Monday, January 23, 2012

Tuesday Cuppa Tea, Wedgwood Austen Family China

Today is Tuesday Cuppa Tea which I am joining hosted by Antiques And Teacups.






I am also joining the blog parties below and especially Sandi for her Tea Time Tuesday 2nd birthday blog party! Happy birthday Sandi!



 I want to share a Wedgwood Moss Rose Queen's Ware teacup today which I chose because of the roses and a Wedgwood/Jane Austen connection.






The set dates to the 1940s, but Moss Rose is one of the oldest recorded china patterns...dating back to the 17th century. I love the ribbed Edme shape of this version...so tactile!  You can see more of the teacup at Time Was Antiques by clicking on the photos.

Sandi's blog is Rose Chintz Cottage so that is my reason for choosing this teacup for today. 


But there was a Jane Austen link as well. As I was looking for a tea quote, I came across an account in the book Tea With Jane Austen by Kim Wilson of Jane Austen accompanying her brother Edward Austen Knight (Edward was adopted by a wealthy relative and so added Knight to the Austen family name) and niece to Wedgwood to choose china. The pattern was a small lozenge in purple between gold lines and the Knight family crest was to be added.

photo from Sotheby's

With a little research, I found out the the dinner set had been on display for years at the Chawton, England Jane Austen's House Museum.
The sad part from my researches is that the china was sold at auction by Sotheby's in Dec. 2010 because of financial reasons by a member of the Knight family. I was unable to find what it sold for but the pre sale estimate was for 50,000 to 70,000 pounds. I hope someone bought the set and gave it back to a museum!

I am joining the following tea related blog parties whom I hope you will visit:



Ruth ~ http://antiquesandteacups.blogspot.com/
Tuesday Cuppa Tea
Terri~  http://artfulaffirmations.blogspot.com/ 
Teacup Tuesday
Trisha~  http://sweetology101.blogspot.com/ 
Tea Party Tuesday
Teatime Tuesday
Kathy~  http://blissfulrhythm.blogspot.com/
Victoria - A Return to Loveliness
Martha~  http://www.marthasfavorites.com/ 
Teacup Tuesday
 
Bernideen’s ~ http://bernideensteatimeblog.blogspot.com
Friends Sharing Tea Wednesday
Tea With Friends






 

11 comments:

Johanna Gehrlein said...

Hi Ruth,
what a pretty Moss Rose pattern. It is a shame that such things like the Jane Austen dinner set get sold instead of kept in the museum.
Best greetings, Johanna

Sandi@ Rose Chintz Cottage said...

Very pretty Moss Rose teacup, Ruth! How sad that the Jane Austen china was sold and cannot be enjoyed by the public any longer. Thank you for sharing this with us.

Blessings,
Sandi

Bernideen said...

This whole blog is so lovely and I love that photo of your's Dad's "pub" spot!

Terri said...

Hello Ruth, what a pretty tea cup! I have seen this one before and I love the vibrant roses.
How sad that they couldn't keep the china! There is some china on display at Chawton, but only a few pieces, or at least there was last year.
Hugs,
Terri

Snap said...

Lovely Moss Rose teacup. Can't imagine selling the Austen china so that the public can't enjoy it. Oh, my! Happy Tea Day!

MomWaldsPlace said...

I was not aware that that set actually existed, how exciting!

That is a lovely set of Edme you have there. Every pattern I see on this style is wonderful.

Judith @ Lavender Cottage said...

The one thing I like about gathering for tea each week is the historical data that we learn. Thanks for sharing about the Jane Austen china and your teacup today is charming.
Judith

Charlotte said...

Thank you for the Jane Austen history, I too hope the china finds its way back to a museum for all to see. If not, I hope the person who bought it loves it and takes good care of it.

Your Moss Rose teacup is very pretty.

Blessings,
Charlotte

Zaa said...

I swoon over the Jane Austin dinner set, but feel sad that it is being sold and separated from its historical gatherings...Your moss rose pattern is simply lovely as is your post... Hugs

Tea in Texas said...

How lovely the moss rose pattern is by Wedgwood and the edme shape of the cup and saucer is classic. I enjoyed the story about Jane Austen and her family buying china at the Wedgwood store. The surprise was the family selling the china so recently. Your hope that it was returned to the museum was one I also share. Happy Tea Party! Pam

Maria Andrade said...

Hi Ruth,
I loved to see and to know about the Moss Rose pattern introduced so long ago.
Like you, I'm an English china lover and have some early pieces in my collection, but not early Wedgwood, at least not with the Wedgwood backstamp.
Times are rough for museums and other cultural institutions, so sometimes they have to make money by selling items from their collections, which is a shame...
Thanks for sharing and for your visit in my blog.
Hugs

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