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Sunday, November 24, 2013

Tuesday Cuppa Tea, Happy Thanksgiving, Shelley China Cup Shapes Part 3, Tea Spiced Cranberry Sauce

Hello and welcome to Tuesday Cuppa Tea, my meme where we talk about all sorts of things related to tea, teawares and taking tea.
If you aren't getting my blog posts in your notices, it's because of the problems I had early this year with the evil blog scraper which necessitated changing my blog address. You will probably have to subscribe again with Google Friends Connect...which at the moment seems to be missing again....gggrrrrr...., Bloglovin' , Google + or Linky Friends....



This is really the beginning of the holiday season, as a rather late Thanksgiving is Thursday...as well as the coincidence of Hannukah with Thanksgiving...which hasn't happened in 114 years! So...from my home and heart to yours....




And .....

I have so very much to be thankful...this week and every week. We are so blessed! I don't need just a day to be thankful...it's an everyday acknowledgement of blessing received! I hope your week will be especially cognizant of this...no matter what trials you are going through right now that seem insurmountable. Look back and dwell on the goodness and blessings that surround us. I have to when I get down about circumstances, but they pass and the blessings remain!


And on to the Shelley China cup shapes part 3:



This Shelley China cup shape is called Old Cambridge...so named when in 1954 they "modernized" the shape. The Old Cambridge shape was made between 1937 until the 1950s as a major shape for Shelley, but after the issuing of the New Cambridge shape was used only sporadically as it overlapped the new shape and then was discontinued. It happened with patterns too. As a point of interest, the pattern on this Old Cambridge teacup trio is now called Old Wild Flowers from the 1930s that was reworked and "modernized" in the early 1950s as well...but that's another topic entirely...


This Shelley China, England cup and saucer is in the New Cambridge shape that replaced the earlier version. The cup has a slightly wider base and the handle is definitely different. Both designd were made in a myriad of patterns and trims...you never know what you'll see next, as it was one of Shelley's most popular shapes. The pattern here is Thistle.  The New Cambridge was made until the pottery closed in 1966.



This Shelley China cup shape is called Henley and it was made in 2 sizes...the regular size for tea and a smaller so called coffee size for after dinner coffee from 1938 when it was introduced until 1966. There were various kinds of patterns and trims...this is the burnished gold trim, which is actually hand burnished or polished 24kt gold leaf.  The pattern is interesting and a great example of Shelley's famous artistic license for it's artists. They were allowed, with permission, to mix pattern elements from time to time for production or for special commissions or orders from groups, individuals or stores. This is an example of a mixture of the Blossom pattern and a floral border from a different pattern that had no name.  I LOVE that! You are constantly finding something different!



Now these next 2 cup shapes will really stir up your detective and observing skills. Although these 2 teacups look like they are the same, they really aren't...same pattern on both called Fruit Center, same gold overlay cup trim. The outside colors are of course different, but...



The teacup at the top of the 2 is in the Boston shape, made between 1963-1966, and the bottom in Turquoise is in the Lincoln shape, that was made at the same time. Can you see the difference??? You have to look hard!



The difference is just the little "nips" on the cup foot that gave the shape it's totally different name, Boston. That's another Shelley "thing".  But that's what has made the study of Shelley so interesting!



The last shape this week is the Victoria shape, so named because it was named after being used for the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1887 and then was used occasionally into the 1920s. This cup and saucer is from Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee in 1897.

If you are interested in the previous 2 parts of Shelley shapes, click on the links below.
Shelley Shapes Part 1
Shelley Shapes Part 2

All of the photos are mine...either available for sale at Antiques And Teacups or Time Was Antiques or from my personal collection or archives. 



I found a great tea related recipe on a Sunset magazine website I thought I'd share that uses Earl Grey tea:





Tea Spiced Cranberry Sauce

Earl Grey tea is the secret ingredient in this sweetly aromatic, lightly spiced sauce. Just pay close attention to the timing--too much steeping can turn the sauce bitter.

Ingredients

  • 2 1/4 cups sugar 
  • 4 whole cardamom pods
  • 3 whole star anise
  • 3 cinnamon sticks
  • 5 Earl Grey tea bags
  • 8 cups whole cranberries (about 2 1/2 bags, fresh or frozen

Preparation

  1. In a 4-quart pot over high heat, combine 1 3/4 cups water; 2 1/4 cups sugar; 4 whole cardamom pods; 3 whole star anise; and 3 cinnamon sticks. Cover and bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low and simmer 10 minutes. Add 5 Earl Grey tea bags, and simmer exactly 2 minutes. Remove tea bags and spices with a slotted spoon and add 8 cups whole cranberries (about 2 1/2 bags, fresh or frozen). Increase heat to medium-high and simmer, stirring often, until cranberries soften and split their skins and sauce thickens, about 12 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature before serving (the sauce will thicken further as it cools). Or cover and refrigerate up to 4 days.

21 comments:

  1. Hi Ruth,
    My goodness you have a lot of Shelley Teacups. Yours are so very beautiful! I have only four that I treasure. Thank you for teaching me so much about the various shapes and years of each one. Thank you also for hosting Tuesday Cuppa Tea. Have a wonderful week!
    Karen

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  2. Hello Ruth,
    I finally made it. Your Shelley teacups are just gorgeous. I didn't realize they had so many shapes. The cranberry sauce sounds delicious! Thank you for coming by and Happy Thanksgiving, my dear friend! May you have a beautiful and bountiful week.

    Blessings,
    Sandi

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  3. Your tea cups are lovely. Everything tastes better in a beautiful dish or cup.

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  4. Oh wow, what a fun "Shelley lesson" today! Loved hearing about the mix and match pattern designs, and I must say I could not spot the difference (besides color) in those two teacups until you pointed it out. Now I will know to be more observant! And thanks for a new cranberry sauce recipe to try too!

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  5. Hi Ruth,
    its a wonderful collection of Shelley cups, you present us today. Each is unique. I love them all. Thank you for the recipe for Tea Spiced Cranberry Sauce and the wonderful Photos of your walk. I enjoyed my visit very much.
    Best greetings, Johanna

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  6. Hello Ruth
    Thank you for hosting again - it's a lovely party.
    I love reading your history on this beautiful china - thank you!

    I'm writing down the Cranberry recipe - we don't celebrate Thanksgiving in New Zealand but it will be wonderful for our Christmas turkey!!!

    Hugs
    Shane

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  7. Ruth ... thank you for sharing that cranberry recipe it sounds delish! Something to keep in mind for Christmas as in Canada Thanksgiving is in October. Thank you for hosting... and sending a hug and wishes for a blessed Thanksgiving with your family this week. xo C. (HHL)

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  8. Ruth ... thank you for sharing that cranberry recipe it sounds delish! Something to keep in mind for Christmas as in Canada Thanksgiving is in October. Thank you for hosting... and sending a hug and wishes for a blessed Thanksgiving with your family this week. xo C. (HHL)

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  9. Hi dear Ruth!
    Beautiful party with history which I love to read and know about this lovely china. Have a wonderful Tksgiving.
    FABBY

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  10. SO many beautiful teacups, Ruth. I love them all but my very fave is the Old Cambridge, love the colors and the pattern. Thanks for hosting..Christine

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  11. Hi Ruth,

    So nice to meet you! Your Shelley teacups are so very pretty! I especially am enchanted with the Old Wild Flowers design, they're my colours, and remind me of a beautifully serene field of lovelies!

    Thanks for the introduction, in my case, and for stopping by Poppy View!

    Happy Thanksgiving!

    Poppy

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  12. You are so smart! I love to read you post's each week. An amazing woman with stunning cups. Have a great Thanksgiving. Hugs, Martha

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  13. Thank you for all you lessons on the Shelley teacups. They're all so beautiful and what a collection you have.

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  14. Ruth, I've really enjoyed reading all the information on the Shelley cups. So interesting and helpful. Your cups are gorgeous. Happy Thanksgiving! Thank you for hosting!

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  15. Hello Ruth, You have really spoiled us today with so many beautiful tea cups to see, and such great information! You are a fab teacher : )
    I love all the tea cups, but I must say, the thistle Shelley took my heart! lol!
    Hugs,
    Terri

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  16. I learn so much from your posts, thank-you . I really haven't seen many Shelley teacups. I like the thistle teacup, but even more the turquoise teacup. Beautiful ! The history involved with china, teacups, and so much more surrounding all things tea is amazing and just scratching the surface through tea-time blogs has been, well, enlightening.

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  17. Gorgeous teacups Ruth! You are so learned on all the china companies and I appreciate you sharing them with us. I really like the teal blue one with the fruit inside it. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday! Pamela

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  18. My day was a zoo so I never got your recipe printed out but I will tomorrow! These teacups you are showing are incredible Ruth!

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  19. I loved seeing the eagles. Also enjoyed your information about Shelley teacups. They are all lovely. Happy Thanksgiving!

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  20. Very interesting info on the Shelly. I did not know all that. I just always thought it was some of the prettiest china I have ever seen. :)
    Love your pics of the Eagles. Amazing! :)
    ~Liz

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  21. Hi Ruth: When I visit you I know I am going to get an education. Thank you so much for the knowledge you share each week and of course the stunning tea cups. Blessings, Martha

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Thanks for visiting and we love to hear from you! We read every comment. If my husband's health permits, I love to visit andreply. Have a wonderful day and a cuppa tea always at hand! :)