Sunday, January 20, 2008

Teacups
I have never really cared for ornaments and I am definitely not into stuffed pets. Oh, I mean I think ornaments are very pretty and stuffed pets can be cute but what does one do with them? They both just seem like dust collectors to me. Teacups on the other hand I adore.
Most of my teacups came from my mother and these were working teacups. These teacups have been carted back forth to funerals, weddings, church teas and all sorts of large gatherings. Oh, the stories these teacups could tell. Throughout my apartment you will find my teacups on display. They still get used but their life has been much more sedate since residing with me. Their biggest excitement comes when the cat decides to walk amongst them completely oblivious of the ominous sound of china moving precariously close to an edge of destruction.
I only drink my tea from a china cup. I love the crisp, tinkly sound a china cup makes when placed on its saucer. Somehow drinking tea seems like an event much more so than drinking coffee. There is just something about the ceremony of tea drinking that coffee simply cannot compete with.



This is from the tea set that I inherited from my grandmother.


19 comments:

Barbara Bruederlin said...

Those are such beautiful teacups.

I have to admit I am averse to collecting stuff as well, but do cherish the lovely teacups my mother in law gave me (to make up for some of the ugly stuff she also gave me). I don't use them often, but tea tastes more refined from them.

Toccata said...

Barbara, I agree. More refined I like that idea. It conjures up a sophistication that I in no way possess.

Allison said...

Very lovely collection, I must say! Thanks for posting the pictures. :)

It is refined to drink tea from china, yes, but I always feel out of place doing so. I drink my tea in a giant mug.

Toccata said...

Allison, well I can see where a giant mug would have some advantages over a tiny teacup. Less refilling that way.

Deb said...

So pretty. I'm so bad, I break everything. I had some really pretty teacups from my Grandma and I've stashed them away downstairs, where they're safe. So I mostly use mugs too, because they can withstand my clumsiness a bit better.

Toccata said...

Deb, I have a tendency to chip plates in the sink. I don't know why but plates do not have a long shelf life around here.

Phil said...

Weirdo! Next you'll be getting into orna'mental' thimbles :0]

Toccata said...

Dogga, or worse souvenir spoons.

Anonymous said...

I once collected them as well. My husband prefers beakers but give me a cup.

Anonymous said...

i have a collection of about 150 sets of salt and pepper shakers that were my granny's. Her husband was a truck driver and collected from all over North America.

Toccata said...

Leazwell, is a beaker a mug?

Kelly, are they on display or wrapped up in a box somewhere?

Phil said...

LOL - nowt worse than a souvenir 'love spoon' :]

Toccata said...

Dogga, haha!

Anonymous said...

i had them out at one time, they've since been packed up waiting for my nieces to come and get them

Toccata said...

Kelly, I like that they're going to stay in your family.

Unknown said...

Not that anyone asked but I drink my milk from a small coffee cup. It's easy to wash and if the dog flips it with his tail there is less cleanup. Ha.

Have a great weekend.

mellowlee said...

I love teacups too! The yellow one you posted is so pretty! When my grandma decided to sell her teacups, she let me pick which one I wanted to keep. I chose an orange one. I will take a photo of it for you. Do you still have that link for that blog...the one where the lady posts photos of teacups and whatnot? It was so cool!

Toccata said...

Busterp, oh man the sacrifices we make in order to live with your pets! Dogs get a bad rap but my mom always said the cats did far more damage to the house with their claws than the dogs ever did.

Mellowlee I do have the link I will send it to you now.

Anonymous said...

They look so delicate and lovely. I also have my grandmother's tea seat. I've displayed the on one shelf of my bookshelf - it's an interesting offset to the books. I should get some down and have a little tea party sometime. You are Barbara Bruederlin are welcome, although it might be a long way to go for a cuppa.