Did you know that January is Hot Tea Month?
I thought it was the perfect way to celebrate the first tea post of the new year.
There is a nice article at About.com on tea and celebrating hot tea month.
To celebrate even more, I'm sharing a tea cup with a story.
This cup belonged to my godchildren's grandmother.
It came into her hands while she was living in India and was probably purchased
from a Chinese trader. The silk road was still going strong in the 1940's and 50's.
This cup is at least as old as I am!
WOW!
It is porcelain and is the rice pattern, but not the standard blue and white rice pattern
that is common today.
Look at the gold edges on the cup and saucer.
The gold on the dragon and around the lovely red flowers.
Finally, the rice pattern.
The quintessential Chinese dinnerware, Rice Pattern, is named as such for the grains of rice that were embedded in the clay before firing. The intense heat in the kiln destroys the grains and leaves a little translucent "porcelain window" in the final form. This style of dinnerware has been produced in china since at least 960, during the Song Dynasty.
A very special gift that I will treasure.
and
Happy Tea Day!
22 comments:
That is a fascinating fact about rice pattern. This cup is a beauty and isn't it unusual to have the dragon full face? Happy Hot Tea Tuesday!
Wonderful story about your cup. I love pieces that have history that we can relate to and learn from. Enjoy your hot tea! xox Corrine
Great story! Beautiful cup and saucer! I've seen rice pattern porcelain, but didn't know actual grains of rice were used in its production. Thanks for that info!
Hi Snap,
that is a beautiful made Chinese pattern. I love the story about the rice pattern. And I love your passion for dragons as my husband collect little dragons. Recently I bought a nice Japanese china set with dragons on it. Your post is a good reminder for posting that in the next time.
I love your kitties, so cute!
Greetings, Johanna
I have to admit, I am not a fan of hot tea - but I LOVE the teacup and platter you have there! Beautiful!
Hello "Snap"!
Thanks for dropping in to my blog for a visit!
I find the story of the rice pattern fascinating!! I never knew about that before now!! I have a couple of teapots and cups in this pattern. You special teacup and suacer are particularly beautiful with the red and gold highlights!
Thank you so much for sharing!!
Warm hugs, Laura
Once again I've learned something by visiting here! Love the rice story and also the history of your tea cup. And your display is beautiful. That Buddha is fantastic!!
What a treasured cup in so many ways! Thank you for sharing your story, and I am thrilled to know the history behind the rice pattern.
I am new to blogging, but I am blessed to have been introduced to so many talented, blessed women.
May the day reveal it's ever changing beauty to you as it progresses,
Marianne
What a delightful piece and with such a lovely story behind it...I also loved the little grain (pun intended) of information about the rice.
Glad you could join me and the Barbie girls for tea this week.
Blessings Kelsie
What a lovely piece of china you have there.
We have always enjoyed our tea - breakfast tea, afternoon tea, a cup in the evening before bed. It always struck us funny, when living in Oklahoma, that when we asked for tea in a restaurant we got a glass of iced tea!
I have tea beside me as I write this, Snap. However, my cup is not nearly as exquisite and memorable as yours.
Wow--that is a fabulous piece of china, Snap... I'm so glad you now are the proud owner of it.. I can understand why it is so special.
Didn't know it was 'Hot Tea Month'..... As I've said many times, George and I love hot tea and drink a cup (sometimes two) every day....
Hugs,
Betsy
This is a beautiful cup and saucer! And you are so right, it is not the standard version of this pattern. I had a set of dishes like this 25 years ago and it did not have the gold touches on it.
What a treasure to have.
Thank you so much for sharing it with us today.
Hugs,
Terri
I shall have a cuppa in honor of Hot Tea Month. Love the cup and saucer, and the setting in which you photographed them. Very nice. It's wonderful to have things with a history. Hugs, Me
I love a cup of hot tea in the winter! Lovely photos!
Those colours and sweet lines are very special.Thanks for this beautiful post!
Luna - We love LUNA
Tea is my beverage of choice year round - both hot and cold. I love your cup and saucer and their story. And also the new look of your blog. Nice!
Your tea cup is really pretty
Happy New Year
hugs
I think it is fantastic that it is hot tea month! Love it! Terrific story behind the rice pattern. So glad you stopped by!
Kathy
Lovely story. Such precious pieces.. priceless treasures.
The set is beautiful! Thanks for the little education. It's very interesting. I've never heard of tthe process even if I came from a rice eating country....Christine
such a nice teacup! the story behind it very interesting! precious treasure! for keep!
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