No Doubt about it - tea tastes best in a proper teacup!

A Brief History of Tea Cups Tea became popular in the mid 1600s after King Charles II brought a wife from Portugal (Catherine of Braganza), and her tea drinking habit came with her. Initially it was very expensive, but as the East India Company established itself, imports to the UK grew, and tea became more affordable. Within the next hundred years it became the national drink for all classes, replacing beer at meal times. Tea and tea time reached its pinnacle during Victorian times.

 
Collecting

They are a wonderful collectible because of the infinite variety, the fascinating history of the manufacturers, and the low cost of the items.

Some people collect by manufacturer. For example:

•     Royal Doulton
•     Limoges
•     Wedgwood
•     Havilland
•     Meissen

Another popular way to collect cups is by theme, design, color, or type. Some of these are:

•     Rose designs
•     Floral designs
•     Nippon
•     Bavarian
•     Lustreware