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Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Tea Cup-a-Story


La Tea Dah at Gracious Hospitality is hosting a Tea Blog-a-Thon from March 16 until May 31. She has a different theme for each week and you may participate as much or as little as you like. The first one is Tea Cup-a-Story for the week of March 16-22: "Share a picture of your favorite teacup and saucer; describe it and tell it's history (or make up a story about it's past). Why is it meaningful to you? This would be a good place to share about the details of your teacup collection if you have one."

When I read about the Gracious Hospital-i-Tea Blog-a-Thon I was very glad and decided to participate. As it is, I enjoy drinking hot tea, and have many matching tea cups and saucers with my china patterns, plus a separate blue and white collection with each cup representing a different pattern. The manufacturers are from England, United States, Germany, France, Japan, and Denmark. I showed the collection in my Jan. 15, 2008 post and in the Jan. 25 post.

Choosing a favorite is difficult since I like different ones for various reasons. I thought I’d share both one of my own favorite teacups and my mother’s favorite from among my Blue and White Teacup Collection.
Here is one favorite of mine:


It is a teacup and saucer that I got last September at a local antique shop, as told in my Oct. 21, 2007 post. It was made in Limoges, France. It is delicate and has a floral pattern in a pale blue on a white ground. The handle forms a small circle, called a ring handle.


The cup is so light and lovely, with an interior in a soft blue.

My blue and white collection is mostly cobalt blue with few of the softer blues. I am especially glad to have the Limoges cup and saucer since I would have missed it if it had not been pointed out to me. I also got it at a good price.

Here is my mother’s favorite. It is the teacup I use daily for her hot herb tea. She especially loves the design of the cup handle, which is divided handle.





The pattern is "Blue Danube" and is made in Japan. The design is actually based on the "Blue Onion" pattern first produced by Meissen in Germany.




Please visit La Tea Dah at Gracious Hospitality for links to other participants.

21 comments:

Anonymous said...
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Anonymous said...

Lovely tea cups! The Limoge one looks so delicate!

Manuela

Patty said...

oh oh oh, I have the same tea cup as the "blue onion" one. Melanie gave it to me for a birthday gift one year.

Alice said...

Your Limoges teacup is so beautiful. I love the blue inside the cup and the special handle. You must feel very elegant drinking from it.

There is something sturdier about the way your mother's favorite teacup looks, as though it could handle the strongest, darkest tea. That handle too is so interesting.

I couldn't help noticing the doily and wondering if you or your mother crocheted it. I love the colors and pattern.

Carrie said...

Alice, I bought the crocheted doily at a consignment shop a few years ago.

Anonymous said...

Hi Carrie,
Your tea cups are just beautiful! I love the color blue. It's such a soothing color and my absolute favorite. Love those flowers too! Your a lucky girl.

Mary Isabella and Kiley too! said...

They are so stunning!!! It is about to storm here and they are calling for some really bad weather in our part of Ky.. Please remember us with a prayer....beautiful thoughts for a wonderful Easter week are being sent to you............

Gina E. said...

I adore blue and white china, although I don't have much of it - just a few Blue Willow and Delft pieces. I didn't know Limoges made tea sets; I thought they just made ornaments. What an unusual and lovely design - well, they all are!

Jenn Thorson said...

The soft blue is so unusual-- I love it. I haven't seen many from that time period in that shade.

You always have something good to show us, don't you? :) If I don't speak to you beforehand, have a great Easter. -Jenn

Millie said...

Hi Carrie
Thanks for your comments on my cup. I am just starting my blog, so it is not up to par yet!
Your cup and saucer are lovely. Don't you wonder what the stories are on these beautiful pieces of china? Or why they aren't passed down to a family member?

Vee said...

The inside color of your first teacup is amazing. I hadn't given much thought to handle design other than knowing what I like the feel of. Another thing to think about...now I'm wondering how comfortable the ring handle would be...

Anonymous said...

your blue cups are beautiful. The first one is so unique! such a pretty blue. Enjoy...

ellen b. said...

Hi Carrie,
You asked me about my second blue and white tea-cup. It is English Chippendale/Johnson Bros./ England/design patent 103.232
Hope you don't mind I answered you here :)

Sandra said...

Hi Carrie,

Your Limoges teacup is beautiful. I have four Limoges teacups with matching luncheon plates that a friend gave me.

Sandra
Ravenhill Cottage

Anonymous said...

Hello Carrie, how beautiful your teacups are! Blue and white is my favorite, that's what I collect. I was so surprised to see your blue danube...I have two bowls of the exact pattern :). Thank you for sharing.

Kathi

Yellow Rose Arbor said...

Both of those tea cups are just beautiful! The handles are very unusual. So sweet that your mother also has a favorite!

Katherine

La Tea Dah said...

Hi Carrie,

Yes, I did visit Oak Rise Cottage and really enjoyed your post. But I realize that I became distracted and didn't leave a comment. I apologize very much for that. I love blue and white teacups and yours are beautiful! The Limoges is a real find! It's not easy to find 'baby blue' teacups and yours with the pale blue interior is soooo pretty! I also love your mother's favorite teacup, the Blue Danube. My step-mom has a set of china in that pattern and I have always enjoyed and appreciated it. It reminds me of a beautiful crewel embroidery project!

Thank you so much for sharing in the Gracious Hospital-i-Tea blog-a-thon. I loved your post and look forward to future ones!!!

LaTeaDah

La Tea Dah said...

Have you noticed how many people have blue and white teacup collections? They are so popular and pretty!

Steph said...

Hello, and thank you for sharing these beauties! I actually have a few teacups and saucers (and plates) very similar to your Mother's favorite. I'm thrilled to see them here - they are just gorgeous. And that first one is so delicate. Wonderful treasures!

And thank you for visiting my blog!

Irene said...

I bought a very similat design to the white/blue one from Ikea last year. I actually liked the whole set but my husband didn't so I just bought the cup and saucer. I love pottery. Somehow a beautiful cup, or let's say one that speaks to my aesthetics of that time, makes tea a luxurius treat. Beautiful finds.

Kim said...

I love the Blue Danube. That is my china pattern. It is made where I live. My mother-in-law bought 8 place settings for a wedding gift for my hubby before we ever started dating! I absolutely love it and have been adding to it over the years. Everyone alwasy feels so special when I use it!

Thanks for stopping by my blog!