Isn’t this Royal Winton Summertime teacup lovely? The funny thing about it is that it’s sitting in the snow! Keep reading for all the info, starting as always, with the original Instagram post.
Teacup Tuesday 17 March 2020
Happy Teacup Tuesday! First, this didn’t turn out quite the way I wanted. But I was so cold, I just had to get back inside and make do! SO, disclaimer out of the way, the word of the day is juxtaposition! We had snow at our place the other day, which for the PNW is a little out of the ordinary. It was so cold and pale and monochrome outside, I thought a super warm bright teacup would be fun! So we got this one, which is even named ‘Summertime!’ Come on over to the blog for more seasonal hijinks. Just tap the link in my profile or visit MANTELandTABLE.com.
Extra Royal Winton Summertime Teacup Tidbits
My poor parents tried to make me into a skier, but they just couldn’t do it. I hated the cold, and was much happier sitting by the fire in the lodge with a cup of hot chocolate! But they waxed poetic about spring skiing! And that’s what was on my mind when I put this Royal Winton Summertime teacup out in the March snow!
As usual though, it didn’t make me want to ski. It made me want to sit in a warm lodge at a big window and watch the snow fall in big puffy flakes. While I had a nice warm cup of tea and dreamed of summertime!
Manufacturer’s Info
This beautiful Royal Winton Summertime teacup was made by the Grimwades Ltd company. Leonard Grimwade started his own pottery back in the day. His brother Sidney joined him in 1885, and they became Grimwade Bros.
They apparently did something right, because they grew by leaps and bounds for the next 15 years. (That something right quite possibly included two very important inventions that revolutionized the manufacturing industry!) They acquired several other potteries along the way, and in 1900, they changed their name to Grimwades Ltd.
The brothers produced their pottery at the Winton works, and they took that name for one of their brands. The story goes that the Royal part was added without actually applying for a warrant from the queen! But she apparently visited, took a tour of the potteries, and purchased a tea set in the new Queen Mary Chintz pattern! She was so pleased, that she gave her blessing to Grimwades to use ‘Royal’ in their name.
The company went through several ownership changes after Leonard’s death in 1931. Then in 1995, the Taylor Tunnicliffe Group bought it, kept the name, and revived a lot of the chintz patterns, including the one on our Royal Winton Summertime teacup. Here’s some more manufacturing info if you’re interested.
I think it’s kind of fun that the saucer is from 1995. It must have been one of the first that the new company made. The teacup is from a later batch – the backstamp says 1998. Also I like that it has a B on it!
Royal Winton Summertime Teacup ~ Behind the Scenes
Well as you can kind of see, we had snow! I really wanted a snow teacup picture, but I couldn’t find anywhere good to take it. And as I mentioned above, it was darn cold out there!
I just set up my white background on one of the chairs and put our Royal Winton Summertime teacup down in the snow! Problem was, you really couldn’t tell it was snow without looking pretty hard. Plus it started snowing again as I was out there. That might have been an added photographic bonus, but I couldn’t get it to show up in the photos. Plus it was cold! And wet.
I’m not giving up on getting good snow pictures though! I’m going to make a plan and pick out a place, so next time I’ll be ready! Maybe I’ll get a warmer coat too!
I hope you liked our little juxtaposition of winter and summer. Let me know what you think in the comments below, and pop over to the Teacup Shop and buy yourself to a little treat of a beautiful teacup! You deserve it!
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. There are lots and lots of gorgeous cups and saucers just waiting for good homes!
And remember, a portion of anything you buy from MANTELandTABLE.com goes to Habitat for Humanity and Proud Ground. With our purchases, we get to help people build homes for their own mantels and tables!
Pin the Royal Winton Summertime Teacup For Later
Have a Lovely Teacup Tuesday!
I have some teacups in this pattern and they make me smile! One of my favorite patterns currently.
Wow Jeanne – I’ve never known anyone else who had this pattern! That’s so fun! 🙂 I really like it too, it’s so bright and – well – summery! 💗 Hope you have a great week, and thanks so much for stopping by!
Barbara, your photography is amazing and the tea cup and saucer is so pretty! I’m with you – not out in the cold and snow, but inside by a nice warm fireplace, sipping something yummy and dreaming of warmer days and summer breezes. So love the salute to summer – its coming, I know it. Stay warm and safe!
Hi Kim – thanks so much! 💗 You and I will be the first ones to the fire at the ski resort! 🙂 Hope you’re safe and warm too!
Barbara, your photographs are gorgeous! The chintz teacup is so pretty and has me dreaming of warmer weather. Take care, sweet friend!!!
Thanks so much Shannon – I’m right there with you about the warmer weather! 🙂 💗 Thanks for stopping by, and hope you have a great evening!
I love the snowy background with the bright teacup colors! Well done my friend! Happy St. Patty’s day!!
Happy St P’s to you too my friend! Hope you’re all doing ok over there! 💗
Just beautiful Barbara! Love that pattern! And your photos are gorgeous. Worth the frostbite. Great job! Have a wonderful Tuesday!
Haha! Thanks Terri! It was fun to have what (I hope) is our last snow! 🙂 Hope you have a lovely day too my friend! 💗