Set your tea table with silver
11th May 2009
If you're a fan of tea but want to seal the deal with something longer lasting than a teabag, you'll love the Time for Tea exhibition at The London Silver Vaults.
Celebrating a nation's unending obsession with tea-drinking, the exhibition includes amazing antique tea paraphernalia (such as caddies, tea-pots and strainers) from the Georgian age right through to more modern items from the 1960s. Every possible item you need for a perfectly laid tea table can be found at the show - and what's more, all the items are available to buy from the 30 individual shops within the confines of The Silver Vaults. Prices start at £90. Collectors of teatime kit will be particularly awed by the items on offer, but anyone with an interest in the world's favourite drink will find something to whet their appetite with items made both in the UK and abroad.
These are a few of our favourite things:
Arts and Crafts teapot
Apparently there is only one other teapot like this in existence (unless you have one lurking in your attic!). Made by Boodle & Dunthorne in Birmingham in 1902, it's a fine example of raised pattern Art Nouveau. The elegant elongated shape would enhance any tea table. Imagine supping Earl Grey brewed in this pot...
Campaign tea set
It would appear that Victorian army officers would never go into battle without the essentials for tea-making! And quite right too... This dinky tea set dates from the reign of Queen Victoria and was made by Hukin & Heath in 1887. Cleverly, all the pieces are made to fit inside the teapot for ease of transport.
Engraved tea set
A slick silver set from the 1950s made by silversmiths, Mappin & Webb. Including a teapot, sugar bowl, milk jug, salver (and coffee jug) we think these elegant ivory handles would be tastily offset by a white tea, cucumber sandwiches (on white bread of course) and some delicate meringues.
Selection of oriental tea caddies
An exotic array of caddies in which to store your tea, these silver vessels originate in Japan and China and date from the 19th Century. Prices may start from a steep £900 - for one - but the work that has gone into creating the caddies is intricate and breathtakingly skilled. We can think of nowhere better to store your favourite brew!
Georgian oval teapot
One of the oldest items in the show, this Georgian teapot, dating from 1748, has an illustrious past. Made by Peter Bateman - a member of one of England's most reknowned silversmithing dynasties - the pineapple finial, thread edge pattern and period lock are all key details from the era.
As well as these choice exhibits there is a wide array of silver cutlery and cake stands on show - all of which offer the perfect way to present afternoon tea. The London Silver Vaults are situated at the corner of Chancery Lane and Southampton Buildings, London WC2. Open daily from 9am to 5.30pm, Saturday 9am until 1pm. The exhibition runs until 25th May. 020 7242 3844 / www.thesilvervaults.com
All prices correct at time of writing.