What is the difference between a tea bowl and a teacup?

A tea bowl is a handleless vessel influenced by Chinese forms, while a teacup incorporates a handle for holding. Tea bowls require both hands to sip hot liquid safely, reflecting earlier eighteenth-century etiquette before handled cups became standard.

Can I use an 18th century teacup for drinking tea?

Using antique teacups for drinking is generally discouraged by dealers due to the fragility of soft-paste porcelain and historic glazes. Hand-washing is essential if they are handled at all. Thermal shock from boiling water can crack centuries-old ceramic bodies, so most collectors keep them for display rather than daily use.

What does Chinese export porcelain mean?

Chinese export porcelain refers to ceramics made in China specifically for the European and American markets during the Qing Dynasty. These items often combined Chinese potting techniques with Western shapes or decorative commissions. Shipments arrived via trading companies, bringing famille rose patterns and Mandarin palettes into eighteenth-century British homes.