So many of our Teacup Tuesdays have featured an elegant teacup. But this one is really up there with the best of them! Read on, starting with the original Instagram post, as always.
Teacup Tuesday 26 November 2019
Oh I love chocolate! And I love teacups! And I especially love THIS teacup! My husband couldn’t find any earrings on his annual October vacation, so he brought me back this gorgeous cup and saucer instead! It’s such an elegant teacup – and isn’t chocolate elegant too?! Pop over to the blog to read more about both. Plus there are lots of lovely teacup and chocolate pictures! Click the link in my profile, or visit MANTELandTABLE.com. Happy Teacup Tuesday – and Chocolate Tuesday – Everyone!
Extra Elegant Teacup Tidbits
Usually this section of Teacup Tuesday is where I get to daydream and think up decorating ideas! This week is no exception, but the daydream is reasonably easy, since with all this chocolate, I have almost nothing else to wish for!
However, I could imagine that I might be in a cozy round turret room, full of pillows! Maybe a little like I Dream of Jeannie’s bottle, except with cream, gold, and chocolate-brown velvet cushions. And gold tassels. And of course a gold-veined white marble table to set down my elegant teacup and dish of chocolates. Oh and a fireplace too.
I could climb up the turret stairs and snuggle in for the whole day. I wouldn’t come out until someone called me for a late dinner. Ahh what a life!
Manufacturer’s Info
Unlike a lot of English potteries, our beautifully elegant teacup has a pretty straightforward history. Back in 1898, the Plant brothers – Richard Hammersley & Simon Lucas – formed a pottery-making partnership. They produced their wares at the Tuscan Works in Longton, England. I’m not exactly sure if they rented the space from someone else, but history reports that the brothers didn’t buy the property until 1914.
Some of their earliest pieces incorporated their initials into the backstamp, “RH & SL Plant,” which was also the name of the company. According to my source, HERE, this mark indicates that our cup was made between 1936 and 1966.
I think it’s fair to assume that the hand painted number is a pattern or painter identification. But I couldn’t find anything on it, so we’ll just have to use our imaginations for now!
Anyway, as with so many potteries, RH & SL Plant passed from fathers to sons, till in 1966, grandson Richard Plant sold it to Wedgwood. Wedgwood changed the name to “Royal Tuscan” and continued to make china there until 2006.
Elegant Teacup With Chocolates ~ Behind the Scenes
This whole chocolate dream started because of the fall party we have every year. We get some new wine from the fabulous R. Stuart Winery, invite our friends over, and celebrate the harvest by eating a lot of food!
My sort of theme this year was “boards,” and one of them was this chocolate board, above, inspired by the lovely Ashley @livingbeautahfully.
There must have been some sort of No-Party Vortex that night, because we had way fewer guests than usual. Which meant we had lots of food left over. (Hey, I’m not complaining, because look at all this chocolate!)
So what better to do with it, (before eating it of course,) than to photograph it with my lovely and elegant teacup!
I just – carefully – moved the board to the table by the window, (instead of moving the whole table like I did here.) Then I leaned another board against the chair for a backdrop. As you can see, I brought a couple boards out there, so I could choose the perfect one.
Then I made some tea and sat down with a few of those chocolate pieces. I didn’t have velvet cushions in a tower room, but I did have a fireplace and a good book. Add in my new elegant teacup, and it was a lovely afternoon!
Elegant Teacup Shopping
If you love teacups as much as I do and want to start or add to your collection, Click HERE for the Shopping Page. Then scroll down and click on the picture of the teacup.
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Have a Lovely Teacup Tuesday!
You had me at a cornucopia of chocolate Barbara! I love the idea of a chocolate board. Beautifully done my friend.
Ha! LOVE that chocolate! Don’t you wish it was like the movie Defending Your Life? (If you haven’t seen that one, it’s where you can eat anything you want and you never get full and never gain weight!) 🤣🥂 Happy Monday!
So beautiful! What a lovely combination. Your dream place sounds pretty amazing too.
Thanks Ranae! Chocolate is always a great combination, right?! 🤣 I’m so glad you stopped by – and see you soon!
Looks amazing and so very delicious as always my friend. I’m so bummed that we’re not closer to have more tea parties together.
Hi Chas! Wouldn’t it be fun to just be able to get together for tea any time we wanted? Thank goodness for the internet instead! 🙂 Thanks so much for stopping by, and hope you’re having a lovey weekend!
Chocolate and tea..what a delightful combination Barbara. Love the way you used boards to style the setting. Beautifully done.
Thanks so much Denise – one of my very favorite combinations! 🙂 💗💗 Do you follow Ashely @livingbeautahfully? Her IG post was the inspiration for the board! Happy Tuesday my friend!
What a lovely, decadent and delicious idea, a chocolate board!!! Wowza, that is beautiful! Happy Holidays!
Hi Jenna! I know – I SO loved the chocolate board idea when I first saw it, I just had to copy it! I was really in chocolate heaven! 🙂 Thanks so much for coming on over – I’ve been enjoying your blog! 💗 Happy Holidays to you too!