Essay #3:
Ideas for displaying cups
Ideas for displaying cups
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Anyone who has collected even a few cups will soon be faced with a
dilemma: How should they be displayed? I will describe a few ideas
here and hope that some people will be generous enough to send
pictures of how their own collections are displayed. Plain descriptions,
too, are welcome.
dilemma: How should they be displayed? I will describe a few ideas
here and hope that some people will be generous enough to send
pictures of how their own collections are displayed. Plain descriptions,
too, are welcome.
Picture 3 shows cups in a case. I bought this case years ago and found that it is perfect for
displaying cups. I am not sure what it was originally made for, but it might be a golf ball case.
One disadvantage is that large cups don’t fit it and smaller cups bounce around when the
case is moved. Note that a few of the cups in the picture are a bit small and have slipped a bit.
No danger of breakage, but it doesn't look very neat.
The case has a glass cover and a cover latch (Picture 4) that allows me to place it on its end
so each cup can be seen. With a bit of rigging, this could easily be hung on a wall.
displaying cups. I am not sure what it was originally made for, but it might be a golf ball case.
One disadvantage is that large cups don’t fit it and smaller cups bounce around when the
case is moved. Note that a few of the cups in the picture are a bit small and have slipped a bit.
No danger of breakage, but it doesn't look very neat.
The case has a glass cover and a cover latch (Picture 4) that allows me to place it on its end
so each cup can be seen. With a bit of rigging, this could easily be hung on a wall.
Picture 1 shows a drawer display. This method is probably the most popular since the
cups store well, are protected, and upon opening, the designs are all easy to see. This
particular drawer has stacked cups, which is obviously not a good idea. But I don’t
have much space…
There are a few things to think about when deciding upon drawer display. First, a
wheeled drawer is much smoother and causes less rattling among the cups. Second,
drawers that open at an angle always are a problem, so if your drawer has rails along
with the wheels, it will stay level even when completely open (Picture 2) . Third, lining
the drawer with some kind of tacky material will reduce slips. In the picture you may be
able to see bubble wrap lining the bottom. Not really an aesthetically pleasing choice,
but it works well.
cups store well, are protected, and upon opening, the designs are all easy to see. This
particular drawer has stacked cups, which is obviously not a good idea. But I don’t
have much space…
There are a few things to think about when deciding upon drawer display. First, a
wheeled drawer is much smoother and causes less rattling among the cups. Second,
drawers that open at an angle always are a problem, so if your drawer has rails along
with the wheels, it will stay level even when completely open (Picture 2) . Third, lining
the drawer with some kind of tacky material will reduce slips. In the picture you may be
able to see bubble wrap lining the bottom. Not really an aesthetically pleasing choice,
but it works well.
Picture 1
Picture 2
Picture 3
Picture 4
Picture 5 shows plain shelves, which you all will
have thought of. This display method has plenty of
drawbacks, but one nice thing is that there is little
preparation (just put together a few boards) and
cups can be easily moved. But they can also be
easily moved (and broken) by people bumping into
the shelves or (in my area) earthquakes.
have thought of. This display method has plenty of
drawbacks, but one nice thing is that there is little
preparation (just put together a few boards) and
cups can be easily moved. But they can also be
easily moved (and broken) by people bumping into
the shelves or (in my area) earthquakes.
Picture 5
Pictures 6 & 7 show a cup stand. It may have a specialized name in English, but I don't know it.
In Japanese these are usually called saratate, which means 'plate stand'. This is familiar to
people who collect porcelain. They come in many sizes and really are wonderful for displaying
individual cups. Some of them are high-quality wood, but cheaper plastic stands can be found
as well.
Rotating cup displays are easy to do with these. Having the right size stand is important,
though, and the small, 5.5 cm cups are not propped up securely with these.
These stands are made specifically for displaying porcelain. They have no other function as
far as I know.
The best advantage is that the cup design is displayed prominently.
In Japanese these are usually called saratate, which means 'plate stand'. This is familiar to
people who collect porcelain. They come in many sizes and really are wonderful for displaying
individual cups. Some of them are high-quality wood, but cheaper plastic stands can be found
as well.
Rotating cup displays are easy to do with these. Having the right size stand is important,
though, and the small, 5.5 cm cups are not propped up securely with these.
These stands are made specifically for displaying porcelain. They have no other function as
far as I know.
The best advantage is that the cup design is displayed prominently.
Picture 6
Picture 7
The remaining photos show cup stands that were not originally for display. These kinds of stands
(called haidai in Japanese) are made for elegant dinner parties. The guest would keep the sake
cup on top. However, these could also be used to display cups.
At the top of each haidai is a small cup, hole, or indentation to secure the base of a cup. Although
they are a bit expensive, having four or five with different designs might make a nice display.
Actually, some people collect haidai. Many are beautifully made and run from $15 to $50 for most
designs.
One drawback is that the cups are still flat, like on shelves. To see the bowl design, you have to
peer over and into the cup.
I have never seen these stands with a military design.
(called haidai in Japanese) are made for elegant dinner parties. The guest would keep the sake
cup on top. However, these could also be used to display cups.
At the top of each haidai is a small cup, hole, or indentation to secure the base of a cup. Although
they are a bit expensive, having four or five with different designs might make a nice display.
Actually, some people collect haidai. Many are beautifully made and run from $15 to $50 for most
designs.
One drawback is that the cups are still flat, like on shelves. To see the bowl design, you have to
peer over and into the cup.
I have never seen these stands with a military design.
I hope these ideas have helped you. It is true that although cups are
great to collect, they do not lend themselves to display easily.
Again, please email me with any ideas and I’ll put them in this list.
great to collect, they do not lend themselves to display easily.
Again, please email me with any ideas and I’ll put them in this list.
A clear, plastic stand