Okay, so I’ve been getting into collecting old stuff lately, and I stumbled upon this whole world of antique Japanese tea cups. I thought, “Why not give it a shot?” So, I started this little project to find and maybe even restore one.
First things first, I hit the internet. I mean, where else do you start, right? I spent hours just browsing through pictures and reading forum posts about different types of Japanese tea cups. It’s crazy how many different styles and eras there are!
The Hunt Begins
After getting a basic idea of what I liked, I started checking out local antique shops. I figured that would be the best place to actually see some cups in person. The first few shops were a bust. Lots of cool stuff, but no Japanese tea cups that really caught my eye.
Then, on my third try, I found this tiny little shop tucked away on a side street. The owner was this super knowledgeable older lady who had a whole shelf dedicated to Japanese ceramics. Jackpot!
Finding “The One”
I spent, like, an hour just looking at all the different cups. She had some really fancy ones, but I was drawn to this one simple, almost rustic-looking cup. It had this beautiful crackle pattern on the glaze and a subtle blue design. It wasn’t perfect – it had a few small chips and some staining – but that’s what made it feel authentic to me.
The (Attempted) Restoration
I bought the cup for a pretty reasonable price, considering it was probably really old. Then came the fun part – trying to clean it up a bit. I did some more research online about how to clean antique ceramics without damaging them. Definitely didn’t want to ruin my new find!
- I started with just warm water and a soft cloth. That got some of the surface dirt off.
- Then, I made a paste of baking soda and water and gently scrubbed some of the tougher stains. I was super careful not to scrub too hard.
- I let it air dry completely
Result!
It’s not perfect, but it’s definitely cleaner than it was. The chips are still there, of course, but I kind of like them. They give it character. I’m not planning on drinking out of it or anything – it’s more of a display piece. I’ve got it sitting on a shelf in my living room now, and it just makes me happy every time I look at it. It’s like having a little piece of history.
This whole process was way more fun than I expected. I might even start looking for another one soon! Who knows, maybe I’ll build up a whole collection.
