Every Sunday, we would get in the car and drive across town to visit my grandparents. My mother and grandmother would sit and have tea. As a very young girl, I was invited to participate in this weekly ritual. When I was very young, I had my own miniature tea set that I enjoyed.

As I grew older, I was able to sit with the ladies and drink from the English bone china tea set. I remember that I looked forward to seeing which set my grandmother would use. Years later, I found that the tea sets were also a feast for the eyes.

These dainty pretty cups are a far cry from today’s coffee mugs and cups.  They add a touch of elegance and sophistication to any table setting. A beautiful plain tablecloth can be transformed into a memorable table setting in just a few minutes. This is what memories are made of: sharing, enjoying another’s company and a good cup of tea, served in a dainty tea cup.

There is something about drinking out of a proper tea cup that makes tea taste better. As a young girl, I appreciated the beauty and elegance of these delicate cups. I unknowingly became hooked at collecting these pieces of beauty.

The manufacturers of tea cups and tea pots started to make the cups and saucers as a stand alone purchase. That means that the cups and saucers were not necessarily part of a dinner or tea service. This is the reason when you go to your favorite tea room you will see a very eclectic setting of tea cups.

More on china tea sets

For those who dismiss this hobby of collecting as being “common” really shows how little they know about the history of tea cups and tea ware.

Collecting tea cups, saucers or tea pots is a hobby that every one can afford. The price range can vary from as little as 25 cents at a yard sale to $250 for the more upscale manufacturers such as Royal Doulton china or Royal Albert china.

There is nothing common about English bone china or Royal Doulton. When bone china was developed, it was found to hold bright colors and patterns.  The Royal Albert and the Royal Doulton companies have created a plethora of patterns to please.

Collecting china tea sets is making a comeback. With the growing trend of tea drinkers comes an appreciation of the taste of a cup of tea from a proper tea cup. In a society where our lives are so busy and hectic, many are finding the time to sit and appreciate the finer moments of life. Drinking a cup of tea from a tea cup is an old tradition that is making a comeback.

Many enjoy the sense of refinement and tradition while drinking out of a proper tea cup. If you have found some very special settings in the back of your cupboards, or have had once loved tea ware passed down from another generation, it is a great time to take them out and use them.

Be careful, if you are not a collector of china tea sets, you may find yourself overcome by the beauty of the tea cup and surprised by the taste of the tea when it is served in a proper tea cup. The experience will have you hooked and anticipating your next tea experience. You will want to join a growing group of tea lover’s trying to rekindle some tradition and refinement in their life.

Connie Bednar has been a tea enthusiast all her life. Being a tea drinker naturally causes an appreciation of fine china and collectible tea cups and tea sets. Learn more about collecting bone china tea sets at her web site here Sign up for her informative newsletter while you visit. Here is another article you won’t want to miss on collecting.

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The registration mark appears as a diamond shaped mark and gives the EARLIEST possible date of manufacturer. These marks were used on porcelain, pottery and china from 1842 through 1883. The purpose of the mark was to show that the design or shape had been registered at the Patent Office in London and was thereby protected from piracy by other manufacturers for a period of three years.

General Rules for dating marks – There are several general rules for dating ceramic marks, attention to which will avoid several common errors. Printed marks incorporating the Royal Arms are a 19th or 20th century date. Printed marks incorporating the name of the pattern are after 1810. Marks incorporating the word ‘Limited’, or the abbreviations ‘Ltd’, ‘Ld’, etc., denote a date after 1861, and most examples are much later. Incorporation of the words ‘Trade Mark’ in a mark denotes a date subsequent to the Act of 1862. Inclusion of the word ‘Royal’ in a firm’s title or trade name suggests a date in the second half of the 19th century, if not a 20th-century dating. Inclusion of the abbreviation ‘R N’ (for Registered Number) followed by numbers denotes a date subsequent to 1883.

Inclusion of the word ‘England’,'Germany’,'France’,'Italy’ in marks denotes a date after 1891, although some manufacturers added the word slightly before this date. ‘Made in England’, ‘Made in Germany’ and so on, denotes a 20th-century date. Use of the words ‘Bone China’, ‘English Bone China’, etc., denotes a 20th-century date. Items made in Japan between 1945 and 1953 were required by law to be marked “Made in Occupied Japan.” Most European antique and vintage china and porcelain pieces are well marked as to manufacturer whereas U.S makers were hit and miss on marking their pieces.

If your pieces are unmarked, it may be impossible to ever accurately identify the maker. You will have to search for the pattern and see if you can match your pattern to one that has been identified. The library or bookstore may be your best bet although more and more information is on the Internet every day. You could even go to an antique dealer and see what they have to say. Just make sure that when you do that you know that the dealer is true to his or her word and is not telling is a price that would make you sell it to them and then they turn around and sell it for the real price.

Purchased a collection of thimbles, 7 in all, they picture Henry VIII and his six wives, on the back of the thimbles are a few lines depicting. From the description you have given, I’m assuming they are bone or china thimble and that they are the normal thimble shape, I’ve seen some as the bust or head of the character. I assume the picture you refer to is a decal, little dots when looking thru a magnifying glass. I’m also assuming there is no maker’s mark on them, either on the inside of the thimble or on the band.

You did not describe their condition, so I will assume they are in mint, unused condition. If these assumptions are correct then are not Wedgwood or a precious metal. The thimble you have shown me is a modern, Mexican silver thimble. Most examples were made mid-to late 20th Century. It is decorated with applied wirework on the outside. Periodically you will find lettering on the inside of the thimble and this will indicate a maker’s mark.

If you do find something that has the similar look to you piece or you think you got the markers mark, period it was made or anything else like that you can always double check your ideas by going be an auction house and having some from there look over your piece and see what they have to say about. You might be right or wrong but at least you can find out more on that piece if you choose to take it to an antique dealer or an auction house.

Victor Epand is a consultant for http://www.SellTheAntiques.com/ . Sell The Antiques is a community of antique sellers from around the world. If you have antiques to sell, click here to create an Antiques Account: http://www.SellTheAntiques.com/merchant/signup.html

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