I grew up in Australia with the custom of "Morning Tea" and "Afternoon Tea". At a minimum this consists of a good cuppa and bikkies [cookies]. If company is expected homemade cakes and biscuits, pikelets and perhaps even "scones and jam and cream" [called Devonshire Tea in Australia] would be offered.
Every self respecting woman back then had a nice collection of fine china cups, saucers and plates, Royal Winton, Royal Doulton, Staffordshire etc etc and many other names well known in the English tradition of fine bone china. To this day my 98 yrs. young Dad insists that the tea doesn't taste right unless it is in a nice bone china cup and I tend to agree with him!
The other requisite for Tea with company was a silver teapot, creamer and sugar bowl.
I have all of the above that I have shown on other VTT's!
I began my collection of china at 13 when my very English Grandma gave me my first cup, saucer and plate, it's the pale pink one second from the left on the top shelf. The set on the far right on the top shelf my Mum gave me, she chose it because the brand on it is "Roslyn" and if you enlarge the pic. you can even read my name on the cup. These have special sentimental value, both the lovely ladies that gave them to me are no longer alive. A couple of these sets were 21st. birthday gifts and two or three DH brought me from UK when he was on business.
I began my collection of china at 13 when my very English Grandma gave me my first cup, saucer and plate, it's the pale pink one second from the left on the top shelf. The set on the far right on the top shelf my Mum gave me, she chose it because the brand on it is "Roslyn" and if you enlarge the pic. you can even read my name on the cup. These have special sentimental value, both the lovely ladies that gave them to me are no longer alive. A couple of these sets were 21st. birthday gifts and two or three DH brought me from UK when he was on business.
I remember that my other Grandmother had an entire large china cabinet- probably 6-8 shelves absolutely packed with tea cup sets I don't think I ever saw so many in one place and I doubt there were any duplicates.
I gave up collecting them many years ago because I just didn't have a place to keep them or a need for them, Teas are not an American tradition.
There are a couple of other sets that are not English china, this is one, it resides on a different shelf, there isn't space for it with the others. It's different, very oriental and my senior brain can't remember who gave it to me!
I don't drink much tea, but I think sometime I will buy a fancy cup and saucer to make drinking tea seem more fun.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great collection of tea cups. They all are too pretty to use. We have ice tea here which is very good. I have never cared for hot tea.
ReplyDeleteI love that you have such a great mis-matched collection. I bet you could bring back afternoon tea if you threw a little party once a month or so.
ReplyDeleteI'm giving away a Halloween bracelet, so check it out when you visit for VTT.
Wonderful sets!!!! My Aunt does these...I just love them!
ReplyDeleteSandy http://521lakestreet.blogspot.com
love your gorgeous china!!..i much prefer having a cuppa in a bone china teacup too.. now you've got me craving scones with jam & cream..DELISH!!
ReplyDeleteAren't they lovely Roz,
ReplyDeleteI collected them too when I was younger but they do require a lot of room and I have so little space for collections.
Your collection is just beautiful. (I have the teacup and saucer that is on the top row, second from the right.) I love all of them.
They are all so beautiful. I have my grandmothers/mothers collection and a few of my own and I always say that I am going to have a tea party and use each and every one of them...wouldn't that be a lovely!
ReplyDeleteI agree with your father, a fine cup will make the tea taste even better! I refuse to serve tea in coffee cups. Your cups are really beautiful.
ReplyDeleteSwoon! And I do like tea, very much. Its getting much more popular now :)
ReplyDeleteVery nice collection. You can tell you have a fine appreciation for them.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing!
Living it up at Lakewood,
Cindy
How lovely, especially the violet one---I can see the artist making each gentle stroke of the brush in those purples and greens. Just charming, all of them.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely love them. I have a nice collection also. But I do not have a good place to display them so they are not appreciated the way they should be. I have concentrated mainly on Occupied Japan or Nippon designs. However, I do have the one you show in your bottom picture. Same design, a little different in shape though.
ReplyDeleteI have never been a tea drinker, but have always love the delicate tea cups of old.
These are so pretty....I love the one with your name on it, all the colors and patterns are so lovely. I would have something built to house these lovely sets...they are too pretty not to look at.
ReplyDeleteHave a great Weekend and a wonderful VTT!
Lovely collection. I love teacups, teapots and all things tea. It is so fun to have a tea party with friends. I am always on the look out for a pretty teacup to add to my ever growing collection.
ReplyDeleteJocelyn
http://justalittlesouthernhospitality.blogspot.com/
What a beautiful collection you have.
ReplyDeleteMy Aunt Doris used to collect china tea cups. I didn't "get" it at the time - - - but boy howdy, do I now!!! When she passed away, my cousin, her daughter, GAVE me one of her cups and saucers. TREASURE.
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