High Tea

[Halex]

yes I love my china, it is very rarely used, I have decided that is would be a good idea to use it more often and if a piece gets broken so be it. What I love about this set it is replaceable.

I also have their everyday OCR which is dishwasher safe, I was quite cross after spending a while collecting bits and pieces I was told it was to be discontinued. Very annoying.

Enjoy your china and crystal.


Thanks again to everyone for all your lovely compliments.

Hally

[thermoheaven]

I thought your china looked familiar, so do you think you want to know about this:

http://www.victoriasbasement.com.au/Product_Detail.aspx?ParCatID=DW&SubCat1=DWRAOCR&ProductID=69550

I'd love to get the set for myself, but until I sort out where I'm going to live, I should hold off buying anything.

[thermoheaven]

This may be a better link:

http://www.victoriasbasement.com.au/product_subcategory.aspx?ParCatID=DW&SubCat1=DWRAOCR

[judydawn]

Great link thermoheaven, the 4 piece starter set is a good price - I didn't know you could get all that bakeware as well.  I've had mine over 30 years and just bought things when they were on special, started off with the tea set then added the plates etc. I bought the dinner plates at a chemist shop when they were giving 20% off which was the last thing I needed to complete my 6 piece setting.  Like Hally, I love the fact you can replace bits and pieces but so far nothing has been broken and I'd hate to see the look on someone's face if they did break one of the items.

[Cuilidh]

I got a tea set of this china when we got married and have never used it - never really had the opportunity - but I do hope to have a chance to start using it now.

Looking at the prices on this web site, you can't help but wonder what sort of mark up these retailers use.  We have two shops and we are lucky if we get a 50% mark up - I think we must be in the wrong line of business - I'm not bitter and twisted, honestly, but I can see why the public have a deep suspicion about pricing and start bargaining when they make purchases these days.

[Halex]

Fantastic link and look at those prices............... so much better value than at Myer or DJ's. Thank you so much.

I would love to buy some more - so will have to save up and start collecting a few more bits - but I must use it more. It sits in the cupboard looking pretty but it is really nice to use all the pieces.

[andiesenji]

It's a lovely pattern.  I've never collected it and only have a couple of pieces - I have a teapot  and  what can only be described as a
JUMBO  cup and saucer.  (Holds 450 ml - 15 ounces)

The teapot holds enough for 1 1/2 cups of this size cup.  4 - 6 cups of "normal" sized cups.

Poor little thing, sometimes I think it must have an inferiority complex!

These were given to me by folks who know I am a "collector" but really have no idea of what I actually collect. 
(vintage teapots, except for certain oddities).   As I've got several sets of "china" - stoneware - and other tableware, most inherited, this particular pattern never got much of my attention. 

I've got two different sets that are service for 24 each.  In previous generations, my family was very prolific. 
My great grandmother raised 13 children to adulthood - several died in infancy.   

[judydawn]

I'd love to go on a guided tour of your collectables andie 
Know what you mean with people giving items to add to your collection.  You only have to mention you like owls, cows or whatever and you end up with pieces every birthday, Christmas and just out of the blue.  A friend was innundated with owls, not to her liking as it was a certain look she wanted.  I started collecting dolls & Beswick cows but ended up with all sorts of shapes and sizes.  Every now and then I decluttered and eventually lost interest in collecting things, particularly as I have gotten older and want a simple life with not so much dusting/housework involved. I only kept my few Beswick pieces, a few  of the favourites from the cow collection and 3 of the dolls.  Mum's retirement village was the winner, everything went around there for their annual fete.

[cookie1]

Wonderful site.
I'm rather spoiled as I have a Royal Albert set of my own and I inherited 2 Royal Doulton sets and lots of beautiful crystal from Mum to add to my own. DD ppointed out that she would stand to inherit it all and said we should use it. After a serious think I agreed with her. Now we use it on an everyday basis keeping one for special occasions. I feel I shouldn't but it is lovely and decadent. I don't have Old Englsih Roses though and I do love that. DD has bought me bits and pieces such as plates and coffee mugs that I use everyday.

[andiesenji]

This is my great grandmother's  Spode Copeland dinnerware, purchased after the Great London Exposition in 1862.
It is all hand-painted and has heavy gold leaf.   The original service was for 24 and it includes all the extra plates and dishes so loved by the Victorians; fish plates, soup "plates" and covered soup "dishes" (for different types of soups) the crescent-shaped bone dishes, and so on.  I still have the two large tea chests in which it was shipped when she came to America with my grandfather in 1919. 

I broke a couple of plates back in the early '80s (pre internet) and it took me six months to find two identical replacements. 

[judydawn]

Gorgeous andie.  I'd love to see you with all your beautiful things on the American Antique Roadshow 

[thermoheaven]

After looking at all of this, I think I'm going to take my stuff out and use it. There's no point keeping it in the cupboard, and because it's gilded, chances are that my children won't want it because it won't go in the microwave. It's nice to have these things, but they really need to be used.

[Very Happy Jan]

I  am in the process of cleaning my Mum's house out ready to sell(She moved into care last year) and she has a Royal Albert Memory Lane dinner setting (for 6 I think) and the Old Country Roses Afternoon Tea Set (seemingly with every piece possible - just kept finding more and more of it  ) I just don't know what to do with it all.    My initial thought was to give it to her grand daughters but there are 3, so too difficult.  Wish she had bought another set of something so I could share it all equally.

[judydawn]

Mmm, that is a problem Jan - looks like you might have to take it for yourself 

[meganjane]

Oh that Royal Albert looks stunning and so does the food!
I've never been into old fashioned crockery, but it's really growing on me.
I think I'll have to organise a High Tea for our Red Hatters group in the near future!