Welcome to the Cottage!
How do you make a "nice cup of tea" even better? By serving it up in a teacup that stirs memories from your past ... or one that creates a new memory from life's latest adventure.
From British high tea to the Japanese tea ceremony to a simple afternoon tea or just an impromptu "cuppa" with friends, teacups and tea sets can make you feel like royalty; they can evoke a Zen experience; or they can take you down a country lane where everyone's a friend.
This lens offers more than just tea things for sale; it also gives depth to the pieces about which I've found interesting information so you can have a fuller experience with the pieces you're viewing.
Collectible teacups, tea sets, and teapots (as well as other tea related pieces) are among life's little pleasures. They allow us to surround ourselves with warm memories from our past, dress up our nooks and shelves with reminders of the things we love, or serve as a special keepsake from that once-in-a-lifetime trip.
My dream is to live in a little cottage by a stream with a wildflower garden fragrancing the air. But until I can make that dream a reality, I collect cottage teapots to keep my dream close at hand. I hope the teacups, teapots and other tea things I offer at Collector's Cottage will help you keep your dreams - past, present, and future - close for you too.
~~Why Shop at Collector's Cottage?~~
Simple. Because we put customer service first. Because we describe each and every item to the best of our ability. Because we offer quality pieces at very reasonable prices. And because we hand-pack every single piece with the utmost of care so your shopping experience ends as smoothly as it began. Drop by for a visit!
(The Aynsley set you see pictured here is no longer available. Please visit Collector's Cottage for many other wonderful and diverse cup and saucer sets, as well as other tea collectibles!)
Doll House Tea Set
A "Little Something" Different!
Have you ever seen one of those gorgeous doll houses with more beautiful amenities than you have in your own home? They come in Victorian style with all the gingerbread trim of a fairy tale; you can find them in center-hall colonial style with working electric lights, carpeting and hardwood floors; there are even historically accurate ones with little dolls in outfits dressed to match the era.If you take a good look, you'll find the tiniest of accessories in well-loved doll houses - even little magazines, utensils and food items - that make the interior look like an actual family lives there. Among these wonderful pieces you may even see a full tea or coffee set, much like the one pictured here. This porcelain set was made in Occupied Japan and has 9 pieces in it (lids counted separately). You can also find sets in high English style porcelain or silver as well as sets with well-known patterns such as blue willow and themed sets with teddy bears or Christmas patterns.
The most interesting and unusual tea set I've seen so far is one that was made in the 1930s by a grandmother in Australia. She molded the entire set from hundreds of waxed mint wrappers, and it's as beautiful and detailed as any china or silver set on the market - and twice as charming! You can see this set as well as other pieces this remarkable woman made from her mint wrappers at the Australia's Museum Victoria website.
To go directly to the porcelain tea set pictured here, click on its link in the Link List below or go to the storefront by clicking on Collector's Cottage in My Bio.
You're Never Too Young - Tea Things for Kids!
Introduce Kids To The Finer Side Of Life!
My Very First Tea Party
Amazon Price: $5.99 (as of 07/26/2008)
Miss Spider's Tea Party (Scholastic Bookshelf)
Amazon Price: $6.99 (as of 07/26/2008)
Let's Have a Tea Party!: Special Celebrations for Little Girls
Amazon Price: $10.19 (as of 07/26/2008)
The Best Tea Party Ever! (Jewel Sticker Stories)
Amazon Price: $4.99 (as of 07/26/2008)
Just Mom and Me Having Tea: A Fun Bible Study for Mothers and Daughters
Amazon Price: $9.99 (as of 07/26/2008)
Delightful Dragonware
It doesn't get much more distinctive than this - moriage Dragonware. Collectors of this art form have such interesting collections ranging from intricate late 19th century pieces to colorful mid-century ones. I recently saw an entire Dragonware chocolate set with a Geisha lithopane at the bottom of every piece.Just like its name sounds, Dragonware is Japanese china or pottery decorated with raised slip clay (moriage) depicting Oriental-style dragons. The unusual set pictured here is a miniature cup and saucer with a matching pitcher, all nestled into its own wooden stand.
You'll find all kinds of interesting antiques and collectibles at Collectors Cottage - stop by for a visit!
Become an Expert!
Help for Novices and Pros Alike
Instant Expert: Collecting Teapots (Instant Expert)
Amazon Price: (as of 07/26/2008)
Porcelain in Palaces
Amazon Price: (as of 07/26/2008)
The Teapot Book
Amazon Price: $32.97 (as of 07/26/2008)
Japanese Tea Culture: Art, History and Practice
Amazon Price: $190.00 (as of 07/26/2008)
The Artful Teapot
Amazon Price: $37.50 (as of 07/26/2008)
Crown Staffordshire Floral Cup and Saucer Set
Back in 1790, Thomas Green began making pottery at Burslem in England. His son eventually worked in Staffordshire for some of the finest china makers including Minton, Copeland, and Wedgwood. Eventually he rented the Minerva Works in Fenton where he made china with four of his sons. After Thoms Green, Jr.'s death, in 1859, his wife continued the company, calling it M. Green & Co.It wasn't until 1897 that the company started using the name Crown Staffordshire, and soon they were making everything from dinnerware to door furniture. During the 1920s they became famous for pioneering large scale productions of china floral ornaments and china costume jewelry. The Green family remained connected with the Crown Staffordshire company until 1965.
Collectors Cottage is filled with antiques and collectibles of all kinds - drop on by for a browse!
Elijah Cotton Lord Nelson Trio
Old World Beauty
This beautiful trio (cup, saucer, and dessert plate) offers a combination of serenity and all-over beauty. Its rich gold floral design decorates all the pieces, and the charming vignette of a beautifully dressed woman with a cottage in the background stirs tranquil feelings.The set is marked underneath Elijah Cotton Ltd., Lord Nelson Ware, Staffordshire, England and has a symbol. Elijah Cotton Ltd. started business back in 1885, and Lord Nelson ware, highly collectible today, was a company trade name.
You can find lots of great collectibles at Collector's Cottage...hope to see you there soon! :)
Identify and Value Your Teacup Collection!
Aynsley China (Shire Library)
Amazon Price: $12.00 (as of 07/26/2008)
Collector's Encyclopedia of English China: Identification & Values
Amazon Price: (as of 07/26/2008)
Collectible Cups & Saucers (Collectible Cups and Saucers)
Amazon Price: (as of 07/26/2008)
Royal Doulton: A Legacy of Excellence 1871-1945 (Schiffer Book for Collectors)
Amazon Price: $69.35 (as of 07/26/2008)
Shelley China (Schiffer Book for Collectors)
Amazon Price: $30.36 (as of 07/26/2008)
Let's Not Forget Coffee Lovers!
Beautiful Hand Painted Lustre Coffee Set
Just because you love tea doesn't mean you won't have coffee lovers at your table! The lovely coffee pot and covered sugar pictured here have a wonderful blue luster trim over a delicate light cream porcelain with a hand-painted floral design.The set bears the mark TT within interlocking diamond shapes. It's a classic, finer set, made in Japan.
Pour yourself a cup of coffee and have a browse around Collector's Cottage - you never know what you may find!
Teapots, Teacups, and Coffeepots Galore!
Collectible Cups and Saucers: Identification and Values (Book 3, Collectible Cups and Saucers)
Amazon Price: $16.47 (as of 07/26/2008)
Hall China Tea And Coffee Pots: The First 100 Years (Schiffer Book for Collectors with Price Guide)
Amazon Price: $26.37 (as of 07/26/2008)
British Teapots and Coffee Pots (Shire Library)
Amazon Price: $12.95 (as of 07/26/2008)
British Tea & Coffee Cups (Albums Series)
Amazon Price: $12.00 (as of 07/26/2008)
If These Pots Could Talk: Collecting 2,000 Years of British Household Pottery
Amazon Price: $33.00 (as of 07/26/2008)
Lustreware = Lustrous Cups and Saucers!
Pearl Lustreware Cup and Saucer
That beautifully lustrous - sometimes even iridescent - metallic sheen on porcelain pieces of varying colors can be nothing but lustreware. The tell-tale finish is created by the addition of a thin film of metallic oxides (sometimes copper and silver) over a glaze, which is then fired. Probably the best known and maybe the most commonly seen today are those made in Japan, and they include everything from salt and pepper sets to tea sets to jugs and bowls. But did you know that lustreware may have originated as early as the 9th century?Pottery experts say that the most beautiful and colorful lustreware was found in Samarra, made in the 9th century by Islamic potters. In later centuries it was made in Iran, Egypt, Spain, Italy, England, and Japan.
Lustreware is a pretty popular collectible and can range quite a bit in price, even though back around the 1920s-1940s, those that were imported from Japan were considered inexpensive dime-store stuff (not anymore!). The most common lustreware colors we find today are orange and blue, but there's also mother-of-pearl, pink, yellow and copper.
English lustre is generally more expensive than Japanese. Most English lustreware was made during the first half of the 19th century and is highly collectible; today, you'll usually only see a good quantity of it come onto the market when a collection is being dismantled and sold.
Pop on into Collector's Cottage to see what other fine and fun things await you!
Teapots as Collectibles
What's in YOUR closet? :)
Antique Trader Teapots Price Guide
Amazon Price: $14.99 (as of 07/26/2008)
Teapots by Design: A Collectors' Catalogue (Schiffer Book for Collectors)
Amazon Price: $21.86 (as of 07/26/2008)
Collectible Teapots: A Reference and Price Guide
Amazon Price: (as of 07/26/2008)
Teapots (Christie's Collectibles)
Amazon Price: (as of 07/26/2008)
Teapots: The Collector's Guide
Amazon Price: (as of 07/26/2008)
Adderley Lawley English Bone China Cup and Saucer
There's no doubt that English china has a charm all its own. From floral designs to courting vignettes, it adds a touch of style and grace to any table.This beautiful Adderley Lawley bone china cup and saucer is no exception. The set has been sold, but there are still lots of other great finds at Collector's Cottage - stop on by!
Chinese Teapots and More
The Beauty of Chinese Yixing Teapots: And the Finer Arts of Tea Drinking
Amazon Price: (as of 07/26/2008)
Yixing Pottery: The World of Chinese Tea Culture (Arts of China)
Amazon Price: $11.01 (as of 07/26/2008)
Tea
Amazon Price: $26.40 (as of 07/26/2008)
China Teapots: Pottery and Porcelain (Antique Collectors Pocket Guides)
Amazon Price: (as of 07/26/2008)
I-hsing Teapot Painting by 10 Shanghai Masters (Jao Tsung-I Petite Ecole)
Amazon Price: (as of 07/26/2008)
Limoges Cup and Plate
It wasn't until the discovery of high quality kaolin clay near Limoges, France in the mid-18th century that porcelain production began in that small town. This fine porcelain caught the attention of very prestigious painters, and Limoges china caught on quickly with the European courts. It wasn't long before everyday china was being produced as well, but Limoges was best known for the creative and luxurious masterpieces turned out by these manufacturing facilities.Many Limoges factories had opened up by the 1920s, which is why you'll see the backstamp "Limoges" coupled with other factory marks or artist's identification. Artist-signed Limoges that is well decorated can bring higher prices in the antiques and collectibles market.
This lovely, delicate Limoges cup and saucer set is beautifully designed. In addition to the traditional Limoges mark is another reading "Made in France, The French Shop, St. Thomas, V.I." The set is no longer available, but lots of other beautiful and interesting finds are added regularly at Collector's Cottage. Stop by soon!
RSS Feeds From Collector's Cottage
Other collectible finds at Collector's Cottage!
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byIf You Love Tea Cups, Teapots, and Tea Things....
Online Museums, Collector Clubs, and more.
- Antique Tea Cup, Teapot, & Tea Strainer Exhibit
- Allison-Antrim Museum's 2001 tea exhibit. See beautiful pictures of antique tea service pieces, and read about the history of tea and tea things.
- Collecting Cups and Saucers
- A nice article for cup and saucer collectors that gives a brief and interesting history of teacups. You'll discover why cups were specially designed for hot chocolate, tea, and coffee (starting back in the 17th century!), as well as the utensils used with them. The author also shares her own memories involving teacups, and the custom of giving a cup and saucer to a bride-to-be.
Tell Us About Your Tea Collectibles Or Just Say Hi!
Your Favorite Pieces, Best Finds, Why You Collect - We Want To Hear From You!
Drop in and just say hi or leave feedback on this lens. If you love tea collectibles as much as I do, we'd love to hear about your collections, your favorite pieces, best buys, great finds - anything at all! All guests are welcome!
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mysamcat
Great lens! My Grandma collected tea cups and saucers, when she passed away all of her family each got a set. I will always treasure that cup and saucer, it means so much to me to have it! Posted July 21, 2008 |
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richgerman
actually this is very interesting lens its not collection is this not pricey? Posted July 20, 2008 |
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Wysiwigs
What a great lens - very informative. I have a penchant for the demitasse cups (did I spell it right?? :o) Thanks for sharing all the pretty pieces, too. Posted April 29, 2008 |
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Wysiwigs
What a great lens - very informative. I have a penchant for the demitasse cups (did I spell it right?? :o) Thanks for sharing all the pretty pieces, too. Posted April 29, 2008 |
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eaglesden
Hi CollectorsCottage, Posted March 15, 2008 |
