Tea Cup Sets
In a class of their own
Remember playing with your tea cup sets and making believe it was a fancy, "big girl" set? Something like you saw your mom use when she had a party. The imagine of drinking out of a fancy cup is a nice one.
Do you have old cups or mugs that are chipped that you use daily? Isn't it nice for once to drink tea out of "real" tea cups that are also attractive and have nice designs and patterns on them.
What is it about them that they add a touch of glass to an afternoon tea party?
Tea cups sets can be so varied in style and design. It's like being a kid in a candy store with so much to chose from:
Like the Asian style tea set?
- It lacks a handle. (Remember going out to a Chinese restaurant and the cups had no handle and asking mom what happened to the handle?).
- The walls of the bowl are thick since no handle is available for holding the cup.
- Uses a shallow bowl and lacks a saucer plate.
- Sometimes includes a cover or lid.
- Smaller than European cups.
How about European type porcelain tea cups?
They usually have:
- A matching saucer plate.
- Often featured as part of a set.
- Includes a small handle that is often high on the side of the
cup.
- Does not include a cover or lid.
- The bowl is taller than the base of the cup.
- Larger than Asian tea cups.
- Feature a strong yet delicate look.
- Truly fine quality that is often translucent when held to the light.
Don't forget the English
- Royal Doulton cups are made of bone china
- The Royal Albert collection's style and design are gorgeously detailed. Their design represented what was popular at the time the cup was made.
- Popular pattern is the "Old Country Rose" design.
Looking for more styles:
- Try cast iron. It's known to keep in heat longer.
- Ceramic - versatile and numerous designs.
- Glass...some can be handblown and have a strainer built inside for the leaves. The sunlight that can bounce off the glass is an added nice feature.
Give as a gift
Whether you are looking for yourself or a gift these sets are elegant and classy. They range from modern to classic to floral to artsy to sophisticated. These are one of the gifts that are designed to keep on giving pleasure long after that first use or as a special treat for your own use.
