Antique Tea Cloth Tablecloth English Embroidered Linen

From the archives of Antiques And Teacups

I just love antique linens, and have a closet filled with various items I use as often as possible. Tablecloths, doilies,tea cozies, table runners or dressing table covers. I even have sections of old fabrics and laces I drape tables and shelves with. The workmanship is so fine on the hand embroidered pieces...no one does that anymore.

The piece above is an antique table cloth or tea cloth from England with embroidered satin stitch flowers pieced with fagotting. The linen table cloth is really lovely. Most people don't have the patience for hand work anymore. I do cross stitch, although at the moment with a new kitten I don't dare get out my fabric and threads. I'm going to have to wait a few months until the kitten freaky behavior calms down a bit.

There is quite an interest now developing in taking tea and the relaxed way of hospitality and entertaining taking tea affords. I'm all for it. One of my favorite pastimes.

A website that is really a spectacular source of information on antique and vintage linens is Material Pleasures....apt name! You'll love it!

For more info on the tea cloth pictured above you can visit my website, Antiques And Teacups.

Antique English Tapestry Tea Cozy

From the archives at Antiques And Teacups

Okay...is it tea cozy or tea cosy? Who knows! As far as many are concerned, both are correct. But for those who aren't familiar with this integral part of taking tea, a tea cozy is a fabric or yarn cover to keep the pot warm for your next cuppa. Tea cozies have been around for several centuries and have been made in all sorts of styles and materials. They come in several sizes to match the several sizes of teapots. Many have padding layers for extra insulation. Some are so engineered that you can pour the tea out with the cozy on the teapot and with some they just sit over the pot and need to be lifted off to pur.

Tea cozies or cosies were especially popular during the victorian era, the 19th century, and were often the example of housewifely industry and skill. You can still find some great hand made tea cozies with berlin work, tapestry, cross stitch, crewel work , lace net, candlewicking and the like that took hours to make. Tea cozies are a relatively inexpensive collectible and if cared for carefully can be used as well.

To see more tea cozies, you can visit Antiques And Teacups
or our big sister site Time Was Antiques

Later tonight we get a new series of the novels Cranford on PBS which take place in England during the early 19th century. They are fun to watch for their period details. Look for tea cozies. They'll be there!