Beilin Feng interviews three cup collectors to share their thoughts about collecting cups.
At Sip, we believe that cups are more than daily necessities, but Embody Cultural heritage and a pursuit of quality of life and ritual. Often they have a deeper meaning beyond their form – they do not just look good, but can hold memories, emotions and hopes. We asked serious cup collectors in the SIP community about their relationships with their most precious possessions.
A Symbol of Taste
For Mathew Wiseman, 33, who has built a career in London’s luxury retail industry, the appeal of cup collecting lies not only in its practicality, but also in the design and cultural values behind it. “I think cups are more than just daily necessities, they also carry a sense of design and brand story. A good cup can reflect personal taste.” He explains his interest in cups. His collection favours limited editions and mugs with a sense of history and culture, each one like a small work of art that showcases unique design and craftsmanship.
Mathew says that when he travels, he likes to collect souvenir cups with local cultural symbols or limited-edition designs. “When I see some mugs with local characteristics and unique designs during my travels, I can’t help but bring them home. I feel that these mugs are like witnesses to the journey, and when I bring them home, I can be reminded of that time every time I use them.”
A Symbol of Culture of Esthetics
Tina Lu, a 49-year-old housewife from Shanghai, China, favours cups and traditional craftsmanship. “I like beautiful things, and the different shapes of the cups are very attractive.” She says of her collection of beautiful cups. One of her favourites is the Jingdezhen Huayintang Gold and Silver Tea Cup. “This cup is not only beautiful because of its appearance, but also because it carries a meaning of auspiciousness and luxury.”
For Tina, the cup is not only a daily necessity, but also a symbol of quality of life and aesthetics: “Cups are a necessity of life for me, a manifestation of personal quality of life and aesthetics.” Each of her cups has its own story, whether it is a souvenir cup that she met during her travels or a special gift, all of them are full of emotions and memories. In particular, her favourite is a collection of Rabbit Tea Cups, a gift from her daughter. “Every time I see them, they always reminds me of my daughter’s smiling face.” She mentions.
A symbol of ‘Spice’ in Life
For Chim Chen, a 25-year-old TikTok influencer, cups are more like a “spice of life”. “I can’t help but buy a nice cup when I see one, even if I nearly don’t have a place to put it.” She laughs. She likes mugs, glasses, and even thermos cups, and the reason for her purchase is not complicated: “I will buy the ones I like when I see them, and seeing them at home will make me happy.” She also believes that the significance of cups lies in the fact that it makes daily life more pleasant and interesting. “The significance of cups to me is actually like a kind of collector’s item, because I have to use them every day, so changing cups is equal to changing moods.” She says.
In Chim’s opinion, the emotion carried by the cup is even more important. “Every time I use my Peter Rabbit mug, one my mum brought back from Iceland, I taste her love.”
