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A beautiful teacup can make a thoughtful gift for many occasions; birthday, Christmas, Mother’s Day, a bridal or baby shower or just to let someone know you are thinking of them, but where do you start with what to choose?
If your teacup recipient already has a collection of teacups, you can use their existing collection to get some clues about what else they might like. If you are able to view their collection, take a look and see if there are any themes to their collection, perhaps they mostly collect a particular colour or flower decoration. Flip it upside down, most vintage china has makers marks to the base, so turn a few pieces over and see if they have a favourite maker in their collection, some popular vintage English bone china names to look out for are; Royal Albert, Aynsley, Paragon, Coalport, Wedgwood and Royal Doulton. If you’re not able to view their collection you could ask them what their favourite maker is or if there’s a piece missing from their collection that they would love to own.
That eBay bargain might not seem like such a bargain when it arrives in a thousand pieces. Check that the business you are buying your teacup from is experienced in packing and shipping breakables, a reputable company will care as much as you do that your teacup arrives safely. Look for reviews on their website or social media pages that mention how well they pack. If you’re buying a vintage teacup, make sure that there are clear photos and a description that states if there are any flaws with the piece. Check if the company has a returns policy, so that you can return the teacup if you change your mind.
Some people love to collect antique or vintage pieces, they value the history of the pieces they collect and enjoy the thrill of discovering rare pieces to add to their collection. They don’t mind the slight imperfections that often come with owning pieces from another era, it’s all part of the charm to them. Other people prefer to have brand new pieces that have not been owned by anyone else but still love the style of a bygone era. This is one of the reasons we created the Princess collection, for people who love the look of vintage pieces but want them in brand new condition. If you’re buying brand new pieces, look out for where they are made, the majority of major bone china brands moved their production to Asia by the early 2000s. So that brand with an English name, may not actually be made in England.
If you’re still not sure what to choose, my best advice would be to buy with your heart. That’s the way I’ve always bought for both my own collection and for the pieces we sell at Bonny and Blithe. If you buy a teacup gift that you love, that love will shine through when you give the gift and tell the recipient all about their teacup.
