I've tried not to hog the thread too much, I need to spend time doing the work, not only reporting on it. But you bring up a point that I have a question about.

I have some Asian cups and saucers that were my mother's. My sister mailed them ages ago and they've sat unused in a cupboard ever since. One set broke, but there are three sets still. They are very very thin, and elegantly painted, so I am guessing they are porcelain, not bone china. How would I tell? There isn't anything written or stamped on the bottom, but Mom spent time in Japan after WWII and made a couple of trips back in later years. I think she bought them there.

Maeve, do you have any sources you can recommend before I drift into Google land? I'll probably put them on eBay, but I need to know some history first.

SRS