Wednesday Treasures~ Teapots Galore!

I have recently decided to feature some of my "treasures" each week...things that have been collected through the years...some were inherited, many were gifts, all are special in one way or another...so this would definitely be a great time to pour yourself a cup of tea and enjoy this little tea party!

I kind of decided to share the teapot collection today at the last minute...so these photos are pretty much just as you'll find them in my home...I didn't take the time to dust or make special arrangements beyond how they normally are displayed...so if you happen to notice a speck or two of dust, please just consider that you are a guest in my home, and no white gloves are allowed! LOL!

We will begin our tour in my little "den" room, which is actually where my computer is looking out to the pond, but behind me are the china closet, Hoosier cupboard and hutch that my son made for me a few years ago.

First, in the antique china closet we will discover this lovely Bavarian Tea Set is actually what they call a "Demitasse" set, "A demitasse (/ˈdɛmɪtæs/; French: "half cup") or demi-tasse is a small cup used to serve Turkish coffee or espresso. It may also refer to the contents served in such a cup (though that usage had disappeared in France by the early 20th Century). "   After reading that description, I guess this was really intended for  coffee, not tea, but either way, it is special. This belonged to my husband's grandmother, "Nanny Martin", and was brought to her from Germany by a special friend many years ago. (The china closet also belonged to Nanny Martin).

This next tea set also belonged to Nanny Martin. It was brought to her by her son in law from his travels in the Navy. He was a Rear Admiral.  There is a complete china dinner set for eight.  We have often used it for Christmas because the colors are red and green, but the design is actually of Japanese Cherries.

"Each cup of tea represents an imaginary voyage."  

Catherine Douzel

Sitting next to my desk is a lovely little bookshelf, filled with delightful books about tea times and special gifts of friendship.   This particular teapot below was a gift from my sister Doris. I love the little bird on top of the lid, eating his berries. The little sign behind it says: "Sisters are Forever"...again, a gift from my sister. One of the girls has red hair (me), and the other is a brunette (Doris). 

On the next shelf is another special teapot, a gift from my dear friend Sharon, who sadly passed away following a hard fought battle with cancer just about exactly a year ago.  She gave me this teapot when she was first diagnosed with cancer, so that I would remember to pray for her every time I looked at it. And I did. I keep a special note inside the teapot, written by Sharon before she died. She will never be forgotten.

"If instead of a gem, or even a flower, we should cast the gift

of a loving thought into the heart of a friend,

that would be giving as the angels give."

George MacDonald

These teapots are on the hutch my son built for me a few years ago. The white teapot above I bought at a yard sale last year to help raise funds to restore an historic schoolhouse here in our community. I love the design and shape of the teapot. But alas, when I tried to use it, I discovered a very small crack and it leaked, so I can't use it, but it is too pretty to just throw away!  The lovely rose-covered cream pitcher next to it came from my parents' home. My mother loved pretty things like this too, and although I don't know its history, I love it because it belonged to my mother.

"The spirit of the tea beverage is one of 

peace, comfort, and refinement."

Arthur Gray

On the top shelf is  an old ironstone coffee pot (or tea pot) that also came from my parent's home.  (The family pictures are of grandparents...they are pretty special too!)

And another pretty burgundy colored little teapot* that I found at a flea market...

The tea set below I bought at a yard sale at the church where I worked for several years.  I kept it in my office while working there, to give me something relaxing to look at when I was stressed...and then I often just made myself a cup of tea and sat a while in peace and quiet.

"There is no trouble so great or grave that cannot be much diminished by a nice cup of tea."

Bernard-Paul Heroux

In my Hoosier Cupboard, (which belonged to Nanny Martin), I don't really have teapots, but there a few cream pitchers and one lovely red milk or juice pitcher, *which was a gift from my parents.

The Hoosier Cupboard itself is a storehouse of treasures, but I'll save that for another day.

Another favorite teapot and matching cup and saucer...A friend gave me the teapot, 

and I bought the cup and saucer to match...

"Friends are kisses

blown to us by angels."

Author unknown.

The lovely blue items below are each special in their own way...

This is a "Hall" brand pitcher...I remember my mother having one similar to this when we were growing up, and I loved it so much, that when I saw it at a flea market I couldn't resist it. I remember she always put milk in it. 

And it matches these serving bowls that actually did come from my mother:

And this is also a "Hall" teapot, which belonged to my paternal grandmother.  She and I both loved tea, and so I was thrilled to receive this from her estate.

Oh, Hello! Pinky flamingo isn't a teapot, but he hold cookies to have with tea! LOL.  The little flowered teapot to the right was a gift from my sister...and the sweet card was a gift in the mail from a dear friend.

Here is another "Hall" teapot, "Aladdin's Lamp"...and this also belonged to "Nanny Martin". 

The cobalt blue teapot below is another "Hall" teapot.  Here is a history of Hall teapots that I found on the internet: 

"History of Hall Pottery (Click link for more details)

Hall China Company first began production in 1903 in East Liverpool, Ohio making utilitarian wares like jugs, bedpans, and mugs. Thanks to a single fire process developed by Robert Taggert Hall between 1903 and 1911, Hall China is durable, non-porous, and unlike other types of china, it doesn't craze.

Founders: Robert Taggart Hall

Parent: Homer Laughlin China Company

Date founded: August 14, 1903"

*The Red "milk or juice pitcher" in the Hoosier Cabinet was also made by Hall, and the burgundy teapot on the hutch was created for McCormick Tea company by Hall.

My Christmas teapot is tucked away in the cabinet, awaiting her seasonal debut...(another gift from a dear friend)

And here is my current daily teapot, which I use each day to make a pot of hot tea in the morning for my first cup of tea, and then the rest is used to make iced tea.  It is also a Christmas teapot, but I like it so much that I just use it year round.

I do have some interesting teabag collectible tins: This one below belonged to my husband's cousin Janice, who passed away two years ago. So I keep this to remind me of Janice, a very sweet and thoughtful person who died way too young.

And this tea tin I've had for many years, and keep my daily tea bags inside.

"There is always a great deal of poetry 

and fine sentiment in a chest of tea."

Ralph Waldo Emerson 

And here is another favorite:

Wouldn't you love to have been sitting at that table with those ladies and listening in on their conversation?

"There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour 

dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea."

Henry James

I've turned my Tea Time calendar over to August...

I love that little oriental looking teapot above, don't you? I'm  not sure where it came from...hmmm, maybe a gift from a special friend...Yes, I believe I remember now!  And actually, it says on the bottom it was from Austria, so not oriental at all!

Now we move to the curio cabinet, and here is a sweet little pansy teapot that was a gift. It is small and dainty, and perfect for a small garden tea party.

"Meanwhile, let us have a sip of tea.  

The afternoon glow is brightening the bamboos,

the fountains are bubbling with delight, 

the soughing of the pines is heard in our kettle.

Let us dream of evanescence,

and linger in the beautiful foolishness of things."

Okakura Kakuzo

Finally, I come to the buffet, and there sits this lovely chrome tea service (or could be used for coffee). 

It looks like silver, but it is chrome.  It was a gift to "Nanny Martin" from a dear friend, who was a nurse at the old  "Pirie Estate", where they lived and raised their family of girls, (my mother in law was one of 4 daughters).  But that is another story for another time.

The sweet blue card and crocheted doily coaster on the left was a recent surprise gift from a dear friend, who is "one of us" bloggers...a very dear person who shall remain unnamed, but she knows who she is, and I love this sweet gift. Thank you~

 

"There is magic in long-distance friendships.

They let you relate to other human beings

in a way that goes beyond being physically together

and is often more profound."

Diana Cortes

And that is how I feel about all of you out there in blogland. We have profound friendships here that are somewhat magical and uniquely wonderful.

I hope you have enjoyed this little tour of my treasured teapots. Now you have a better idea of why it is so difficult for me to "downsize". Everything you see is so special to me because they bring back memories of dear friends and loved ones who have often gone beyond the call of duty to be special friends to me in one way or another, and I treasure them all.

"A true friend reaches for your hand 

and  touches your heart."

Author Unknown

All quotes used in this post were taken from the book 

"The Art of Tea and Friendship"

"Savoring the Fragrance of Time Together"

by Sandy Lynam Clough

Have a blessed and beautiful day dear friends...You are my best treasures of all.