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

Sandi  ~  http://sandimyyellowdoor.blogspot.com

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

Angela  http://teawithfriends.blogspot.com/

Tea With Friends

Miss Kathy http://thewritersreverie.blogspot.com

http://www.attitudeivlife.blogspot.com/p/afternoon-tea.html   Afternoon Tea