A Message from Ruth at Antiques And Teacups

Welcome to the blog of Antiques And Teacups! Let's share a cup of tea and talk about the things we love...like teacups, antiques, collectibles, visiting England, antiquing and learning about victoriana and quirky gadgets. Fun!

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Espresso Or Mocha Cups And Saucers

Hi there. I wanted to share a specialized type of a cup and saucer or teacup called a demitasse, demi tasse, espresso or mocha cup and saucer for Teacup Thursday, and the other blog parties I am joining which are listed at the bottom of the post, including Pink Saturday.






Demitasse or espresso cups and saucers are smaller than the usual teacups you see, but have their own sets of rabid collectors. Demi tasse actually means small cup in French, and has been around since the first tea and coffee reached Europe. Because of the initial cost of tea and coffee, the cups were small. Both coffee and tea were first thought to be more of a medicine than a relaxing, convivial drink. 


The 2 cups and saucers above are from different eras. The top is of recent manufacture for Herman Dodge, who also managed Royal Patrician which closed in 2009. The second is from Charles Ahrenfeldt, Limoges, France and dates to the 1890s. 






The cup and saucer above of the two here is by Crown Staffordshire, England with hand painted flowers and heavy gold trim and was made between 1908 and 1936 and qualifies as a "cabinet" cup and saucer, or one you would display in a cabinet for it's beauty and workmanship. The second is by Shelley China, England from 1940-1966 when the pottery closed and is carved and has enamel paint details.


After a bit of a decline in popularity of the smaller cups and saucers, which waned as the price of tea and coffee declined making a bigger cup preferable, the demitasse or mocha cup and saucer again came into vogue in the Edwardian Era, where the wealthy and trendy served after dinner coffee with liqueurs and cigars which became a symbol of wealth and privilege. Watch any program from that era and you will see them. Try Downton Abbey!  Their popularity raged up to the 1950s when trends changed, only to be revived in the 1980s with the growing popularity of espresso...or expresso...it's a big controversy about the name. Anyway, they are wonderful!


Have fun visiting the blogs below. For further info and photos of the cups and saucers shown at Antiques And Teacups, click on the photos.



Teacup Thursday
Vintage Thingie Thursday

Share Your Cup Thursday

Pink Saturday

16 comments:

  1. You have a very nice collection of various tea cups. They are all so pretty.

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  2. What a pretty collection of demitasse cups. I have three in my collection. One for each of my grandchildren. They are very sweet collectables.

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  3. You have some very pretty samples here. I have a couple that I just love! Their tiny size is sort of irresistible!

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  4. You have a lovely collection of demitasse cups and saucers! I help my friend look for cups/saucers for her collection. She would be so envious of yours.

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  5. Oh Ruth, I love them. I collected them in the 70's and 80's before I started on the teacups. Of course, your's are just beautiful and so fine. Mine are much more common place. I won't part with them...just tug at my heart.
    Linda

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  6. Thank you for sharing your beautiful demitasse' with us ! I love them too.

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  7. They are all lovely, but really like the first one ... happy pink Saturday!

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  8. Thank you so much for stopping by Ruth!
    Wow you have some pretty teacups!
    I never knew that demitasse translated to small cup. I certainly does make sense ;-)
    Happy Pink Saturday!
    Cheers,
    Lynn

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  9. Hi Ruth,
    Your cups are really cute. I especially like the Crown Staffordshire one and the Shelley. I have three demitasses; two in the Rose Chintz pattern without their saucers and one in a beautiful blue from Germany. Happy Pink Saturday!

    Blessings,
    Sandi

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  10. Great post and interesting PINK!

    Visiting for PS- hope you can stop by..

    http://www.sweetposh.info/2012/07/pink-plastic-leaves.html

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  11. How beautiful!! Happy Pink Saturday and have a nice weekend.

    My PINK

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  12. Ah, charming...what a nice little collection! Hope your humidity is gone. Enjoy the weekend, Ruth :)
    Shawn

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  13. Just beautiful! Visiting from Pink Saturday.

    Pink Slushy Magic, come and see.

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  14. Those are all so pretty and delicate. I think my favorite is the last one, the Turquoise. Have a wonderful Sunday, Nan

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  15. I always enjoy seeing your beautiful teacups and saucers. I love the color of the green one. Thanks so much for sharing these beauties and telling us a bit about them at Share Your Cup.
    Hugs,
    Jann

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Thanks for visiting and we love to hear from you! We read every comment. If my husband's health permits, I love to visit andreply. Have a wonderful day and a cuppa tea always at hand! :)

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