily pay the hunt begins in every nook, cranny, antique and garage sale.

More Than Just Display

While many choose to display their antique cup collections as decorations, it shouldn't be forgotten that these cups were designed to drink tea, hot chocolate or coffee. Don't neglect them - use them. Just think how many teas, coffee or hot chocolate were poured and drunk from these cups. How nostalgic to think that the antique cup you sip your hot chocolate from is the same one your grandmother drank tea with her friends or relatives. How many occasions, happy and sad were celebrated over a cup of tea or coffee? And nicer than pulling out a photo album.

Wash With Care

When antique cups are used as a display they collect dust. If you use them to serve at an afternoon tea party they could be stained by tea or coffee. Either way, hand washing antique cups and saucers is the best way to preserve them. Putting them into a dishwasher is a great no-no. They may break, chip or discolor. If you are enjoying your antique collection then take good care of them and always wash them by hand.

Price Is Never A Question

For collectors, antique cups and saucers is not about money. But money is important. The question is how valuable is this tea set and what are you willing to pay for it? Know the value of the cup before buying it. And the best way is by looking at its background. Asking questions about where it was made, which manufacturer, the year and the cups condition are essential.

Heirlooms, Collecting And More

The more you learn about antique cups and saucers, the more knowledge you gain and the more your passion and interest in collecting grows. So when adding to your collection of heirlooms whether from an antique shop or buying online the best advice is; buy what you like. That way if they never go up in value you will continue to enjoy your cup of tea, coffee or hot chocolate. There are many antique cups and saucers out there, so are you ready to collect?

Copyright (c) 2010 Christine McVeigh

by: Christine McVeigh

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