Here's my 2 cents: Disclaimer: I'm no expert at this and others may have better methods, but you'll know what the bits look like. I always submerge the item being drilled in cool water. Watch out when the hole breaks through, as the drill bit can pop through quickly and the drill end may break the pot (probably not an issue with a drill press). The pot on the left was drilled with the diamond tip, the one on the right with the glass/tile bit. Hey, where'd that stinking little slug come from, lol?? The bit on the left is for masonry drilling. You can tell by the little 'wings' on both sides. It takes a loooong time to drill through pots with this. The two in the middle are glass/tile bits. They do a pretty good job. I start with smaller ones and work up to the larger ones, so the larger ones don't get dull from the initial drilling. They work pretty well. The bit on the right is a diamond tip bit. It pulls water into it as it's spinning to keep it cool. It drills a 'plug' out of the pot. It seems to work the best and will be the only one I use from now on. Be sure to read the package about how to start a new hole by drilling at an angle. This may not be necessary with a drill press. Here's the top end of the diamond bit. I've never drilled glass, so can't speak to that. It's probably a good idea to keep your bits cleaner than mine, lol. Hope this helps. Linda

I have made trinket boxes with some I had for craft shows and gifts. You draw around the top of the cup, on a piece of cardboard, to get the circle size. Pad the circle and cover it with a fabric that looks pretty with the flower on the cup. You can put narrow lace around it and then finish it off with a piece of felt or other fabric that doesn't ravel on the inside. But before you glue the finishing circle on, take a piece of ribbon aprox 16 inches long, fold it in the center. Take the folded end and glue or sew to the bottom side of the cardboard. Then glue the finish piece. Tie the ribbon around the handle of the cup and the ribbon becomes a "hinge" You can keep rings or whatever inside the teacup. I glued the cup to the saucer, you can decide if you want to or not. Then I glued small roses on the saucer with a dainty tea spoon. If that doesn't make sense and you'd like to try it but want more instructions email me and I'll see if I can help. patti

This one seems to be the same style, identified as Kutani/Early Taisho period, 1920. Since yours doesn't say ' Made in Japan' or 'Occupied Japan' I would think that it was produced before 1945. Link to plate for sale. The matching tea pot: Another similar set at this auction site.

I have been putting my sterling in the dishwasher for 46 years.....since 1971 when I first got a dishwasher.. I use sterling every day and there has been no solder failure on any knife. Frankly many say that hand washing is more risky to china because of the risk of breaking. And for heaven sake, If anything older than 20 years couldn't go into the dishwasher, I wouldn't be washing anything! I eat daily from Red and green marked Haviland and sterling silver and and have a drink out of a Waterford Alana glass that is about 40 years old. Everything looks just fine! My tupperware is older than 20 years!!