How to Choose Your Favourite Tea Set

A great tea experience is not only about drinking good tea, it is also about the beautiful tea set that the tea is being served with. A tea set is such a pretty thing to behold. The colour, the style and  the shape of each piece is all important in the overall look of a tea set.

Embossed Floral Tea Set

And of course everyone’s idea of what is beautiful is different. Tea sets vary so much, so what is it about each one that makes them so pleasing to the eye? How could you choose one that you really like the most to have in your own home and to use?

Large Vintage Tea Pot with Roses

Consider the shape that you like. The shape of the tea pot itself  as well as the cups, milk jug and sugar bowl is quite different with each set. Some are round and simple, others might be classic and stately. Look at the main body then the spout and handle. This tea pot has a fluted top where the lid rests.  This Claridges tea pot rests on four little feet.

Claridges Chintz Tea Pot

Royal Stafford Heritage Tea Set

And what about the style? Every set has its own unique style; whimsical, classical, vintage, traditional and more.  Style is probably one of the most obvious aspects of the tea set, yet it is important to ask yourself what style suits you, what style suits the kind of hospitality you want to share in a tea party.

Texture is another feature to think of. In the heritage tea set above, the pieces have a ribbed texture on each of them. Many of Spode’s old tableware designs have lots of texture in them. My personal favourite tea set is Spode’s Billingsley Rose which features an embossed lace pattern all around each piece with a pink rose in the centre. Buttercup is another pattern which shows a basket weave and dainty buttercup blossoms.

Johnson Brothers Yellow Vintage Tea Set

Each of us have a few colour schemes that we are drawn to. Sometimes the colour scheme reminds us of a certain time period such as vintage as is with this yellow tea set or art deco found in this  spring tea set. Or we like the colour scheme that coordinates with the overall house decor.

Spring Green Art Deco Tea Set

Pink Roses Regent Tea Set

What pattern in a tea set do you enjoy? Many tea sets have a floral pattern in them, such as roses or these hollyhocks or even these forget-me-nots.

Butterfly in Cottage Garden Tea Set for Two

Blue Forget-Me-Not Tea Set

Some tea sets feature more of a geometric pattern  or birds or butterflies. All of these contribute to the overall statement of the tea set.

Handpainted Butterfly Tea Set for 2

Consider the material that you would like your tea set to be made of. Tea sets can be made with a variety materials. Fine Bone China has bone (cow) in it and has a translucent appearance such as the butterfly tea set above here. If you hold it up to the light, you should be able to see your hand behind it.  People consider it the highest quality and handle it very carefully, though it is actually one of the strongest products. Porcelain is very typical of tea sets and is used in the hollyhocks tea set above and is also a very durable, material, though obviously not quite as fine. Earthenware is a slightly heavier product and is more typical of everyday use as is used in the blue & white tea set below.  Each of these is appropriate for tea sets, and the choice is simply a matter of taste.

Royal British Homes Blue & White Tea Set

For most people, the tea set that they first fall in love with is the one that they end up acquiring and then enjoying for many years.