How to Collect Tea Cups

Learn the difference between a tea cup and a coffee cup. The tea cup handle is usually set high up, the cup has a delicate appearance and most often comes with a matching saucer. Coffee cups are larger.

Look at the history of tea cups as you collect. Early European tea cups didn't have handles.

Familiarize yourself with some of the major names tea cup collectors value. Havilland, Royal Doulton, Limoges and other names are fun to collect. Antique Chinese and Japanese tea cups make a good collection, too.

Find tea cups just about anywhere. Collectors use flea markets, antique stores, the china cabinet of a favorite aunt or grandmother and websites.

Start small. Collect tea cups within a certain price range. This doesn't need to be an expensive hobby, and you can often find something perfect at a garage sale or the back of a thrift store for only a few dollars.

Please yourself. Collect tea cups you like and want to display. If bone china with a bird and flower pattern is what you like, then pay no attention to the names on the bottom.