Down the primrose path!

I decided a while back when I was sorting out cups and saucers to share here, that I would save this one until I could see the sign that spring was definitely springing in my garden - the first primroses - and here they are!

So in honour of spring on the way here is my Primrose cup manufactured by Bourne and Leigh of Burslem.
 

This is such a pretty pattern, not least because of the pretty edging inside the tea cup.

As is so often the case, my cup shows some wear and a little chip. I actually have two teacups, a jam pot and a large dessert bowl in this lovely pattern. The bowl was a silver wedding present from my brother and looks perfect filled with strawberries.

Here is a closer look at the saucer....

..... and the backstamp.

If you would like to know more about Teacup Tuesday, pop over to Terri's lovely Artful Affirmations blog here. You can find links to other people participating in Teacup Tuesday this week as well, so do pop round and visit them too.

Thank you for popping by my virtual china cabinet!


Elaine x

A Gladstone design

Unfortunately I ran out of time last week to post this cup in time for Tuesday, so I am trying harder this week. This is an interesting floral patterned cup, although it may not be immediately obvious from the outside of the cup.

Look inside and on the saucer though and the pretty design is revealed!



This design is made by Gladstone in bone china and the main flower looks like a primrose, with its quilted leaves, but I have not been able to find it on the internet anywhere. If anyone knows what this design is called I would be interested to know.

If you would like to know more about Teacup Tuesday, pop over to Terri's lovely Artful Affirmations blog here. You can find links to other people participating in Teacup Tuesday this week as well, so do pop round and visit them too. I will try harder to visit them myself this week!

Thank you for popping by my virtual china cabinet!


Elaine x

Florence on a Tuesday!

Welcome to my latest post for Teacup Tuesday. I am pleased to share another beauty from my chintz collection, that has been sitting in a box wrapped in newspaper for ages.  So it is nice to put it on display for a while in my virtual china cabinet.

This is the lovely pattern Florence from Royal Winton which was made by Grimwades, who are described in one of my reference books as "the leader in the field of chintz ware" outstripping many other manufacturers in the number of patterns they produced. I adore this design, because the black background shows the beautiful vibrant colours to such great effect.



I tried both flash and natural sunlight today to try and show the colours of this pattern to best effect. I didn't realise until I downloaded these photos, that I had taken a picture that shows the chip in this poor little cup very clearly.

Many of my cherished pieces of chintz have chips or cracks. Chintz is very pricey and perfect pieces are often beyond my budget. So I buy damaged pieces and give them a good home. The busy patterns on chintz often hide the damage quite well in the display cabinet so they don't look too bad!

According to my copy of Collecting Royal Winton Chintz - Muriel M Miller Grimwades introduced chintz patterns in 1913. Florence appears to be a pattern produced in the 1950s. The pattern includes pink and cream carnations, belladonna lilies, and small blue and pink flowers against a black ground. This back stamp includes a registration number printed in gold for Canada.

I had hoped to have some lovely homebaked cookies to show you with my china and a nice cup of tea today, but unfortunately I couldn't control myself and ate them before I got around to taking my photographs today!!

If you would like to know more about Teacup Tuesday, pop over to Terri's lovely Artful Affirmations blog here. You can find links to other people participating in Teacup Tuesday this week as well, so do pop round and visit them too.

Thank you for popping by my virtual china cabinet!

Elaine x