Home in Canada - Toronto - Winter 2020

Page 126

DESIGN

athomeincanada.ca

Minton fabric taken from the 19th century Minton pattern book

TEA TIME

We take teaware for granted while sipping a hot brew, but it has a fascinating history BY LANA HARPER

126

THE WINTER ISSUE

ONE OF THE THINGS that never changes is the desire to meet over a cup of tea. The drinking of tea is such a pervasive custom in England, for instance, that we sometimes forget it originated in Asia. Tea was expensive when it first made its way from China to Europe. Although the Chinese had been imbibing it for a couple of millennia, it wasn’t until the 18th century that it was embraced by Europeans. Its cost ensured that only the wealthy could afford it. Concurrent with the growing fashion of tea-drinking at that time, the production of

porcelain—which furnished teaware—was evolving into an industry in England and Europe during the 1770s. The early porcelain was delicate and translucent. Hold a piece up to the light and you can see right through it. My daughter, Gillian, believes that part of the appeal of the teacup is that while it appears to be delicate, it’s strong. In fact, if you turn a teacup upside down on a carpet, its bell shape will withstand a person’s weight. This was a selling point when my son, Russell, worked for Royal Doulton.


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.