What is the difference between a tea cup and a coffee cup?

Tea cups were historically wider and shallower to allow hot tea to cool quickly, whereas coffee cups were deeper and often cylindrical to retain heat. Evolving social rituals dictated these distinct forms, leading makers to produce matching trios that paired both cup types with a single saucer.

How can I date an antique English china cup?

Dating relies on examining the ceramic body, glaze characteristics, factory marks, and decorative style. Eighteenth-century pieces often feature soft-paste porcelain, while nineteenth-century items typically utilise refined bone china or ironstone. Factory patterns and handwritten or impressed base marks provide further chronological clues, linking specific pieces to periods like the Regency or Victorian eras.

Were these cups used daily or displayed?

Many fine porcelain cups were reserved for formal entertaining and displayed in cabinets rather than used for everyday meals. Wealthy households utilised specialised cabinet trios and cabinet cups to showcase contemporary artistic achievements. More robust ironstone mugs and later Victorian service wares saw more functional domestic use in family settings.

How do I care for antique porcelain?

Antique porcelain requires gentle hand washing in lukewarm water using mild detergent, avoiding dishwashers entirely. The fragile handpainted enamels and delicate gold leaf gilding degrade quickly with harsh chemicals or abrasive scrubbing. Sudden temperature changes should be avoided to prevent thermal shock to the old ceramic body and glaze.

Home > English China Cup > Page 3

Antique English China Cup

67 items · page 3 of 5

← Page 3 of 5 →

An antique english china cup offers a tangible link to Georgian and Victorian tea tables through handpainted porcelain and gilded bone china.

First Period Worcester Porcelain Fancy Birds & Wet Blue Coffee Cup C.1770

18th century

Save

First Period Worcester Porcelain Fancy Birds & Wet Blue Coffee Cup C.1770

From The Fancy Fox

£225

3+ MONTHS AGO

cups

Derby Cup and Saucer, Bishop of Durham Service, C. 1790.

18th century

Save

Derby Cup and Saucer, Bishop of Durham Service, C. 1790.

From Philip Carrol Antiques

£480

3+ MONTHS AGO

cups

19th century

Save

Porcelain Hicks, Meigh & Johnson.

From A and B Antiques

£265

3+ MONTHS AGO

ceramics

Flight, Barr & Barr Worcester Porcelain Tea Cup and Saucer, “Two Quail”, C. 1807–1813

18th century

Save

Flight, Barr & Barr Worcester Porcelain Tea Cup and Saucer, “Two Quail”, C. 1807–1813

From Ritas Bazaar

£700

3+ MONTHS AGO

cups

19th century

Save

A Flight, Barr & Barr Worcester Porcelain Teacup & Saucer Decorated by Samuel Astles

From Fine Antique English Porcelain

£975

3+ MONTHS AGO

cups

1900 - 1920

Save

Early 20th Cent. Cased Set of Royal Worcester Hand-painted Coffee Cups & Saucers, English

From Judy Fox Antiques

£3,750

3+ MONTHS AGO

ceramics

19th century

Save

Unusual Coalport Coffee Service

From Carlton House Antiques

£285

3+ MONTHS AGO

ceramics

Royal Worcester Blush Ivory Tea Trio with Gilded Detail, Dated 1902

1900 - 1920

Save

Royal Worcester Blush Ivory Tea Trio with Gilded Detail, Dated 1902

From Touch of Time Antiques

£175

3+ MONTHS AGO

ceramics

18th century

Save

18th Century Worcester Tea Bowl. C. 1780

From Carse Antiques

£115

3+ MONTHS AGO

ceramics

Antique 21 Piece Doric China, Longton Stafford Porcelain Tea Set Circa 1926-35

1920 - 1940

Save

Antique 21 Piece Doric China, Longton Stafford Porcelain Tea Set Circa 1926-35

From Regent Antiques

£425

3+ MONTHS AGO

ceramics

Listings feature pieces spanning the eighteenth to the twentieth centuries, utilising porcelain, bone china, and ironstone across Georgian and Victorian styles.

Unusual Antique Royal Worcester Loving Cup

1900 - 1920

Save

Unusual Antique Royal Worcester Loving Cup

From Unique Antiques by Emma Jade

£595

3+ MONTHS AGO

cups

18th century

Save

Set of 6 Sutherland Ware Tea Cups

From Birkdale Antiques

£1,250

3+ MONTHS AGO

cups

Minton Kakiemon Tiger Decorated Tea Set, 1847–1861

19th century

Save

Minton Kakiemon Tiger Decorated Tea Set, 1847–1861

From Gillers Antiques Ltd

£1,500

3+ MONTHS AGO

ceramics

18th century

Save

18th Century Worcester Tea Bowl & Saucer

From Carse Antiques

£100

3+ MONTHS AGO

ceramics

Antique Spode, Imari Chocolate Cup & Cover, Pearl Border, C. 1815

19th century

Save

Antique Spode, Imari Chocolate Cup & Cover, Pearl Border, C. 1815

From Gillers Antiques Ltd

£300

3+ MONTHS AGO

cups

18th century

Save

Worcester Porcelain Fancy Birds Cup & Saucer, C. 1765.

From Philip Carrol Antiques

£590

3+ MONTHS AGO

cups

← 1 2 3 4 5 →

Antique English China Cup

First Period Worcester Porcelain Fancy Birds & Wet Blue Coffee Cup C.1770

Derby Cup and Saucer, Bishop of Durham Service, C. 1790.

Porcelain Hicks, Meigh & Johnson.

Flight, Barr & Barr Worcester Porcelain Tea Cup and Saucer, “Two Quail”, C. 1807–1813

A Flight, Barr & Barr Worcester Porcelain Teacup & Saucer Decorated by Samuel Astles

Early 20th Cent. Cased Set of Royal Worcester Hand-painted Coffee Cups & Saucers, English

Unusual Coalport Coffee Service

Royal Worcester Blush Ivory Tea Trio with Gilded Detail, Dated 1902

18th Century Worcester Tea Bowl. C. 1780

Antique 21 Piece Doric China, Longton Stafford Porcelain Tea Set Circa 1926-35

Unusual Antique Royal Worcester Loving Cup

Set of 6 Sutherland Ware Tea Cups

Minton Kakiemon Tiger Decorated Tea Set, 1847–1861

18th Century Worcester Tea Bowl & Saucer

Antique Spode, Imari Chocolate Cup & Cover, Pearl Border, C. 1815

Worcester Porcelain Fancy Birds Cup & Saucer, C. 1765.

Add keywords to the filter

Price

Era

Period

Style

Material

Origin

Stock Location

Recently Added

Online Payments

Categories