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Sunday, January 29, 2017

Tuesday Cuppa Tea Jane Austen Tea And Other Royal Things

Hello and welcome to Tuesday Cuppa Tea! This week has a Jane Austen theme primarily, with a few other bits of news...




“To be fond of dancing was a certain step towards falling in love” 




Being a decades long lover of Jane Austen...6 to be sure...I knew January 28, 1813, was the date that Pride and Prejudice was published. So this last week, I decided to honor that date, because I was reading a number of books about Jane Austen found while cleaning a closet that included many books.



I set my tea tray on my Victorian platform rocker, and found several pieces illustrative of the period.

“A lady's imagination is very rapid; it jumps from admiration to love, from love to matrimony in a moment.” 
― Jane AustenPride and Prejudice


First let me introduce you to my teacup. The teacup is a bit later than Jane, dating to the 1850s, but is the oldest I have...and it's blue and white...my favorite colors! 


Jane was born in 1775 and died in 1817. The shape is called New York, and it is unmarked. I can only attribute it to an English Staffordshire pottery. I love the trellis design and the transferware designs of 18th century figures.

“There are few people whom I really love, and still fewer of whom I think well. The more I see of the world, the more am I dissatisfied with it; and every day confirms my belief of the inconsistency of all human characters, and of the little dependence that can be placed on the appearance of merit or sense.” 
― Jane AustenPride and Prejudice


As a backdrop, I have a lithograph titled The Admiralty, London, that depicts the faous building during the Regency era when Jane Austen lived. She visited London several times with one or the other of her brothers.

“I cannot fix on the hour, or the spot, or the look or the words, which laid the foundation. It is too long ago. I was in the middle before I knew that I had begun.” 
― Jane AustenPride and Prejudice




The biscuit jar, which is by Royal Winton Grimwades and dates to the 1950s actually, features a design called Old English Coaching Scenes and depicts a mode of travel Jane was very familiar with, as her family was of modest means and therefore did not keep their own carriage. The only exception was her brother Edward, who was adopted as heir by a childless relative by the name of Knight, if he took their name instead of Austen.

“Vanity and pride are different things, though the words are often used synonymously. A person may be proud without being vain. Pride relates more to our opinion of ourselves, vanity to what we would have others think of us.” 
― Jane AustenPride and Prejudice




The world Edward joined, the landed gentry, including hunting as a pastime, and my teapot has the blue transferware pattern depicting that. The ironstone teapot has no marks but dates to the 1930s in England.

“I must learn to be content with being happier than I deserve.” 
― Jane AustenPride and Prejudice




And something any lady of the time was very familiar with...a silk parasol to keep the sun off one's lily white pale compexion, as a tan was condiered unbecoming and decidedly working class and therefore to be avoided...


This is actually my grandmother's, and again dates to the 1870s rather than Jane's era, but...

“You must learn some of my philosophy. Think only of the past as its remembrance gives you pleasure.” 
― Jane AustenPride and Prejudice




My tray cloth is a pretty vintage hand made one from England with hand embroidery and crocheted edging, but dates far later than Jane's time...

“We are all fools in love” 

Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice

And here are the Jane Austen books I am enjoying this week in her honour....



The one I have had the longest... a 1973 omnibus of all her works...mind you, it's 3 inches + thick, and good for developing biceps as well as the mind when it is read. I must confess I now have all of Jane's books on Kindle...much more portable!

“A girl likes to be crossed a little in love now and then.
It is something to think of” 
― Jane AustenPride and Prejudice




Beloved Tea with Jane Austen by Kim Wilson...I have shared this before...a wonderful book with recipes and quotes from various of her books and other period books.



The book Jane Austen In Style by Susan Watkins featuring a cover photo of Lizzie dancing with Wickham on a backdrop of her dress fabric. The book was published in 1996 and is more about the regency period, manners and history, but engrossing.



And lastly, a book I dearly love, What Jane Austen Ate and Charles Dickens Knew by Daniel Pool. It is really a history of the entire Victorian era, and if you are watching Victoria, this is a great historical accompaniement. Preferably with a Syllabub at hand...

“I am only resolved to act in that manner, which will, in my own opinion, constitute my happiness, without reference to you, or to any person so wholly unconnected with me.” 
― Jane AustenPride and Prejudice



Well, no surprise which is my favorite film version....

No teatime treats today...had a dental problem develop last week in a disagreement with an almond, and have an appointment Monday with my dentist, so...


For thos of you enjoying Victoria, here...I hope...is a video from several years ago by UK History about the historical background of Queen Victoria's early reign...fascinating!

And another royal note, this was relased by Princes William and Harry from Kensington Palace a few days ago....




A favorite portrait ny Nicholas Testino, a wonderful royal photographer.

So thank you for joining me for my salute to Jane Austen and Pride and Prejudice. Have a lovely week...I will after the dentist... Lol!


Here is the linky for your tea related posts...please remember that it is SSSLLLOOOOOOWWWW but if you are patient...it's there! And I love to read your comments, and I do read every one if I can find and can get to you to visit!  If you comment from Google+…it isn’t easy...so forgive me if I am not replying to comments you so kindly leave...I am trying!




11 comments:

  1. I always learn so much from you, Ruth, on your posts. I love your pretty tea linen, your biscuit jar and that gorgeous teapot. I am watching Victoria and look forward to every Sunday evening now. Good luck with your tooth. I feel your pain and pocketbook! I have a temporary crown on one molar right now and am waiting for the permanent one.
    Thanks for hosting and have a great week.

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  2. Dear Ruth:
    What a lovely posting and so full of delightful things about Jane Austen. You are very knowledgeable! I loved seeing that cup and saucer you said was your oldest one! Wow! Thanks for sharing and linking. I really enjoyed your treasures.

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  3. Dearest Ruth,
    thank you for the charm you always share ... today I'm in love with your blue and white tea cup dating back to 1850 and with your silk parasol, even if I have to admit that everything is so ... captivating !

    Hope your new week is off to a great start,
    I'm sending hugs and ever much love to you

    Xx Dany

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  4. I'm also a huge fan of Jane Austen so I really enjoyed your austen-tacious post! Colin Firth will always be my favourite Mr. Darcy. A few years ago, there was a web series called "The Lizzie Bennett Diaries" which retold Pride and Prejudice as a video blog. Thank you for hosting and hope the trip to the dentist went well!

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  5. Ruth, I love Jane Austen and have seen Pride and Prejudice several times. I love your blue and white tea cup. The silk parasol adds a level of sophistication to the tea setting. Thanks for sharing. Sylvia D.

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  6. Oh my, dear Ruth - what a delightful post! What tea lady doesn't absolutley adore Jane Austen? Thank you for all the wonderful details you put together for us today for Cuppa Tea.

    I hope your teeth feel better soon. My husband is going through something similar and has been back and forth to the dentist trying to solve it. A broken tooth can just go sour rather quickly, can it not?

    Good health and peaceful sippin to you, m'lady.

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  7. Ruth, sorry about the tooth! Thanks for sharing all the pretty things and news about the statue. I hadn't heard about that. I have one of those bicep-building Jane Austen volumes as well as a lovely boxed set, but right now I'm reading Jane on my tablet. In fact, Pride and Prejudice was the first thing I read on it when I got it last July.

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  8. Loved everything about this post, Ruth, except for your poor tooth! I have the Kim Wilson book as well. So good. The parasol is to die for! What a treasure. Blessings, Bess

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  9. Lovely post, with lots of wonderful info and pictures. My daughter and I are both fans of Jane Austen -- as Michele says, what tea-loving lady is not? I am also enjoying the series about Victoria. Sorry about the tooth; do hope you get some help for it. xo Deborah

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  10. So many beautiful things Ruth. I especially love the teacup and saucer! How wonderful to have your grandmothers umbrella. I love Jane Austen as well. Thanks for sharing with SYC.
    hugs,
    Jann

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  11. I have read Tea with Jane Austen and I enjoyed it! BEautiful post! Thanks for sharing at Home Sweet Home!

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