In an era of dizzying change, high technology, and planned obsolescence, collecting and using restaurant ware is a way of embracing these everyday objects that embody the values of quality and endurance... The cup is the china form with which the user relates most intimately. We actively hold them in our hands, experiencing their feel. We lift them to our lips, repeatedly experiencing their form and decoration up close ... I view this kind of china as mid-century American utilitarian art. -- Steve Aimone

I really can't explain why I find the restaurant coffee cup so compelling; perhaps Prof. Steve Aimone's explanation is the best one. It is an American art form that harkens back to a simpler era; it is a craft to which one relates in a very intimate manner. Moreover, the coffee cup's sturdiness is somehow reflective of the comforting nature of what it contains.

I hope you enjoy my online gallery of vintage restaurant coffee cups.