Marks and Spencer Battenberg - Tea Time

I am a bit of a purist when it comes to collecting china tableware, I do like English China, especially produced in the Midland Potteries from the 1950s and 60s.

Lately though I have been looking at some Marks and Spencer ranges. One in particular has really taken my fancy. The Battenberg pattern, sometimes called Tea Time.

These wares were not made in the UK, when I looked on the back the mark is, 'made in Taiwan.'  I believe they are from the 1980s - 1990s. Certainly not one of my usual infatuations, but I think these are going to become very collectible. Using the example of Ridgway Homemaker  sold in Woolworths in the 1950s's 1960's, this crockery could be picked up quite cheaply at the time, but is now commanding good prices.   

Marks and Spencer Battenberg

As the name suggests the design on the teapot, sugar bowl, milk jug, cups saucers and tea plates are inspired by the colours and shape of a Battenberg cake, yellows and pinks. The shapes are square, very unusual.

Tea Time

Alongside this range is a complementing set, of round cups saucers and plates, all decorated  in greens, pinks and lilacs, the outside of these wares are decorations of cakes. They are lovely.

Marks and Spencer Tea Time

One of my favourites from this range is the large cake plate, the yellow cake stand is edged with cup cakes and Battenberg cakes all standing proud.

The whole range is an absolute delight. They would make a fabulous addition to a little girls tea party, and would lend themselves so well to an Alice in Wonderland, or fairyland  theme.

Brexton Picnic Boxes

I don't know about you, but the week between Christmas and New Year really gets on my nerves. I have found my local charity shops very rarely have any new items in around this time of year, and of course the weather has put paid to any car boots. So image how pleasantly surprised I was to spot a little picnic box in my local charity shop on Christmas Eve. Unfortunately I was weighed down with the Christmas Turkey, ham, vegetables and last minute gifts, so was unable to investigate further. But as soon as the shops opened again, I was down there, dying to explore. Fifteen pounds exchanged hands and it was on the way home.

A Brief History of Brexton Picnic Sets

Brexton made their picnic boxes in the 1950s. The covers are made of a form of artificial leather cloth, that feels and looks like fabric. They came in various colours red, blue, green and yellow. Most picnic sets catered for between two and four people. The cups and saucers were made by Grays Pottery of Stoke on Trent. The sandwich box is a hard plastic embossed with the name 'Brexton the same material is used to make the containers for milk and sugar. The flask is a Thermos.

What makes Brexton Picnic Sets Special.

The shape of the Brexton Picnic box really does conjure up the cosy tranquil days of the 1950s. Coming after the uncertainty of the war years, time for the family, and family values would be very important. You can imagine young couples cycling off into the country with their picnic sets balanced on the basket of their bicycles, or young families in their cars heading for the countryside, tartan blanket in tow.

Food for 1950s Picnic

The food would be simple fare, ham or cheese sandwiches and pork pie kept fresh, in the modern for the time, plastic sandwich box. Hot tea from the thermos, a dash of milk, served in china cups, sweetened with sugar, as everyone did in those days.

Brexton picnic boxes, although very old fashioned to our eyes, used new and exciting materials for the time. The 1950s was the times for new and fledgling forward thinking designs and ideas to take form before the explosion of the 1960s.

After the bleakness of second world war the festival of Britain, that was held in 1951 gave a spring board for new ideas, not only in science and technology, but in arts and design.

  

How to Treat China Ware with Respect

I love old China and Tableware and I’m not alone. Trawling through the internet there are loads of small businesses with websites advertising hiring out vintage china for weddings and special occasions.

The items are all mismatched, personally I love this idea, and nothing could look more individual than crockery that has been specially sourced to celebrate big occasions. I like looking at the ‘picture gallery’ and love the way nearly all mismatched china looks good together if presented in the right setting, with crisp tablecloths and sparkling glass wear.

China Cake Stands

Stylish Cake Stand from Marks and Spencers Battenberg - Tea time 

I have noticed though that some tableware and beautiful china is currently being adapted to fit into a particular trend.Making one’s own three tiered cake stand appears to be very popular. Kits can be purchased on line, and holes are drilled into three unsuspecting vintage plates, the fittings supplied help convert to tiered cake stands. I hate the defacing of china plates in this way. What does make me annoyed is when I see these items advertised as the real thing, i.e. that’s how they have been manufactured. Most of the items I have seen are not original.

A far more pleasing sight would be to use a three tiered chrome folding tea shop stand. These can also be purchased online. The plates sit on the tiered stands, as they aren’t permanent fixtures, they can be changed at will. The options to create different looks and colour schemes are limitless, and of course no defacing of china is required.

Candles and Teacups

I have also spotted lots of tea cups filled with wax and ‘converted’ into a candle! I hate this look. It seems really popular right now. To compound the felony the two most despised ‘looks’ for cups and plates have been combined to create a cake stand and cup candle combo, monstrosity!

The sad little wax filled receptacle is perched on top of the cake stand, looking like a one eyed Greek monster, waiting to be defeated. To my eye, the shape is all wrong, and doesn’t look atheistically pleasing.

Why I don't like Flowers in Teapots

How lovely is it to have tea poured out of a fine looking teapot? So, why oh why use them as vases? The beauty of flowers and the splendour of teapots ‘fight’ with each other when placed together in this way. They detract from each other’s exquisiteness.

Using a simple glass vase, coloured or plain, with a few well chosen blooms enhance the table far more, and complement the china, rather than ‘wrestling’ for principle place with it.

I am always looking for different ways to use good looking crocks in interesting ways. But some of these ideas I find lacklustre and uninspiring. When they become trendy, I find them boring. On the other hand these ideas are introducing vintage china and its history to a new audience, this can only be a good thing.

Care of your Collectable China

If like me you take pleasure in collecting and enjoying china and table ware from a bygone era, there comes a time when a box or a spare cupboard is not going to hold all your treasures.
You begin to ask yourself a few questions.

• Where are you going to keep it?
• What to do with your increasing hoard?
• How are you going to organise your collection?
• Am I making random purchases?
• Do I need to focus my collection more?
• How will I keep it clean?

Storing your Collection

If you have a spare room in your house, your problems are solved! If like me all spare space is taken in your abode, you will have a problem, as your beloved collection begins to invade your home. There are only so many items you can put on display.

Teapots and Coffee pots can take up a lot of space. A good investment would be an outdoor storage unit or storage box, they are made of rigid plastic and of course are weather proof, and they can be padlocked. They are easy to assemble, and can be purchased quite cheaply from somewhere like Argos, or Garden stores.

If your purse can stretch further, what about a small shed? If you are feeling adventurous and are the handy and arty type, put up some shelves and paint the inside, and display your lovely crocks.

Organising your China


Once you have got your storage sorted out, you can begin to organise your tableware. Now is the ideal time to have a good look at what you have been buying. When I first started collecting I bought anything and everything that had a makers stamp on.
Getting my storage sorted out, helped me focus on what I really wanted to collect, and keep.

If you love iconic tableware from the 1960s concentrate on this era. Keep all items from the same design together, this prevents buying too many plates, for example,when you really need some cups. Sell the other items on ebay, and get a bit of cash for future acquisitions.

Donate any surplus items to your local charity shop. Give another enthusiast the joy of discovering your cast offs.   You will have created more space for the pieces you love. Get rid of any cracked or chipped articles, unless really valuable.

Cleaning China

Don’t put china in the dishwasher, if there is any gilt on it, it will wear off. Hot soapy water is the best way to clean china. If you have any tea stains, gently soak in sterilising solution. The type that is used to sanitize baby’s equipment is fine. Rinse well afterwards. Get a little bottle brush to clean the inside of spouts, or difficult to reach places.

Enjoying Tableware

It’s lovely to collect tableware, but don’t forget to use it and enjoy it. It will make a visit to your house memorable.

After all that’s china was created for!  

Ridgway Homemaker

The Homemaker pattern by Ridgway has become one of the most recognisable and collectable tableware from the 1950, and 1960s.

It is decorated with iconic black and grey images from the era, household items, plant pots and furniture, and an abstract radio/tv waves background. It really symbolises that revolutionary and exploratory age.

The dinner plate shows these images to their best advantage.

Enid Seeney (1931-2011) and Woolworths

Homemaker and Barbecue by Ridgway

Enid Seeney, the designer of Homemaker served her apprenticeship at The Spode Copeland works.

In 1951 she joined the Booths Colclough factory, in Stoke On Trent, which was part of the Ridgway group.

The design was a slow starter as far as buyers were concerned. Initially Woolworths placed only a small order and sold it in only a few of the flagship Woolworths stores. This was after Enid Seeney had left Ridgway. Apparently she didn’t make any money out of this contemporary design.

Homemaker became very popular and was expanded into the other Woolworth stores. It was a cheap tableware to buy and collect. Appealing to the aspiring housewife of the age.  The tableware was made until the 1970s.

Collecting Homemaker

The cereal bowls, and the large and smaller plates are still fairly affordable, but there has been an incredible rise in the price of the rarer items such as the tureen, teapot and the ‘Cadenza’ coffee pot. I have noticed a decline in items for sale in this design on ebay. Are collectors hanging onto their Homemaker?

There is also a rust coloured version a must buy if ever spotted.

Ridgway Barbecue

I came across this design, also a Woolworths and Ridgway collaboration, while rummaging in my local charity shop.

My interest was alerted by the black cups, they reminded me of Homemaker. The plates and saucers have little images of skewers, salt and pepper pots and other items for the barbecue: Mushrooms, onions, fish and meat.

For a few pounds they were mine, and I headed home for a bit of research online.
Information seems very scarce.

The designer was Margaret Simpson and they were made for the Australian market. I hardly ever see any for sale on ebay.

I am unsure if this pattern will ever be as collectable as Homemaker. But it’s a variation on a theme and its rarity makes it an interesting collectable.

Would I buy a chipped Homemaker piece at the right price?   Probably.

Happy Crocking.

Further Reading
Homemaker: A 1950s Design Classic

Making a Perfect Pot of Tea

Making a pot of tea.  Nothing could be simpler. Or could it? How many of us settle for a weak warm milky mash? Or bypass the pot completely, and dunk a sad bag into a mug of hot water, and hope for the best. All because we can’t be bothered to wait a few minutes to brew a pot up properly.

In this hurly burly world we live in, I think we owe it to ourselves, at least once a day to make a decent cuppa.

How to make a Decent Cup of Tea



Lingard Teapot and Infuser

1. Boil the kettle with fresh water from the tap, don’t use re boiled water as it diminishes the oxygen content.
2. Warm the pot by pouring a small amount of boiling water from the kettle into the teapot.
3. Swirl and discard.
4. Put one rounded teaspoon of tea per person, and one for the pot. If you are using a 2 person tea pot, that’s 3 teaspoons of tea.
5. Fill with boiled water.
6. Stir briefly, and leave to brew, for between three to five minutes.
7. Your tea should be a golden colour when milk is added.
Don’t forget you tea strainer when pouring.

The Perfect Accompaniment to a Cup of Tea

Your tea is brewing, so what do you do for five minutes?  Just enough time to decide what accompaniment to take with your perfect pot of tea.

Milk seems to be a favourite, some school of thought add the milk after the tea is poured, and some before; I personally always add it before. Don’t use creamy milk, it spoils the flavour of the tea.

Sugar: only a little is required.

Lemon or orange is a refreshing alternative, squeeze the fruit and add to taste, include some honey or ground ginger, to enhance flavours.

Biscuits: A cuppas too wet without one!

Reading matter and a comfortable chair.

Enjoy.

Enjoying a Cup of Tea

After water, tea is the most widely drunk beverage on the planet, but it’s used for far more than to quench the thirst.

Tea is there at all levels and on all occasions in peoples lives. It has a high standing at social events, and celebrations.

Sultry afternoon teas on the lawn, or high teas with dainty cucumber sandwiches and exquisite cakes taken in the conservatory, as practised by the English, or the gentle refinement of the Chinese and Japanese ritualized traditional tea taking.

Middle Eastern countries take pleasure in having tea at the centre of their social gatherings, and India serves tea at all domestic gatherings and functions.

Different Types of Tea

There are a least 4 different types of tea;

Black Tea; this is oxidized more than the other leafs, and is therefore stronger. It is the most widely drunk tea in the U.K. There are many different types of Black tea:

• English Breakfast Tea
• Assam
• Darjeeling
• Ceylon Tea

Green Tea; is made from one particular leaf, and has very little oxidization. It is widely regarded for its health benefits, and as a natural source of antioxidants.

• LongJing
• Schincha

Oolong Tea; a traditional Chinese tea, also grown in Taiwan. The leaves need to be brewed for longer, and can be used more than once. The flavour can actually improve the more times it is brewed.

• Ti Kuan Yin
• Formosa Oolong

White Tea; A premium tea, it is less processed and the lightest tea. It has a slightly sweeter more delicate taste. A more expensive tea, loved by The Chinese Emperors..

• White Peony
• White Silver Needles
• White Darjeeling 

There are also lots of herbal and fruit teas.

Put the Kettle on

Whether tea’s taken at the beginning of the day, as a pick me up. At the end of the day as a relaxant.  For greeting visitors, or for its health benefits. Tea is a massive part of our lives and culture, and that doesn’t seem to be going away any time soon.

Enjoy your cuppa!