When I was doing consulting work with my husband and partner Pieter, we were in Calgary, Canada with one of the staff members shopping at an antique store. That's where I bought my very first 1940s - 1950s Royal Albert Princess Anne piece of china. It was a handled cake plate. Over time I kept adding and I especially loved these Tennis Sets for Coffee or Tea. Did you know about them? This is something from the UK, but I love their practical approach for being able to hold this with one hand in an informal setting.
On January 18, we had our white hyacinth blooming. Got it at Trader Joe's and wish they would last forever as I LOVE their fragrance.
So here is our Royal Albert Princess Anne teapot and one each of a Tennis Set for Coffee and one for Tea.
To me it does not look quite fair as the Tennis Set for Tea is far bigger...
To me it does not look quite fair as the Tennis Set for Tea is far bigger...
Don't you agree that the Tennis Set for Coffee is smaller in size?
WHY would hat be...
To photograph these two sets together proved to be very hard!
Here it is out of perspective a bit because the Tennis Set for Tea is in the front and looking way bigger.
This is the best I could do for showing both of them at more or less eye level.
You notice that the tea cup is wider and more shallow and tapered down. The coffee cup is more narrow and mostly straight up.
To the right on the sidebar you see my most popular post is: {Difference Between Coffee & Tea Cups} just click the hyperlink for finding out.
But still those Tennis Set differences puzzle me...!
When I tried to find out more, I found this interesting site from Royal Albert Patterns.com with this lovely photo. Shown is a coffee cup and saucer to the right; teacup and saucer to the left; cream & sugar set - which I have several of, also differently sized. My handled cake plate that I found in Calgary, Canada is shown here and a coffee pot which I don't have one.
To the bottom are different teacups.
They mention only the Cup Shape being Countess (for Tea) or Avon (for Coffee).
You just scroll all the way down on this site, from above hyperlink, or if you search for any other pattern you might find it there as well.
There even is a Royal Albert Patterns FB Page, just click the hyperlink.
To the right on the sidebar you see my most popular post is: {Difference Between Coffee & Tea Cups} just click the hyperlink for finding out.
But still those Tennis Set differences puzzle me...!
When I tried to find out more, I found this interesting site from Royal Albert Patterns.com with this lovely photo. Shown is a coffee cup and saucer to the right; teacup and saucer to the left; cream & sugar set - which I have several of, also differently sized. My handled cake plate that I found in Calgary, Canada is shown here and a coffee pot which I don't have one.
To the bottom are different teacups.
They mention only the Cup Shape being Countess (for Tea) or Avon (for Coffee).
You just scroll all the way down on this site, from above hyperlink, or if you search for any other pattern you might find it there as well.
There even is a Royal Albert Patterns FB Page, just click the hyperlink.
This is the regular Coffee Cup & Saucer with a regular Tea Cup & Saucer...
We Heart It did have my photo tagged by 46 people. That shows maybe that more people are searching to find out more about those differences.
Would you know an answer for those Tennis Set differences?
A very frequently visited post...
it is a pretty set. too dainty for me, though. :)
ReplyDeleteDearest Theresa,
DeleteOh sure, they're kind of no-no when wagging tails are around!
Hugs,
Mariette
Dear Mariette,
ReplyDeleteI love your Royal Albert china - so pretty.
The tennis sets are wonderful - my Mother had a few and they are very useful.
Hope you are enjoying the week
hugs
Carolyn
Dearest Carolyn,
DeleteThank you and indeed they are very useful. Yes, I am enjoying my week and will enjoy my weekend even more!
Hugs,
Mariette
Stunning my friend! The Royal Albert dishes are to die for Mariette and so is the gorgeous linen...beautiful! The Tennis set for coffee, which are smaller, is wonderful. You have given us a small class on the different types and uses of cups.I never knew that there were small cups for coffee in Europe, cause in America, N and S, we drink them, either in the teacups or in mugs, lol!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing, love this post.
Hugs,
FABBY
Dearest Fabby,
DeleteGuess the British could all teach us a lesson or two... But this Royal Albert pattern is indeed lovely!
Hugs to you,
Mariette
Dearest Mariette,
ReplyDeletetwo lovely Stes...but I also can't unerstand, why the Set for coffee is so much smaller, this is not fair!
But the porcellain is beautiful!
Love and hugs
Claudia
Dearest Claudia,
DeleteWish we could figure out why that coffee set indeed is smaller than the tea set.
This Royal Albert china is so lovely and also perfect to drink from.
Hugs to you,
Mariette
Liebe Mariette,
ReplyDeleteich freue mich wieder über deinen schönen Blog.
Sonnige Grüße
Elisabeth
Liebe Elisabeth,
DeleteEs freut mir auch wenn wir einander so etwas schönes anbieten können zum geniessen!
Schade dass es hier im Moment -5°C friert und damit die schönen japanischen Magnolien braun werden...
Liebe Grüsse,
Mariette
Hello dear Mariette
ReplyDeleteI love Royal Albert china.
I didn't know they were called tennis sets.
Beautiful rose pattern and a wonderful collectors piece!
I hope you are having a good week my dear friend.
Hugs
Shane
Dearest Shane,
DeleteThank you and yes,we only can learn about that from the British. It was a most convenient way for them to have tea or coffee at less formal places. Still very elegant and this rose pattern indeed is lovely!
This is a very fast week, the days are gone before we know it and so much to do!
Hugs,
Mariette
Dear Mariette,what a preety set!!I like the rose pattern !!So beautiful!!Thank you for sharing!!
ReplyDeleteWish you a happy day!Hugs!
Dimi...
Dearest Dimi,
DeleteThank you and who would NOT like such lovely rose pattern? It also does make one yearn for true spring weather instead of the frost we have momentarily with -5°C and for the coming night the very same more or less. Such a pity for our gorgeous Japanese magnolia blossoms...
Hugs,
Mariette
Dearest Mariette,
ReplyDeleteThese are charming. I can see using them in summer for tea on the porch, away from jumping animals!
I've seen potters make something like this, calling them snack plates, but never knew the origins of the idea. You have solved, at least in part, a small problem!
Teacups always seem to be wider and shallower; perhaps based on the summer tea cup?
As for the teas set being larger.....maybe the British think tea drinkers deserve a bigger serving?
Dearest Suzi,
DeleteThank you for your meaningful comment. Indeed, the British might have tried to reward tea drinkers by allowing them ample space for bigger snack servings on their tray.
It would be lovely for going back in time a couple of ages for figuring out the many reasons that lay behind certain designs.
As a potter you of course have a more than average interest in this kind of things.
Hugs,
Mariette
OH!!!So pretty set!I love "bon China"!Kisses my friend!
ReplyDeleteDearest Georgia,
DeleteOh sure, bone china is the best available for creating such lovely pieces. Wish we could enjoy a cup together.
Hugs and kisses to you as well.
Mariette
Dear Mariette! It is a pretty set... love your Royal Albert China! Have a good week! Hugs, Manuela
ReplyDeleteDearest Manuela,
DeleteWith such a pretty set we only need a lovely spring setting and some good friends for enjoying a cup together!
Hugs and happy weeks ending to you.
Mariette
Liebe Mariette,
ReplyDeleteich mag dieses Porzellan auch sehr - Rosenmuster überhaupt.
Du hast es gut in Szene gesetzt und toll erklärt.
Wenn man die Beiden so nebeneinander sieht, kann man verstehen,
warum man von Teeschalen spricht
Einen schönen Tag wünscht dir
Irmi
Liebe Irmi,
DeleteRosenmuster sind immer so lieblich auf Porzellan.
Danke für deine netten Kommentar und so kann man laut mehreren Sprachen auch vieles rausfinden über den Grund weswegen Objekte so gemacht worden sind. Teeschalen ist schon sehr deutlich!
Liebe Grüsse und ein schöner Nachmittag und Abend.
Mariette
Dearest Mariette;
ReplyDeleteThe Royal Albert dishes with the table Crocheted Table Topper you introduced us last post look GORGEOUS♡♡♡ I cannot see coffee cup saucer with dish here much, beautiful rose design (your favorite). So as the The tennis sets for tea♬♬♬
Night Night from Japan to my dearest friend in America, xoxo Miyako*
Dearest Miyako,
DeleteThank you so much and sure, for the Far East it is far more the culture to drink tea instead of coffee. That is such a regional custom. Tea drinkers are lucky for having a bigger tray; they get rewarded so to speak.
Wishing you good night dear friend from the rising sun and sending you hugs and sweet dreams.
Mariette
Your coffee/tea sets are very pretty. I really like that you can hold both cup and sweets together. Very practical :-) I didn't pay attention to differences between tea cup and coffee cup until I read your posts, maybe bacuase I always drink my coffee/tea in mug cup..haha.
ReplyDeleteDearest Tamago,
DeleteOh, mugs have been on the market now for several decades and have pushed aside these 1940s - 1950s cups & saucers. But for a change it is so nice to use them. It looks very romantic together with fresh flowers and some nice sweets to serve with it.
Hugs,
Mariette
Dear Mariette,
ReplyDeleteYour tea and coffee sets are lovely and I did not know that there was a difference in the shapes of the cups! I am a mug girl, too - but it is nice to have a formal set for entertaining. I suppose that the tea plate would be larger to accommodate all the tea cakes and scones that are served at a formal tea? Just a guess. Your porcelain looks lovely on your crocheted edge cloth, too.
Hope you didn't get a freeze - we are expecting one this weekend, too.
Stay warm.
Hugs xo
Karen
Dearest Karen,
DeleteOh sure mugs have replaced those old 1940s - 1950s cups & saucers for several decades now but as you said, for entertaining this makes such a lovely presentation. The tea tray is not that large actually, just for petit fours, chocolates and cookies I guess.
We did get a nasty freeze and again tonight. Hoping that not all our lovely Japanese magnolia blossoms will turn brown...
Hugs,
Mariette
Dearest Mariette,
ReplyDeleteYour coffee and tea sets are so lovely!!!!! I adore the rose paterns!!!!! You are so lucky to own these beauties!!!!
Although I am not at all a specialist, I will try one guess as to the different sizes:having stayed in London many times over the years, 5 o'clock tea was always accompanied with various muffins, pastries, etc. but also with plates of different small sandwiches, whilst if you ordered coffee you only got some pastries. Obviously, you usually eat more while drinking tea, than coffee. Hence the larger plate for the tea set! This is only a guess, though!!!!
Thanks for you comment on my decoupaged lamp. We use to burn it outdoors in the summer, with anti-mosquito oil , so it is not a lampe Berger.
Many hugs!!!!!
Marie-Anne
Dearest Marie-Anne,
DeleteThank you so much for your words here and sure, those British advocate their tea and they took indeed cucumber sandwhiches and the likes with that. Funny to unravel certain old cultural traditions. They sure designed their china pieces around those traditions.
You were so very clever for making your own anti-mosquito oil lamp with lovely rose découpage. I was of course just kidding you with your Lampe Berger competition!
Hugs to you dear friend and rose lover!
Mariette
Ja de thee koppen zijn altijd groter dan koffie koppen. Zou niet weten waarom dat is.grappig die dubbele schoteltjes.
ReplyDeleteBeste Marianne,
DeleteJa en niet alleen de koppen maar ook die dubbele schoteltjes verschillen nogal qua omvang! Raadsels van land tot land vanwege verschillende tradities.
Liefs,
Mariette
Hallo Mariette,
ReplyDeletePrachtig en sierlijk serviesgoed waaruit het goed koffie en thee drinken is.
De theekop is altijd groter/wijder van model dan hoog model koffie kop, vandaar dat de schotel ook groter is anders klopt de verhouding niet.
Heb ook aantal mooie koffie en thee koppen van Bone China al vanaf ons trouwen in de kast,worden eigenlijk te weinig gebruikt.
Lieve groet,
Ger
Lieve Ger,
DeleteJa, dat zou een reden kunnen zijn maar onze engelse koffie en theekoppen hebben toch allemaal dezelfde maat schoteltje erbij. Alleen bij deze tennis schoteltjes zijn de verhoudingen nogal erg vershillend.
Het is eigenlijk jammer dat zulke mooie kopjes & schoteltjes van Bone China veelal in de kast leven... de mijne ook hoor! Niet voor dagelijks gebruik.
Liefs,
Mariette
This is so nostalgic for me. Mme Mère's coffee cups and tea cups were shaped exactly like these. She always made a great show of pointing out the difference, not only in size, but in shape. Beautiful pattern. I'm soooo envious of your collection.
ReplyDeleteWarmest hugs from a very chilly part of the world,
Big bisous, M-T
Dearest Marie-Thérèse,
DeleteSo glad that this did bring some very nostalgic memories for you! Oh, how much I loved this rose pattern right away when spotted in Calgary, Canada. Over the years I have been able to add some more pieces onto it and we love it!
Oh, we too had frost last night, this morning at 6:30 AM it was -5°C or 23°F and again tonight. Wondering how our beautiful Japanese magnolias will look like after that frost... In The Netherlands the weather was a lot milder and spring blossoms were in abundance already. Strange world!
Hugs,
Mariette
Dearest Mariette,
ReplyDeleteWhen you are doing consuling with your husband pieter one of the members shopping an antiqve store.You bought your very first 1940-1950 Royal Albert Princess Ann.
It was a handled cake plate over time you especially loved Tennis sets for Coffee of Tea.
you love approach for able to hold with one hard in an informal setting..
On January 18,You had youe white hyacinth blooming the trader joe's and with they lost forever as you love this fragrance. Anna leapot one each of Tennis set for coffee and one for tea Tome it not with tennis tea is far bigger.
To Photograph these very hard here it is out of perspective bit of the Tennis set for Tea in the front looking way bigger.
This is the best you could do for showing both of them more or less eye level.
shollow and tapered down,Well so much of Difference betwean coffee & Tea cups just click the hyperlink for finding out I can't thinking of tonight I'm sick of hearing that little is a GENIUS lady will be more to thinking hard but still those Tennis set Are you puzzle you?
You might find it there as well!
We has just hot day Only small raining for our back yard has nothing much there...Only our front rose had I love so much everynight and I looking after very well.
Hugs and love with happy weekend to you!!
Michiko
Dearest Michiko,
DeleteThank you for your practice and you are doing well considering the time span between your accident and now. Never give up and enjoy your rose in the front yard! Hot days should get some alternating refreshing rain but it is not always the case. Try to enjoy and wishing you a lovely weekend!
Hugs,
Mariette
Dear Mariette,
ReplyDeleteThese look so pretty and I like the idea of having the 'larger' saucer with the cup. And I love the rose patterns, reminds me of my grandmothers china. Have a fantastic Friday!
Dearest Eva,
DeleteThank you and sure the time of 1940s - 1950s does evoke fond memories of Grandmothers. Times have changed but such lovely rose patterns on china are timeless.
Hugs and happy weekend!
Mariette
sono meravigliose le tazze con le rose!!! le adoro!!!! buon fine settimana e un grande abbraccio Lory
ReplyDeleteCara Lory,
DeleteGrazie e anche voi un buon fine settimana con und grande, grande abbraccio!
Mariette
Lovely cups. The English are all about tea!! Not like the Dutch, who can't live without their coffee. Maybe that's why their tea cups are bigger. Also need place for the milk!!!
ReplyDelete