Hello and welcome to my second Valentine themed Tuesday Cuppa Tea!
Just couldn't help myself! Lol!
I took advantage of a bit of sun in the sunroom where I was reading a couple of February Victoria magazines and 2 books I have of Victorian ephemera, and thought...looks like a post to me!
It seemed so serendipitous...sitting there with all the elements...
the Valentine small tea cloth I had made a couple of years ago already on my little tea table...
And having been perusing The Victorian Scrapbook by Cynthis Hart, John Grossman and Priscilla Dunhill...
a wonderful collection of Victorian era postcards, clip art or dcraps as they were then called, trade cards and all manner of wonderful Victorian images...
The chapters include
Home Sweet Home
Romantic Notions
a total of 7
As a cross stitcher, I thought this was fun...
several pages form Victorian needlework magazines...
this page from 1887 includes a pattern for the spaniel that could be made in needlepoint, petit point of cross stitch...so cute!
And the first of my teacups...a Shelley...but you guessed, didn't you!
But today, 2 the same, but...NOT!
This is a Shelley in the Ripon shape, and in the Rose And Red Daisy pattern.
But...this is a quite rare one, because it has a matte black exterior...not glossy at all. The interiors are the palest yellow, which did not photograph well.
The cup and saucer has the number 13439, which the pattern books say was made between 1940-1966 when the pottery closed, and unfortunately not marrowed down in date.
The /24 after the main number refers to the colorway for the pattern. Remember, that...more later!
The other of the 2 hardback books is a smaller one, Victorian Book Of Love
Forget-Me-Nots
also by Hart, Grossman and Gill
This is also filled with Victorian scraps, postcards, images, calling cards and Valentines...
May Cupid's shafts by love imprest,
Smile sweetly soothing in thy breast
Inspiring ardent love for me
As pure and true as mine for thee...
Altogether, both books are feasts for the eyes, especially if you love Victoriana as I do...
And on to the next teacup...or...is it the same one, you ask?????
No! Same shape, same black...only it isn't! This is a shiny black, not matte black like the rest...
Same pattern, right? Well sort of. This is also a pale yellow interior with the Rose And Red Daisy pattern, but this is called a combo because it also has the addition of the pink Beaded border, while the last teacup didn't have a border.
Shelley had a lot of leeway with patterns, I sometimes think that the artisisans making them were allowed to be a bit creative, or the designers tried different version to see which were the most popular.
I know I have seen many more shiny black versions that the matte black seen above since my first on in 1988.
The pattern number is 13439, just as the matte black version above, but notice the different secondary number.
This on reads /72 indicating although the same pattern, it is a different entry in the colors department.
I LOVE Shelley...they kept such good records!
And the rest of my afternoon tea time reading this week...in between Olympics viewing...Victoria magazines.
Should have gotten out my Wedgwood Embossed Queens Ware teacup with the magazine below, but already had the Shelleys out so...
A friend came for tea, and brought a package of Valentine Vanilla petit fours, so am sharing the leftovers on my family Noritake Revenna china...
Help yourself! A real treat! So thanks for joining me for Tuesday Cuppa Tea!
Happy Valentine's Day to you all!
Celebrate all the many people and things we love...
with a cuppa!
I am joining:
Here is the Tuesday Cuppa Tea linky for your tea related
posts...please remember that it is SSSLLLOOOOOOWWWW but if you are
patient...it's there! I am so looking
forward to visiting you!
Good morning, Ruth! I wish I could join you for a cup of tea, and a look at your books. I think I'd choose the Shelley teacup with the pretty border around the top edge for my tea. Thank you for hosting and Happy Valentine's Day!
ReplyDeleteI love Victoria magazines too. I have a subscription. Love your romantic tea pieces! Hope you have a nice Valentine, Ruth. Thanks for hosting....Christine
ReplyDeleteI love all your magazines, Ruth, and Teacups! I no longer get Victoria since I had so many subscriptions to magazines, I needed to do a little downsizing there also.
ReplyDeleteDear Ruth: We do love Victoria don't we. I hope to make the "Lemon Shortbread Fool" recipe I saw in the new issue - check it out. It was an article with recipes there. Your table looks lovely and I too love and have that "Forget Me Nots" book. It is so sweet. That is a cute tablecloth you made too!
ReplyDeleteBoth of your Shelley teacups are lovely. I think the matte finish must be quite rare because you don't see that. I can't recall ever seeing a piece of china in a matte finish. How fun that you have both! Your books and magazines are wonderful reads. The lace runner looks so pretty over the red heart tablecloth and makes a perfect setting for your Valentine tea. Thank you for hosting and I pray you and your sweet Valentine have a beautiful day together celebrating. Hugs...Sandi
ReplyDeleteThank you for the lovely party Ruth. Your both Shelley cups are gorgeous as usual, you have an amazing collection.
ReplyDeleteI too love the lace runner, they always dress a table so much.
Happy Valentine's ahead.
Fabby
Hi Ruth!Thanks for hosting!How gorgeous your post is!Love the elegant teacups and the beautiful books and magazines.Your goodies look delicious...Hugs,Maristella.
ReplyDeleteI've always been drawn to black teacups so I'm loving this week's Shelley beauties. Thank you for hosting and Happy Valentine's Day, Ruth!
ReplyDeleteI love Shelley Cups, but have never seen the black ones... They’re lovely and I simply adore the Victorian Scrapbook... I have some of Cynthia Harts old Calendars .. They too have lovely old Valentines in them.....I’d love to just page through your magazines while sipping my tea ..PLEASE !!!..Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteTotally lovely! Your collection of Valentine ephemera is thoughtful for you to share. The Shelley black cups and saucers certainly contrast with the flowers decorations inside the cup! Thanks for hosting and enjoy your readings on Valentine in the sunroom.
ReplyDeleteHappy Valentines,
Pam
Hi Ruth,
ReplyDeleteI have never seen a black Shelley before. It is gorgeous. I love Victoria magazines and think that's a good idea to browse one while hubby watches Olympics. Your treats look amazing too. Thank you for hosting Tuesday Cuppa Tea! Happy Valentine's Day! Karen
Ruth, I've seen a lot of teacups, but I've never seen one in a matte finish. Count on you to have one! I didn't get any photos, but I had out the Johnson Bros white swirl pattern (is it called Regency - I don't remember) teapot, teacups and plates for the blueberry muffins.
ReplyDelete