Collecting vintage teacups is a fun and healthy hobby. What's not to like? Vintage teacups are one of the few collectible items in the world you could actually use, meaning they are as functional as they are aesthetic. Vintage teacup prices are also much more affordable than, say, collecting vintage cars or baseball cards. They are also a pleasant sight every morning, all lined up neatly inside a cabinet in the living room. So again, we ask, what's not to like?
The politics of collecting vintage teacups
One of the first things you need to know starting out as an amateur teacup collector is the difference between china and porcelain. At first glance these two materials look too similar to be different. But make the mistake of taking one for the other and you should start thinking about not being a teacup collector at all.
Porcelain has a very smooth surface which makes it ideal for teacups and coffee cup sets. This quality is achieved by firing up the material, glazing it, and then firing it up again for a smooth finish. Bone china is quite similar to porcelain, except the clay is mixed in with finely ground bone ash to improve strength and durability.
The selling price of the vintage teacup depends on whether it is made from porcelain or bone china. So make sure you know how to tell between the two when you go out shopping for vintage teacups.
Vintage teacups on the Internet
Vintage teacups are very much available on the Internet. Most vintage teacups sell for around $60 to $100 on the Internet, but you should be able to find some rare ones that sell for much more with a little browsing. On the other hand, you can settle for the traditional method of shopping for vintage teacups are antique stores.
The problem with buying online is you can't really inspect the item fully before you agree to pay for it. And that's where antique stores come in. At antique stores, you'll be able to inspect to your heart's content for damages or blemishes on any part of the item you're interested in. When you're buying something as delicate as a vintage teacup, who wouldn't want to be exact, right? |