What could possibly be more English that a cup of tea? Afternoon tea with a scone, served in a fine bone china antique tea set is one of life’s few remaining truly English pleasures. Tea became popular with the British in the days of the Raj, as a refreshing drink to help prevent dehydration with the heat and the humidity. The English adoption of the drink took place rapidly and the universal love of tea survives to this day.
The taking of tea in high society in Britain is a social event and the perfect time to take a little time to relax after a hard morning shooting any marvel of creation which had mastered the art of flying. It is a refined event designed to cleanse oneself of the murderous deeds of the morning, and sets oneself up nicely for a game of afternoon billiards.
The early 18th century saw vast supplies of tea coming in from East India, and sated the growing appetite for a ‘cuppa cha’. China was arriving from the east; at first mostly used as ballast. Once they had learned how to look after it, china tea sets followed. In the mid eighteenth century china clay was discovered in Cornwall, and the extraction led to a proliferation of bone china pieces being produced, in particular in the Staffordshire region. New home grown china pottery included tea services, dinnerware, and decorative items.
As part of this proliferation, the production of ornate china teapots and tea services grew. Many were painstakingly decorated with fine art and prints from around the world. Highly decorative pieces represent an important era in the history of the country and remind many collectors of times gone by.
An antique tea set is a highly coveted item, and is terribly collectible. Many high quality sets with little signs of wear sell for several hundreds of pounds at auction houses. Stateside too, collectors across the continent seek out the most decorative and attractive sets for private collections.
Many collectors specialize more in single tea pots, which can be meticulously decorated and made from china, porcelain, silver or stoneware, however a complete antique tea set will have greater value than just a single piece.
A large English producer of teapots and tea sets is Royal Doulton. Formed in 1815, they are one of the most famous. Well known through out England especially by men, probably due to their range of pub urinals and toilets; a testament to the true versatility of the material.
Also well known despite its absence in restrooms is Wedgewood china. Founded in 1759 by Josiah Wedgwood, his pottery impressed the current queen who endorsed it; seeing sales soar around Europe with the “Queen’s ware” brand. It was a later range of hard white porcelain which became the high society favorite in the early nineteenth century.
Traditionally, Wedgewood produced mythological designs on their pieces, taking settings from Roman, Greek and Egyptian Myths. The demand was extraordinary and raw materials from China were no longer a practical solution. Locally produced substitutes soon found their way into the range to keep up with demand.
Silver tea services are also highly priced, made from plated or sterling silver they were seen as a status symbol and now fetch high prices at markets, auctions and antique fairs.