BellaOnline Forums Food and Wine Tea Does anyone collect tea cups/tea pots?

Phyllis, Thank you for your love of the tea party. And at Christmas time it is all the more special. I love your choice of goodies to put out! It sounds yummy and I will bet that each year your friends cannot wait until it is time for your tea party!

Mary Caliendo

Sue, I know you are a tea lover, and Iam so glad. I'll confer with you on different teas when I try a new one.

I too have many a glued on handle as Phyllis mentioned too that she uses some of the cracked ones for vases, the cups/or pots that I have that are beyond repair do become planters for tiny flowers or herbs (mini herb gardens)(makes a great gift idea! The broken ones, I think have character!

I think the little nested ones are cute! I do have just one, my daughter bought it for me for Christmas one year, and I like it. It has traditionalChinese patterns on it.

Mary Caliendo

I also use the old cups with broken handles to put little African Violets in. They look so pretty sitting in the saucer. I try to match the violet color to the cup.

Phyllis- I'm getting into the "green theme" of things, It's truly a great way to recycle too! Great idea matching the colors!

My mother is a huge collector of African Violets, She loves them!


Mary Caliendo
Tea Editor

The African Violets look so dainty and Victorian-like in the tea cups.

I have a pattern for a wall hanging which is quilted. It is a picture of two Victorian ladies sitting at a kitchen table drinking tea. The tea cups, saucers and tea pot are all made from tiny print calico fabrics. It is very pretty.

Here is a link to view some antique tea cups. Save those tea cups, ladies - they may be valuable.

Antique Tea Cups

Phyllis the wall hanging sounds lovely- did you say you made it?

The african violets would be a great centerpiece for a tea party table, or just for every day!

I am researching the subjects of art and tea. The Chinese/Japanese arts are deeply rooted in their tea culture!

Mary Caliendo

My daughter-in-law is Japanese, a lovely woman. I gave her a very old tea set several years ago and she loved it.

Drinking tea seems to be a very healing process. I always feel good when I have a cup of hot tea.

No, I did not make the wall hanging - but, I do have the fabrics to make it one of these days. I also have another pattern for a wall hanging that has nine squares, each with a calico teapot in it and bordered in solid fabric between each square and the outside borders. It is really pretty. One of these days I will get to it and make both wall hangings.

A collection of my teapots and tea cup sets would look pretty on the buffet under the wall hanging of the two ladies drinking tea.

My Mother-in-Law collects tea cups and tea pots. She got me started with my collection. I always LOVED her "Old Country Roses" cup by Royal Albert. She started my collection with one of those cups. She has added to the set over the years with a small bud vase, and the tea pot, sugar and creamer. They are some of my most prized possessions.

One year for Christmas she gave her 2 daughters, and her 2 daughters-in-law a tea cup with our birth month flower on it. Mine is lily of the valley and I love it.