What is it about blue and white china that tea lovers find so appealing? Is it the simple tranquility of a blue and white palette? Or does it go back to the late 1600s when the first porcelain cups and plates, decorated in blue and white, were imported to the Western world from China as ballast in tea ships? When we drink tea from blue and white teacups, do we feel a connection to our past? What is its timeless appeal?
At TeaTime, we don’t pretend to understand it. We just enjoy collecting and using blue and white china. We love to feature it in the pages of our magazine.
Blue and white china is always appropriate in a casual setting—for afternoon tea on a porch or for a mid-morning snack. Above left, a teapot in Johnson Brothers Devon Cottage is ready to serve tea. Above right, a mid-morning cup of tea and a Gluten-free Coconut Scone taste even better when served in Mottahedeh Virginia Blue china.
And it is equally at home on a formally set table. Here we’ve paired Motttahedeh Imperial Blue with gold chargers and linen napkins trimmed in gold.
The first blue and white patterns were inspired by Chinese porcelain, and Asian designs continue to be popular today. Blue Danube, a Lipper International pattern introduced in 1951, was inspired by Chinese design created in the Yuan dynasty (A.D. 1260 to 1368). Its stylized flowers are ancient Chinese symbols for good fortune and happiness.
Many blue and white china patterns, such as Blue Willow, have been around for centuries. The Blue Willow pattern was created in the 1780s by Thomas Minton at the Caughley Pottery Works in Shropshire, England—an Anglicized version of traditional Asian patterns. Over the centuries, it has achieved iconic status in the tea world, and it’s said to be America’s favorite china pattern.
Blue and white china is lovely alone, but when it is paired with other colors, it can completely change the mood of a tablescape. Above left, yellow accents give Blue Danube a fresh spring look. Above right, orange-colored squash in a blue and white bowl create an autumn mood.
If you love blue and white china, don’t hide it behind closed doors. Display your collection, no matter how small, for others to enjoy.
Discover more seasonal recipes, table settings, and teatime inspiration by ordering your TeaTime subscription today!
