POTTERY & PORCELAIN SETS
Introduction | Pottery & Porcelain Tea Sets | Glass Tea Sets | Metal Tea Sets | Storybook Tea Sets | Bibliography
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I have found conflicting information about china tea sets. One source indicated that one reason was it was inexpensive, while my other source says that it was used only on special occasions because it was expensive. In any case, the U.S. was an important market for china – at least toy tea sets and tableware produced in Staffordshire, England in the 19thcentury. They had found a way to produce sturdier, and less expensive materials than what was available in the s earlier years from Germany. Sometimes the family china family could be found in miniature sizes and parents and children would have found that to be very endearing.
Most china sets were made in England or other European countries. However, Japan began to produce very low priced china sets – particularly in the Blue Willow pattern.
The earliest sets made in the U.S. were made from around 1820, but they were not porcelain, but heavy earthenware. They are rarely marked, so it takes some experience to identify them. Because cups and saucers were the most frequently played with, dinner sets seldom have any. (Conn)
Faience is a term that means “fine tin-glazed earthenware on a delicate pale buff body.” (Decker) This type of ware became very popular in the 19thcentury and was inexpensive enough to make the manufacture of toy items more feasible. Still, the items were breakable and so were sometimes only used for special occasions. The author says “In our emotional memories of childhood, they belong in the world of games with, perhaps, a hint of the forbidden.” (Decker)
England and France were the main producers of faience in Europe, while Germany is the undisputed leader in porcelain production.
I was amazed to read that the first iteration of plastic appeared in 1865 in the form of celluloid and Bakelite. It took awhile to be perfected, but it was the beginning of the end for the manufacturing of faience and porcelain tea sets. With the improvements in plastics and the ability to manufacture durable toys in many colors, it was inevitable that this revolutionary material would take over the toy world. The battle was almost completely lost by the early 1960s. (Decker)
England and France were the main producers of faience in Europe, while Germany is the undisputed leader in porcelain production.
I was amazed to read that the first iteration of plastic appeared in 1865 in the form of celluloid and Bakelite. It took awhile to be perfected, but it was the beginning of the end for the manufacturing of faience and porcelain tea sets. With the improvements in plastics and the ability to manufacture durable toys in many colors, it was inevitable that this revolutionary material would take over the toy world. The battle was almost completely lost by the early 1960s. (Decker)
Most china sets were made in England or other European countries. However, Japan began to produce very low priced china sets – particularly in the Blue Willow pattern.
The earliest sets made in the U.S. were made from around 1820, but they were not porcelain, but heavy earthenware. They are rarely marked, so it takes some experience to identify them. Because cups and saucers were the most frequently played with, dinner sets seldom have any. (Conn)
Faience is a term that means “fine tin-glazed earthenware on a delicate pale buff body.” (Decker) This type of ware became very popular in the 19thcentury and was inexpensive enough to make the manufacture of toy items more feasible. Still, the items were breakable and so were sometimes only used for special occasions. The author says “In our emotional memories of childhood, they belong in the world of games with, perhaps, a hint of the forbidden.” (Decker)
England and France were the main producers of faience in Europe, while Germany is the undisputed leader in porcelain production.
I was amazed to read that the first iteration of plastic appeared in 1865 in the form of celluloid and Bakelite. It took awhile to be perfected, but it was the beginning of the end for the manufacturing of faience and porcelain tea sets. With the improvements in plastics and the ability to manufacture durable toys in many colors, it was inevitable that this revolutionary material would take over the toy world. The battle was almost completely lost by the early 1960s. (Decker)
England and France were the main producers of faience in Europe, while Germany is the undisputed leader in porcelain production.
I was amazed to read that the first iteration of plastic appeared in 1865 in the form of celluloid and Bakelite. It took awhile to be perfected, but it was the beginning of the end for the manufacturing of faience and porcelain tea sets. With the improvements in plastics and the ability to manufacture durable toys in many colors, it was inevitable that this revolutionary material would take over the toy world. The battle was almost completely lost by the early 1960s. (Decker)