" CONSIDER THE LILIES "

" Have you seen  but a White lily grow, 

Before rude hands have touched it? 

Have you marked but the fall of snow

Before the soil hath smutched it?

Have you felt the wool of beaver,

Or swan's down ever?

Or have smelt o' the bud o' the brier

Or the nard in the fire?

Or have tasted the bag of the bee?

O so white , O so soft, O so sweet is she! "

...Benjamin Jonson

I have beautiful lilies growing in my garden this year ... I whisper  to myself, "Oh, my heart be still"  as each evening, their  sweet perfume permeates the air ... Can you smell the fragrance? It's  akin to  music  flowing in and out with each breath.  

Now Ladies ... Would you please join me in the music parlour for a little teatime concert while we ' consider the lilies "( Matt:6:28)  

The lilies have dictated that all cups and saucers must be in shades of pink and of course, they must  also be adorned by garden family members...which are of course flowers.  I couldn't find any sets with lilies so a  tender rose will have to do  !!!

 This dainty cuplet as I call it, is a little less than a cup full of tea and a little more pleasurable. The reason being, that it is an afternoon teaset that welcomes not one but two or three cups of tea while chatting , or should I say gossiping.( Ha ha) 

I do believe that ' Gossip " was a  favourite  Victorian teatime  pleasure  ...  for who knows ,what was talked about, behind all those  teapots, teacups,gloves and fans.

I did giggle, while noticing  the  snobby  little  handle,  which is just a tad higher, than the curvaceous cup, allowing the wrist to relax and linger whilst listening  tentatively to the latest chit chat.

Oops,  one could almost  miss the saucer while leaning over to hear the whispers  across the table. " and then what happened " could almost be heard. ( ha ha) If you have a big imagination like me !!!

 

The Victorian socialites masked their teatime conversations with pretty tea cups and tea parties  to enhance their social status while gathering the latest news .  Todays  tea set is probably  early 1930's  with it's bold flowers and strong gold accents, however it is very delicate porcelain that is characteristic of Adderley Bone China.

The medieval  name dates  the pottery date to the seventeenth century. There is very little information available, except that in the 1930's  Colclough China Limited was expanding into tea and dinnerware. They took over the original smaller companies called Booth and Adderley. Then, in 1950, Colclough merged with the Ridgeway company and eventually became part of the Royal Doulton Group in the early 1970's. Somewhere along the line the Adderley name was  retained , as a fine pottery, whose history  boasts the markings of fine old  English China. Any contributing knowledge about the Adderley Company would be greatly appreciated.

Goodness , It's getting late !!!  Half past teatime Tuesday!!!

Please  bring your tea to the garden ladies and linger alittle longer in  the intoxication of the lily scented air... 

Yes, a good teatime chin wag   is as mesmerizing as the scent of the garden lilies. It's good to the last drop of friendship  sipped from  the cup.

I'm so  glad that you joined me for this  lovely midsummer  teatime gathering. We must do this again and again ... since I do have more gossip to tell.

Next Tuesday, we'll take a teatime peek into my newly renovated " Dancing Lily " Cottage . 

ENJOY YOUR WEEK , LADIES !!!