Q & A

R. E. of Winnipeg, Manitoba writes:

I am trying to find out something about 2 cups I have inherited. They come via Poland and are part of a set that is said to have once belonged to Napoleon. I believe they may be cocoa cups. One of the cups has a picture of Napoleon and the other has a picture of another lady, not Josephine, could be Madame Recamier? They are approx. 2 1/2 " tall and appear to be hand painted as the saucers are not uniform and neither are the handles of the cups. I would appreciate anything you can tell me about them. I thank you very much in advance.

We asked Liz Isaac to respond:

The cups are for cocoa and were part of a set that included a cocoa pot and probably six cups and saucers. They look to be Austrian in origin; circa 1890/1900, and without closer examination I believe them to be transfer decorated as most of this type of set was.(They do not look to be hand painted.) They were made in great quantity. The value is in a complete set however the two cups and saucers are worth $30.00 to $40.00 each.