Ceramic Coffee Saucer
These ceramic coffee saucer items are small, often hand-painted plates designed to hold cups, appearing across Georgian, Victorian, and later periods.
Ceramic Coffee Saucer
A ceramic coffee saucer is a small dish designed to accompany a coffee cup, can, or demitasse, often found as part of a trio or larger service.
You are most likely to meet pieces originating from the 18th century, the Georgian era, and the 19th century, alongside later 20th-century sets.
The selections span English potteries and continental European makers, appearing in styles from Regency to Art Deco.
How they were made
Potters utilised materials such as porcelain, bone china, and soft-paste porcelain to form the body of each saucer.
Decoration often involved hand-painted details, enamel, and applications of gold leaf, gilding, or gold gilt.
Ceramic Coffee Saucer Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for ceramic coffee saucer among the pieces listed under this phrase on Sellingantiques today, from the lower quarter to the upper quarter. They describe what is for sale here now, not the wider market.
Some early 19th-century pieces proudly bear pattern names like the Bengal Tiger.
What varies in quality
Quality depends on the fineness of the porcelain body and the precision of the hand-painting.
The presence and preservation of gold leaf or gilding distinguish finer examples from standard production.
A H & R Daniel·Newhall·Coalport·Worcester·Rockingham·Sevres·Royal Worcester·Davenport·Minton·KPM Berlin·Spode·Hutschenreuther·Royal Crown Derby
The Ceramic Coffee Saucer Glossary
- Soft-Paste Porcelain
- An artificial porcelain composition fired at lower temperatures than hard-paste, common in earlier English factories.
- Demitasse
- A small cup used for serving strong coffee, usually paired with a matching saucer.
- Coffee Can
- A straight-sided cylindrical cup used for coffee in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
- Trio
- A matching set comprising a teacup, a coffee cup, and a saucer.
Ceramic Coffee Saucer: Frequently Asked Questions
What is a coffee can saucer?
A coffee can saucer is a small ceramic plate designed to support a straight-sided cylindrical coffee cup rather than a flared teacup.
These saucers often feature a central well or depression sized specifically to hold the narrow base of a coffee can securely.
How do I date a porcelain saucer?
Dating a ceramic coffee saucer involves examining the paste composition, factory marks on the underside, and the decorative style.
Earlier pieces from the 18th century use soft-paste porcelain, while 19th-century and later pieces often incorporate bone china or harder porcelain bodies.
Can I use antique saucers daily?
While these pieces were originally made for dining and drinking, older porcelain and hand-painted gilt surfaces require gentle handling.
Hand washing is recommended to preserve delicate enamel and gold leaf decoration over time.
What is a demitasse saucer?
A demitasse saucer is a smaller version designed for half-cup coffee servings.
These compact items appear frequently in 20th-century cased sets and continental porcelain services.