Time For Tea

Afternoon tea, the perfect British pass time. If ever there's a rainy day, put the kettle on. Any problem big or small - a nice cup of tea will make it better. Tea has been a firm favourite with us Brits since the 18th century, and we have the world's greatest tea consumption per capita! To celebrate our love for the beloved hot beverage, this week - Monday 10th to Sunday 16th August - it is National Afternoon Tea Week.

National Afternoon Tea Week. Image by Afternoontea.co.uk

Between 1720 and 1750 the imports of tea to Britain through the British East India Company more than quadrupled, making it a highly valuable item to trade. Again, between 1872 and 1884 the supply of tea to the British Empire increased with the expansion of the railway to the east. From 1884 onwards, due to it's growing popularity, the prices dropped and the drink thus became a choice not only for the upper classes but for people of all backgrounds to enjoy. London became the centre of the international tea trade and with this came a large increase in the demand for porcelain from tea cups, pots and saucers.

At Alfies we have a number of dealers who specialise in fine china, oriental porcelain, silver teapots and everything in between. Here are just a few we have to offer.

A 1930s Sadlers car teapot. Offered by Beth

1930s Japanese tea set, decorated with Moriage detailing. Offered by Horner Antiques

1920s boxed and signed Murano gilt glass cups and saucers decorated with cherries. Offered by Nadine Okker

1790 English silver teapot, with one of the rarest marks on English silver,
Peter and Jonathan Bateman, sons of Hester Bateman. Offered by Janes Antiques

A selection of Art Deco Shelley trio sets. Offered by Beth

1930s Wade Heath Disney house teapot. Offered by Beth

1970s Japanese blue and white shallow teapot. Offered by Horner Antiques

1935 Art Deco platinum ring Royal Doulton tea set, casino pattern. Offered by Robinson Antiques

If this has whetted your appetite for a delicious afternoon tea, then be sure to visit our fantastic Roof Top Kitchen who offer a range of superb teas, coffees and homemade cakes.

Time for tea!

London is a great city to go for afternoon tea in, a few of my favourites are Maison Bertaux in Soho, Treacle on the Columbia Road, Hummingbird Bakery in Notting Hill and the now closed down Shipp's Tearoom at Borough Market. I was very saddened to hear about the closure of Shipp's Tearoom (see picture) I enjoyed delicious clotted cream, jam and scones there washed down with refreshing peppermint tea. All the crockery was mis-matched with different cups and saucers and lovely cake stands. It got me thinking about all the amazing tea sets there are in Alfies, which made me want to recreate the whole experience at home!

Here are a selection of my favourites from a range of different dealers in the market, some are full sets and others are single tea cups and saucers.

These are great cups from Geoffrey Robinson designed by A. H. Woodfull.

'Woody' Woodfull is one of the few designers of plastics products who we know by name. He spent over forty years at British Industrial Plastics (B.I.P) Streetly Factory designing and developing a vast range of products and laying down many of the ground rules of professional industrial design.

Woody and his design unit were responsible for most of the designs of melamine tableware so familiar to the 60's generation. Woody had visited the USA in 1948 and seen early examples of domestic melamine tableware. BIP worked to develop tableware sets to compete with ceramics. Woody's team were involved from the mid 50's onwards with the development of the Midwinter Modern range of melamine tableware.

This beautiful teapot comes from Beth Adams, it is made by Crown Ducal,1933 and the pattern is called Orange Tree. The print is so delicate it would be a pleasure having a cup of tea from it!

Pictured below is an Alfred Meakin 'ceylon tea' Tennis set. This is my favourite, what a treat to have a cup of tea and a delicious piece of cake on this lovely set, theres no room for sharing!

Dealer Wesley Payne on the ground floor has got a vast collection of beautiful china, including the picture above. Wesley specialises in collectable ceramics form the early 20th Century. Below is another great example.

This 1950's set is by Royal Dalton with the pattern name 'Spindrift'.

Carlton Ware Teapot, milk jug and sugar bowl

Below are a selection of individual cups and saucers from Beth and Beverly Adams, all of them very eye catching unique pieces!

Shelly Butterfly Wing Mode Royal Doultan 'Lynn' pattern Shelley Blue Geometric mode
c.1930, Trio c.1933-35 shape c.1930

Lastly I couldn't resist these fantastic 1950's Mickey and Minnie Mouse cups and saucers from Ian Broughton. They bring out the child in me! This is part of a full set and would add a bit of kitsch to your tea party!

Botany Inspired

A recent drink at The Botanist on Sloane Square gave me inspiration to do a organic and foliage lead post today. I went in search around Alfies to find the sorts of decorative things that I could use if I wanted to recreate that look. I found that some many things from prints, to ceramics and fabrics have some great foliage patterns that could really add a natural element to an interior.

Mo Heidarieh on the ground floor had these really lovely antique prints that were similar to the botany prints that were hung up on the walls at The Botanist. Mo has loads of these sorts of prints and they actually date as far back as 100 years ago.

Upstairs on the second floor I found this ceramic water casket with an organic pattern in a blue and white glaze at Manley Black’s. I think he said it was Victorian and it was missing it’s lid but I think it look wonderful nonetheless.

For fabrics and textiles, I had a look at June Victor’s stand on the second floor. She had this beautiful blue silk embroidered Japanese sleeve trimmings from an old kimono that could be used on cushions, npkins or table cloths. I thought they would look really strinking with white fabric.

At Beverly’s, I found a couple of sweet little teacups and saucers. One of which was a Shelley trio from the Victorian era and looked so delicate and elegant. I have a penchant for lustreware and I found this stunning lustre jug there too!