Editing Teacup (section)

== History ==
The teacup and saucer originated in China at the time of the near-simultaneous introduction of tea and porcelain. The original teacup design did not have a handle or a saucer. At some point a ring-shaped cupholder appeared to protect the fingers and eventually evolved into a saucer.{{sfn|Ukers|1935|p=447-448}} The cups in 17th century were tiny, with the width about 2¼ inches across at the top,1¼ at the bottom, and the depth of 1½ inches. The saucers measured 4½ inches across. The European manufacturers initially copied the handle-less Oriental designs{{sfn|Ukers|1935|p=448}} exported from the [[Japan]]ese [[port]] of [[Imari, Saga|Imari]] or from the southern Chinese port of Canton (part of the [[Canton System]], 1757-1842), now Guangzhou. The teacup handles were introduced in the West in the early 19th century.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Robards |first=Julie Robinson  |title=Tea cups steeped in rich history |url=https://www.pressrepublican.com/news/lifestyles/tea-cups-steeped-in-rich-history/article_d35b8d14-d3bb-5898-8972-0267b47afadb.html |access-date=2023-01-13 |website=Press-Republican |date=12 November 2012 |language=en}}</ref> The handles originally became a feature of chocolate drinking cups in the 17th century, while teacups were still handle-less.{{sfn|Jamieson|2001|pp=285-286}}

[[Teacup plate]]s originated in England in the early 1800s and provided a rest for the cup and a space for a light snack, went out of fashion in the second half of the 19th century.