Teacup of porcelain, painted in enamels with European figures and a coastal scene: China, Qing Dynasty, Qianlong reign, c. 1760 AD, probably painted at Cozzi's factory in Venice

Teacup of white porcelain, bowl with gently flaring sided and short foot, decorated with underglaze blue floral design on body and painted red Buddhist symbols on border around rim: China, Tibetan, 19th century AD, collected in Tibet

Teacup cover of silver chased with symbols and scrolling foliage, everyday use: China, Tibet Autonomous Region, Lhasa, Tibetan, made by Chinese silversmiths

Teacup stand of silver with central depression and fluted rim, everyday use: China, Tibet Autonomous Region, Lhasa, Tibetan, made by Chinese silversmiths

Teacup cover of silver-coloured metal, stepped dome with conical crest and flat brim, decorated with pierced patterns in gilt, coral knop, part of a cover and stand set: China, Tibetan, 19th to early 20th century AD, collected in Tibet

Teacup stand of silver-coloured metal, in form of lobed flower with tall narrow footring, part of a cover and stand set: China, Tibetan, 19th to early 20th century AD, collected in Tibet

Bowl-shaped teacup of white jade on ring foot, used by the Dalai Lama, everyday use: Tibet, Chinese

Circular teacup case of brass with hinged cover, engraved on sides with dragons and on top with a shou symbol, used by the Dalai Lama, everyday use: Tibet, Chinese

Porcelain tea cup painted in sepia and surrounded by gilt borders and roses in natural colours: German, Dresden, Meissen, c. 1780

Porcelain teacup from a tea set designed by Walter Gropius and Louis A. McMillen of The Architects Collaborative (TAC) and Katherine de Sousa in 1968: German, Bavaria, Selb, Rosenthal Factory, 1977

Cup of white jade, with straight sides flaring to mouth and short narrow footring, part of a set with silver stand and copper cover, used for drinking tea: Tibetan, late 19th century AD

Cup stand of silver-coloured metal, lobed flower form with tall narrow footring, decorated with characters, part of a set with jade cup and copper cover, used for drinking tea: Tibetan, late 19th century AD

Cup cover of copper or copper alloy, stepped dome with conical crest and flat brim, decorated with characters and foliate patterns, part of a set with jade cup and silver stand, used for drinking tea: Tibetan, late 19th century AD

Porcelain teacup painted in colours and gold, part of a tea service given to Jane Burke, wife of Edmund Burke, to mark his election as M.P. for Bristol: English, Bristol, by Richard Champion's porcelain factory, c. 1774 - 1775

Handleless teacup of lead-glazed earthenware, marble in brown, blue and cream-coloured clays (solid agate earthenware): English, Staffordshire, c. 1750

Porcelain tea cup with cafe au lait glaze on the exterior and a white interior, Hizen official ware: Arita, Japan, c. 1770