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SCMP Reporter

Q I love those tiny espresso cups used in high-end restaurants. I hear there are also antique and limited-edition collectibles. Where can I find some that are a little more interesting?

WHAT THE EXPERT SAYS

The cups  are called 'demitasse', from the French meaning 'half a cup'. The term is usually used for after-dinner espresso cups measuring about 6.4cm high, and made from earthenware and hard-paste porcelain ceramic, which is composed

of China stone,  China clay and

up to 50 per cent calcined

animal bones.

DEMITASSE HISTORY

Demitasse  collector Francesca Prata  says the tiny cups can be traced back to the introduction of coffee to England in about 1637. 'Many coffee houses sprang up in London where politicians, writers, etc, would meet to discuss politics and literature. In 1760, Josiah Wedgwood  produced the first commercially successful earthenware which was pale enough to resemble porcelain. It was named 'creamware' and has been called Britain's great contribution in the history of ceramics. It could be painted or printed like porcelain, usually after glazing.

'Josiah Spode II [1754-1827] is credited with the European discovery of 'bone China' at the Spode factory in around 1800. It was widely used in China much before this, and Marco Polo first named it 'porcellana'.'

Prata lists some of the most collectible British demitasse makers: Spode (formerly known as Copeland), Royal Winton (formerly known as Grimwades), Royal Doulton, Minton, Shelley and Royal Crown Derby. 'In England, a high proportion of demitasses were made in the district known as the Staffordshire Potteries centred on the city of Stoke-on-Trent and made up of seven  towns: Burslem, Cobridge, Fenton, Hanley [incorporating Shelton], Longton [also Lane End], Stoke and Tunstall. The initial letters of these towns may be incorporated in several 19th-century initial marks on the base of cups and saucers.'

The earliest shapes were the narrow (about 6.4cm in diameter) and tall (about 6.4cm) 'coffee cans' with simple handles. Around 1845 to 1875, they began to follow tea cup trends, and  making waisted cup shapes and divided handles.

20TH-CENTURY COFFEE

The most famous designs, says Prata, include Chintz, Art Deco, and Imari by Royal Crown Derby. 'Chintz itself dates back to the 17th century when exotic fabrics were imported to England from India. Much later on, the Staffordshire Potteries tried to emulate these patterns on their china and demitasse designs. They used earthenware decorated with lithograph transfers.  These  sheets of gay floral patterns were arduously fitted onto the cup and saucer so no visible seams appeared.  The most collectible period is 1930s-50s.'

For the colourful designs of the Jazz Age, Prata recommends Clarice Cliff (1899-1972), who did her best work in the 1920s and  30s. 'Anything by Clarice Cliff fetches a good price,' says Prata. For Art Deco demitasses,  she recommends Susie Cooper  (1902-1995).

Demitasse makers generally followed the design movements of their time, such as Art Nouveau. 'Cups were made in the shapes of molded flowers and leaves, often with twig handles and feet or shaped like coral branches,' says Prata.

NEW COLLECTOR TIPS

Quality and condition are the most important criteria. 'Age would only be a significant determiner if the piece was of good quality and in good condition,' says Prata. 'It's always best to buy the best quality you can afford. Chips can be repaired or restored, but hairline cracks cannot. Loss of some gilt and crazing of the glaze is acceptable and is to be expected. After all, these items were used. But it does bring down the value, as would any piece which has been restored.'

Because there are thousands of demitasse patterns, Prata advises new collectors to start with a specific pattern, period or manufacturer in mind.  'You can buy pieces from the 1930s for as little as $40 to as much as $6,000 for an original Clarice Cliff.'

Prata says reproductions are often marked 'Copied from the original design by X'. There are also fakes of the most desirable marks.  Prata says reference books are essential for dating pieces. Experts do this by comparing marks, dates, company names and styles to well-known historical pieces.

RESOURCES

The Potteries Museum, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England, www.stoke.gov.uk/museums/pmag.  Books from Paddyfield.com: Encyclopedia of British Pottery and Porcelain Marks by Geoffrey A. Godden ($725); Collectible Cups and Saucers by Jim and Susan Harran ($195); The Complete Clarice Cliff: A Collector's Handbook by F.J. Salmon  ($195)



Expert advice