The key to extending the service life of your vintage teacups is to take good care of them whether in use or on display. Some amateur collectors think that vintage teacups require very little maintenance, or almost none at all, which leads up to their collection not living up to its full service life potential. Take good care of your vintage teacups, and they'll take good care of you.
The different types of vintage teacups
You may not know it, but there are several different types of vintage teacups available.
The most common teacup used for drinking afternoon tea is either the flat teacup or the footed teacup. Footed teacups usually come with a saucer, and is used to drink tea or coffee. The teacup is shaped with a pedestal at the bottom. This pedestal fits right into the saucer, which is indented, that comes with the teacup.
Flat teacups also come with a matching set of saucers. But as the name suggests, both the surface of the saucers and the bottom of the teacups are flat. Flat teacups are used for drinking coffee or tea.
Taking care of your vintage teacups
The basic rule of thumb when it comes to teacup maintenance is to never stack them more than two teacups high. It creates pressure on the lowermost teacup, making it prone to chipping and breaking. If you have room, it be better if you don't stack them at all. Also slip a soft cloth in places where the teacups would be touching during storage.
Never put china teacups through the dishwasher, especially if it's vintage. Modern teacups will tell you it's okay to wash them in a dishwasher. But if you plan on using them from time to time, at least once a week, it's best to just handwash them yourself with soap and warm water to reduce the risk of chipping the delicate surface.
The bottom line: take good care of your vintage teacups, and they'll take good care of you. |