English Bone China Tea Set

An English bone china tea set is one of the most beautiful and graceful antiques you can possibly own. These sets, coveted by the British as an essential part of their culture, are worth every penny if you can find one in good condition and with most or all of its original pieces.

Before purchasing an English bone china tea set, it is important to understand a little bit of the history behind tea and how these sets came to be such an integral part of British culture.

Today tea is as ubiquitous as water in English society, but it was virtually unknown to Europe before the 17th century. Tea first found its way to Britain via the merchants who traveled to the Far East and China during the colonial era in Europe.

This infusion was extremely expensive when it was first introduced to Europe. During the early days it was only a drink for the aristocracy. At this point in time coffee was more popular in London, but when tea was introduced it became exceedingly popular and soon nearly all of the coffeehouses in London were serving tea.

It became most popular among women who were banned from the coffeehouses and who began drinking tea at tea houses instead. The drink was considered a health tonic that should be drank by everyone. Soon it was inexpensive enough that it could be imbibed by everyone from the wealthy to the poorest laborers.

The Chinese were already using delicate porcelain teapots and bowls in their tea drinking ceremonies, and merchants imported these wares along with the loose tea leaves. As tea grew in popularity among the wealthy, so did the ritual of drinking tea from these porcelain cups services.

Because collecting Chinese tea services was a large and booming business, some entrepreneurs decided to craft and manufacture porcelain tea sets for sale in Europe. English potters began to copy some of the designs produced in China. The region of Staffordshire was an established area for pottery, so the artisans here naturally picked up the reproduction of fine porcelain This manufacturing process initiated the legacies of famous names such as Wedgwood and Spode.

The most important advancement in porcelain making came from Spode, which invented and perfected a process that added bone ash, flint and feldspar to the English clays. These additions produced the material known as bone china, which was the hardest, most durable porcelain available. Today, bone china is synonymous with fine English tea sets.

Josiah Spode formed the Spode factory in the late 18th century, producing fine porcelain china for the European market. Porcelain, which is an ancient ceramic material, is made from kaolin and petuntse. These materials are fired at high temperatures and produce a beautiful, glossy end product. However, this material is prone to breakage, so adding bone ash, which comes from the pulverized and burned bones of animals, made a porcelain that is extremely resilient.

Adding the bone ash to the porcelain also made the end product less expensive and lighter in weight. Because it was less expensive, it allowed more middle class families to purchase and enjoy porcelain tea sets, creating an unprecedented market for ceramics in England and Europe.

Bone china tea sets are highly collectible. As you can imagine, those from Spode are coveted, but there are also many other makers who you should be on the lookout for if you are interested in purchasing a set.

Some good names to look for are:

• Spode
• Royal Doulton
• Havilland
• Royal Albert
• Limoges
• Shelly
• Paragon
• Aynsley

Most factories have identifying marks and a dating scheme that are fired onto the bottom of their pieces. There are many reference books that can help you identify the proper dating of the manufacturer, as well as maker’s marks that are invaluable to those who are interested in collecting these fine wares.

The values of these various makers widely differ and are based on the following factors:

• Popularity
• Condition
• Rarity
• Pattern

The most important factor to consider is the condition of the tea set, and how many pieces are missing. Although bone china is more resilient than regular porcelain, it is still fragile and many vintage or antique sets will be missing pieces. As well, tiny chips, cracks or breaks will further affect the value of a set.

To properly care for your tea set follow these guidelines:

• Keep handling to a minimum. Use it, but use with care
• Support plates by holding them underneath, not by the delicate edge
• Hold teapots and gravy boats by their sides and handles rather than just by the handle
• Gently lift and replace the covers
• Don't use pieces that have been broken and then mended
• Make certain that you display your china in a way that will keep it from harm in a closed cabinet or a low-traffic area of your home
• When you stack plates place a piece of thick paper or a cloth between them
• When cleaning, use a gentle soap and water solution and don’t scrub or the gilded areas will buff off the surface. Use a soft toothbrush to get into any cracks or crevices

Collecting English bone china tea sets is a wonderful hobby. Be sure to educate yourself about the different types and styles of porcelain and china before purchasing an expensive set. Ensure that the makers mark and dates are legitimate prior to investing.

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