# Can anyone tell me anything about these cups? (Style/era, manufacturer, etc.) **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 17, 2023, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-tell-me-anything-about-these-cups-style-era-manufacturer-etc/994746 "2023-12-17T19:42:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2023, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-tell-me-anything-about-these-cups-style-era-manufacturer-etc/994746/1 "2023-12-17T19:42:07Z")
Once again here I am with more mystery objects. But in contrast to the watch I posted about awhile back, I have even less information about this set of two espresso cups and saucers. They look very distinctive, but neither the cups nor the saucers bear any labels or maker’s marks. As best I can tell, they aren’t porcelain; surprising because I’ve never seen crockery with such elaborate decoration that wasn’t. The gold filigree work, if that’s what you call it, seems to be under the glaze, although the gold edging on the rims and handles appears not to be. [![](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53403214315_1c82de193c_o_d.jpg) ](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53403214315_1c82de193c_o_d.jpg) x ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2023, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-tell-me-anything-about-these-cups-style-era-manufacturer-etc/994746/2 "2023-12-17T22:42:54Z")
Nothing at all on the bottoms of the cup and saucers? ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2023, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-tell-me-anything-about-these-cups-style-era-manufacturer-etc/994746/3 "2023-12-17T23:06:12Z")
The styling seems to suggest “late 70’s junior high pottery class”. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2023, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-tell-me-anything-about-these-cups-style-era-manufacturer-etc/994746/4 "2023-12-17T23:07:34Z")
Is the gold ‘filigree’ really sponged on gold glaze? I can’t tell by the picture if it’s a painted design or random. Ceramic class. But handsome nonetheless. ETA. If they are amateur made. Careful drinking from them. Make sure the interior glaze is uniform and uncracked. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2023, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-tell-me-anything-about-these-cups-style-era-manufacturer-etc/994746/5 "2023-12-17T23:34:04Z")
Probably not a ceramics class; those look to be made from molds. They’re not thrown. I suspect they’re professionally made. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2023, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-tell-me-anything-about-these-cups-style-era-manufacturer-etc/994746/6 "2023-12-17T23:35:38Z")
I did molded cups and bowls in ceramics painting classes. Pottery class is different. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2023, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-tell-me-anything-about-these-cups-style-era-manufacturer-etc/994746/7 "2023-12-17T23:42:10Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > The styling seems to suggest “late 70’s junior high pottery class”. Oh no, that’s impossible. Perhaps it doesn’t show up well in the image, but they were obviously made by a professional, or by some kind of automated process run by people who produce crockery for a living. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2023, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-tell-me-anything-about-these-cups-style-era-manufacturer-etc/994746/8 "2023-12-17T23:43:43Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Is the gold ‘filigree’ really sponged on gold glaze? > I can’t tell by the picture if it’s a painted design or random. It’s random, though it does look like tiny leaves at first glance. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2023, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-tell-me-anything-about-these-cups-style-era-manufacturer-etc/994746/9 "2023-12-18T00:39:37Z")
I took a run through a vintage demitasse cup website. Lots of jewel toned sets. Most are _fancy_ painted. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2023, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-tell-me-anything-about-these-cups-style-era-manufacturer-etc/994746/10 "2023-12-18T01:23:05Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > I did molded cups and bowls in ceramics painting classes. I never did. We only did hand building or wheel thrown pieces. Either way, as mentioned since by the OP those cups look like they were made in a professional process. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2023, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-tell-me-anything-about-these-cups-style-era-manufacturer-etc/994746/11 "2023-12-18T01:28:25Z")
We spent time pouring the liquid slip into molds. Drying and cleaning up the molded items. Firing once. Painting and glazing and firing that on. I threw pots on a wheel a few times. I didn’t like that process as much. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2023, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-tell-me-anything-about-these-cups-style-era-manufacturer-etc/994746/12 "2023-12-18T11:35:50Z")
I think this is some sort of buy premade, unglazed, cups and saucers and decorate to taste. Like a hobby class would do. No worry about actually creating the things, just have some fun glazing them to your taste. Sponged on gold leaf really seems an amateur thing, not something a pro outfit would likely do.