Tuesday 2 August 2011

Tea Cup Tuesday - Flying Pheasant

Welcome to my first Tea Cup Tuesday post.



In my kitchen breakfast room we have a triple display unit. The photograph shown here shows the centre section of it. This display unit is the home to an assortment of things. Things we have gathered together as a result of wanders around antique centres, or from a well known auction site. It also houses lots of china and things that I inherited from my Grandmother. The water set on the top shelf, the beautiful tea set that sits on the second and third shelf which were wedding presents given to my Grandparents in 1939 and on the bottom shelf sits a few plates and serving dishes inherited from my Grandmother.

My favourite bits are the tea set. It seems ironic that we have all this china, which lived in a cupboard, out of sight when my Grandmother was alive, yet we don't have a single photograph of the wedding. Sad, but true.

About 10 years ago we were in Honiton having a wander around one of the then many antique shops when I saw some bits that complimented and matched this set. I pondered; should I get them and add to the set or leave the set as it stands as a true reflection of my Grandparents wedding? I asked Stuart who said, unhelpfully, its up to you. I wandered back and forth, picking up bits and then replacing them. In the end I decided not to buy of any of it. Do I regret it? just a little. It is a lovely set. I have never used it and I suspect that neither did my Grandmother. As to who bought if for them I have no idea.

The bottom of all the items it reads:

X L Ware
Flying Pheasant
British Made

There are no other details and apart from that one day in the antique shop I have never seen any other pieces.


That tea set is really as much a part of my family history as any written word or picture of an individual. Most of us inherit bits from family members and we of course treasure them, as gifts from a known individual. Do we though look beyond that? To explore the how did they get the item and why? All those thoughts and questions build further information into the life of the person from whom we inherited it from.

Submitted as part of Tea Cups Tuesday hosted by Artful Affirmations

10 comments:

  1. Hello,
    you shared a touching story about your tea set. It is part of your rmemories to your Grandparents. How lovely that you have this nice set. I am sure your Grandmother would love to know how much you treasure it. Thank you for sharing it with us.
    Best greetings, Johanna

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thank you Johanna for stopping by. I have quite a lot of china left to me by my Grandmother and hope to share them over the coming weeks.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hello, It's a pleasure to visit your blog for the first time today. I enjoyed hearing about your grandmother's tea cups. They are unusual and pretty and hold with them special memories.
    Blessings, Beth

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thank you for sharing some of the history of your china. I think I may have done just what you did and left the set just as your grandmother had it. It is a lovely set too! Almost looks like watercolors. Thank you so much for sharing with us today.
    Hugs,
    Terri

    ReplyDelete
  5. a lovely tea set-- and a lovely set of memories of your grandmother.

    ReplyDelete
  6. What a lovely set! Wonderful memories of your grandmother for you. Thank you for sharing the history. Happy Tea Day!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thanks everyone for stopping by and making me so welcome at Tea Cup Tuesday. Gran would have been absolutely tickled pink to see such interest.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hi: What wonderful history. I love it when I know more about a piece. Thank you for joining Tea Cup Tuesday. Have a great week. Blessings, Martha

    ReplyDelete
  9. lovely to see your china. I have an oval meat dish in the exact same pattern inherited from my granny who lived in the west country

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Kathleen for stopping by. It is an unusual design and I have only ever seen one other set of it, and do so wish I had bought it!

      Delete

Hello! Thanks for stopping by and choosing to leave a message. I read every message and I usually reply via the comment thread. Posts are currently moderated due to the sudden influx of spam postings!

Linkwithin

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...