Monday, October 1, 2012

" MY AUDREY CUP "




Late night movies and goodness, it's already morning, but I just had to watch Leo Tolstoys ' War and Peace"... It's  a full length 1956 epic, surrounding the 1812 French invasion into Russia and the impact of the Napoleonic era on the Tsarist society, as seen through the personal lives of two aristocratic families.. The stellar cast included, Audrey Hepburn, Mel Ferrer and Peter Fonda ... It's a lengthly movie, but truly a classic.


Please pardon  my tardiness in preparing  our teatime.( yawn) I'm peeking into cupboards with Sandi at Rose Chintz Cottage today  so I best choose my teaset quickly and get the kettle boiling.

It's a rather rather brisk day that is filled with the aches and pangs of the season ...  The trees are turning so quickly and now float restlessly to the ground. I am reminded from the chilly movie scenes( above) that it's getting cold outside .  It's definitely a harvesting time for all god's creatures, including myself. Today I am lost in a myriad of thoughts that fall and scatter  just like the leaves.

 I smile, as the chipmunks and bluejays rally over the peanuts that  have been left on the doorstep for them.
 ( hurry, scurry)... because, I , too, just want to snuggle into the warmth and comfort of the day.  Yes... Autumn is a time for helping and supporting one another.

While  the kettle was whistling, I was rummaging through old papers and found this beautiful quote from one of my favourite personalities ....  We can ponder it over a steeping hot cup of tea.


" Remember, if you ever need a helping hand,
it's at the end of your arm, as you get older,
remember you have another hand:
The first is to help yourself,
the second is to help others ."
... Audrey Hepburn

Don your coat and hat before coming over. It's just a short walk over the bridge to my house. I'll have a  cup waiting for you!!!!



My cupboards are filled with such a wide variety of brightly coloured teasets, but stacked on the left hand side, are a collection of white cups and saucers, that I have rarely used ...Today, I've decided to break the habit.

What a lucky decision, as I have found such a wonderful history for this elegant little teaset. Look (above) .... Doesn't it remind you of a soft vanilla ice cream cone with all those pretty swirls? 

 This " Royal Tuscan " has a most interesting potted history, that is quite well documented.




Tuscan Tableware was founded in 1878 Staffordshire , England by R.H. Plant. The records show that the Plant family were potters of renown going back at least as far as 1775. There were jugs, white glaze baskets and a pair of lions produced about 1780 - marked J. Plant and  B.  Plant respectively.

 Also the 1775 diary of the same individual is kept in a private collection showing how much he paid for glazes and other potting materials. Isn't that a unique insight into the history of Tuscan  tableware!!!!

About 1900, two brothers, R.H. Plant and S.L. Plant established a major factory called Tuscan works and in 1915 became a limited company., R.H.Plant & S.L. Plant Ltd. Blazoned on the outer factory building were the words, " Our Work ... Our Pride ". 


Tuscan Works produced what is widely considered to be a fine line of china 
Their branded bone-china was known as " Tuscan" until 1967 after which they were taken over by a new parent company, Wedgewood, who added the " Royal" prefix for marketing purposes.
 My cup and saucer would have been made  at this time as it is marked " Royal Tuscan ".



This unpretentious teaset is deliciously decorated with a generous amount of decorative gold, yet it retains a very simple integrity that is gracefully poised, much like Audrey Hepburn. SO, that is what I shall call this china setting ... " Audrey " ( ha Ha)... and with every sip I shall feel elegant and beautiful.


In the mid 1900's, the factory was considered to be very modern for the times, with one gas-fired and two electric kilns, which were the heated enclosures used to process their decorative china, by firing, burning or drying.

Today, the factory is closed, but many pieces can still be purchased through websites. I checked ebay and found a generous amount of beautiful teasets and table settings still available at very reasonable prices.


Although I did not find this exact set, there was an abundance of this swirled pattern, minus the gold gilding, in a plain peachy pink , " Peach Bloom " which was one of the company's noted china patterns. If you're looking for new additions to your tea collection, an online search of " Tuscan china " is well worth your time efforts. 

Talk, talk, talk....You hardly got a word in.... Thank you for being such good listeners ladies .... Have a few more nibbles and one or two more sips for the road... Teatime  has been simply divine !!!!


Brrrrr...It's still a little chilly outside ...Please bundle up warmly  .... Check your cupboards for an
 " Audrey " cup when you get home. You know, one of those unsuspecting little treasures, that hide in the cupboards. Fill it with your favourite tea, warm your heart and your hands on it  and feel the BEAUTY WITHIN .... breath in the aroma and say to yourself " I AM BEAUTIFUL.




                                              HAVE A PEACEFUL DAY, LADIES !!!

I peeking into cabinets and sharing teatime with:
Sandi .... Tea Time tuesday( http://www.sandimyyellowdoor.blogspot.ca)
Terri ....Tea Cup Tuesday....( http://www.artfulaffirmations.blogspot.ca)
Ruth ...Tuesday Cuppa Tea ....( www.antiques and teacups.blogspot.ca)


33 comments:

Ineke Original said...

Well done!

High Heeled Life said...

This was certainly a beautiful way to start my day .. thank you for tea and the lovely teacup is brilliant! it does remind me of vanilla soft ice-cream.

Loved the Audrey Hepburn quotes - especially about the "other" hand. Blessings my friend, C. (HHL)

Maria Andrade said...

Hi Zaa,
I loved your Royal Tuscan china cup and saucer, really elegant with the gold and the flutes, but also the information you shared about the maker. That's something I always treasure a lot!
And the association with Audrey Hepburn delighted me, too.
Thanks for it all.
Hugs

Zaa said...

YOu wonderful to share tea with you Ineke..Hugs

Zaa said...

Thanks for your kind visit Marie..Hugs

Zaa said...

Dear Celia... It's always nice to chat with you ..xoxoxox

Sandi@ Rose Chintz Cottage said...

Hello Zaa,
Your teacup is very elegant and it does remind one of swirls of soft vanilla ice cream. I too liked Audrey, as she was the epitome of elegance. Enjoyed your quotes and history on the teacup too, a lovely post! Thank you for sharing today and stopping by to have tea with me. Have a beautiful day.

Blessings,
Sandi

Terri said...

Hello Zaa,
What a delightful post you have here! I love seeing image of Audrey, and her quote is perfect!
The cup you chose, that Audrey would love, is really classy! I love the white and gold theme. Tuscan china is so lovely. I have many of them myself. The Plant family was really something in the world of china! Big players!
Thank you so much for your very beautiful and informative post!
Hugs,
Terri

Zaa said...

Thank You Dear Sandi .. You Teatime posting too was a delightful read...Hugs

Zaa said...

Thank You Terri for all your marvellous markings info... and of course a lovely teatime chat... Hugs

Stephanie said...

Your Royal Tuscan cup and saucer is simple, yet very beautiful! I enjoyed reading your post and scrolling through the pictures.

Blessings to you,
Stephanie

Zaa said...

Thanks Stephanie..Please do come again soon...Hugs

Linda M. said...

Hello Zaa, Your tea set is lovely and I really enjoyed your post. Thanks for your visit and comments too. Joyous Wishes, Linda

kitty@ Kitty's Kozy Kitchen said...

Hi Zaa, what a delightful post and such a beautiful cup you've shared. I love the last quote you have on your post from Audrey Hepburn. What nice words to live by!!

Blondie's Journal said...

I came by to thank you for stopping by my blog and leaving a sweet comment as well as get well wishes! Then I got involved reading some of your posts! Do you mind if I follow?! :)

XO,
Jane

xinex said...

I love Audrey Hepburn. She is so elegant and sophisticated. That gorgeous cup befits her.....Christine

Two Cottages And Tea said...

What a fun post and such a beautiful teacup!
Nancy

Zaa said...

Dearest Linda .. It's so nice to hear from you ...Hugs

Zaa said...

Thanks Kitty and I'm loving your recipes...yummy..hugs

Zaa said...

Thank You Christine...You're always so very welcome here...Hugs

Zaa said...

Dear Blondie..Please do join into the teatime camaraderie... I truly enjoyed your beautiful blog postings...I'll be back over soon...hugs

Zaa said...

Thanks for your sweet teatime visit Nancy..xoxox

Tea in Texas said...

I absolutely love Audrey Hepburn in all the movies for she is the epitome of elegance. The guotes are so appropriate especially the one about the helping hand. The cup does her justice for it is also very simple but elegant. The history is so interesting for I have a few pieces of Plant and Royal Tuscan. Thanks for visiting my blog and the kind comments.

Pam

Zaa said...

Dear Pam ..Thanks for your charming Teatime visit... I was so delighted to see " Easter Morning" figurine on your blog...She's lovely....Please do come again soon...Hugs

Stephanie said...

Hi again! I figured since we have been visiting each other's blog that I would become your follower :) I look forward to your future posts and I thank you for the sweet comment that you left for me. I hope you have a great day!

Blessings to you,
Stephanie
www.theenchantingrose.blogspot.com

Zaa said...

Dear Stephanie you are as enchanting as your blog name ...I'm delighted to have you come to tea...Hugs

Gina @ VictorianWannaBe said...

Hi Zaa, What a cute post! Thanks for sharing the movie, Audrey Hepburn and her quotes and the history of the maker of that lovely teacup and saucer! How pretty! Thanks for sharing. Gina

Kay G. said...

Hello!
I have wanted to do a post on Audrey Hepburn for some time but felt I could not do her justice. YOU have done a fine job! What a lovely, lovely lady.
xx

Zaa said...

Dear Gina ... Your visits and chats are always so welcomed... Hugs

Zaa said...

Thanks Kay... I'm so happy that you've stopped over for a little teatime chatting... and I'm so enjoying your descriptive blog tours of the countryside....Hugs

Lady Linda said...

Oh the perfect teacup. I adore it. Love Audrey Hepburn, such an elegant lady. This blog is so fun...lots of time and energy was put into it. Thank you.
Love,
Linda

Johanna Gehrlein said...

Hi Zaa,
who wouldn't love Audrey Hepburn. She played so many nice movies and I love them all. You are right, the cup is as elegant as the Lady. Thank you for sharing this golden moments.
Best greetings, Johanna

Carolyn said...

Ah! Such a lovely post-I enjoyed myself for sure.
Also loved the previous post on your brown and white transferware-so pretty!
Carolyn