A Message from Ruth at Antiques And Teacups

Welcome to the blog of Antiques And Teacups! Let's share a cup of tea and talk about the things we love...like teacups, antiques, collectibles, visiting England, antiquing and learning about victoriana and quirky gadgets. Fun!

Sunday, November 23, 2014

Tuesday Cuppa Tea, Nippon Footed Teacup, Thanksgiving, Teacup Sizes, Treats



Hello and welcome to the Thanksgiving edition of Tuesday Cuppa Tea. One of my favorite days of the year, when we can hopefully reflect, as a nation, on our Christian heritage and bring our minds to bear on what we have...in abundance...that many do not around the world. To be grateful for family, friends, blessings and freedoms. I am very thankful'



These last weeks have again reminded me of the time we have together as a gift from God. My husband has been battling with difficulties caused by a change in a medication that brought on Atrial Fibrillation for the past month, that we finally seem to have gotten regulated. With Parkinson's Disease, Atrial Fibrillation and Hypothyroidism, all the medications affect one another. When one changes it throws everything off.  So this month has been very difficult. But I am so thankful he is doing better and is more stable.
God is good!



My teacup today is one I chose because I don't think I've shown a 3 footed teacup for a long time! And the chocolate browns and gold were sort of seasonal anyway.


This is a Nippon period Noritake, Japan 3 footed teacup that I just love! Footed teacups are so fun...elegant and somehow whimsical!


The design is a variegated cocoa brown with heavy hand applied gold trim and beading that is called moriage...beautiful, isn't it?


The teacup is the wide type that is such a favorite of the Japanese potters, and those cute little feet or legs! The porcelain is very light and thin.


You notice that the teacup is even marked Nippon, which actually means Japan, but was only used with Japanese china between 1906-1912. I told you it is Noritake, right? But the mark has an M which stands for the parent company, Morimura, that became Noritake later. Confusing, I know! But such a pretty teacup! So that was my choice today!


So....I ask you...all teacups are created equal...right????? NOT SO!



I have run into confusion from customers and bloggers about teacup sizes, so I thought I'd give a quick teacup size comparison for you from some of my Shelley China teacups. Look at the teacups in the photo above...all different...and representing a different size.

Back row: the breakfast size cup...largest of the teacup sizes, with a regular sized teacup to the right of it...the one we usually see

Front row:  on the left is a demi or demitasse teacup, and to the right of that a miniature. Basically the sizes go from 12 ounces to 2 ounces...quite a difference!



And there hordes of collectors for each of the sizes. Which are the most fought over and command the highest price...in general, outside of certain specifically difficult patterns in each size, the most expensive is the miniature teacup...if it's a Shelley at least. I have seen them go for almost $1,000! Amazing! So there you go! As Goldilocks says....sort of...this size may be too big, this size may be too small...but there's sure to be a teacup that's just the right size!


And to put IN that teacup, I just got my tin of Christmas Tea from Murchies Tea in Canada. Murchies is the tea shop we always visit in Victoria, BC Canada which is our closest big city. But knowing we wouldn't get over ther before Christmas I mail ordered the tea...and I LOVE it!Black tea, orange peel, cinnamon, cloves and vanilla. I thought it was orange and vanilla prevalent with milder spices than Harney & Sons Christmas tea. It's now my favorite!


And to go with the tea, this is what I am baking for Thanksgiving day....Cranberry Pumpkin Upside Down cake from MyRecipes.com


Ingredients


1/4 cup
 butter, plus more for pans 
1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar 
1 tablespoon dark or light rum
1 1/3 cups cranberries 
2/3 cup toasted coarsely chopped walnuts 
large eggs 
1 cup canned pumpkin 
1/3 cup canola or other vegetable oil 
1 cup granulated sugar 
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 
1 teaspoon cinnamon 
1/4 teaspoon salt 
Lightly sweetened softly whipped cream 

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Butter a 9-in. square pan and line the bottom with parchment paper.
2. In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Whisk in brown sugar until blended. Remove from heat and whisk in rum. Pour mixture into prepared pan, evenly covering the bottom.
3. In a small bowl, combine cranberries and walnuts; arrange evenly over brown sugar mixture.
4. In a large bowl with a mixer on medium speed, beat eggs, pumpkin, oil, and granulated sugar until smooth. In another bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Stir flour mixture into pumpkin mixture. Spread batter evenly over cranberries and walnuts.
5. Bake until a skewer inserted in the center of cake comes out clean, 35 to 45 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool 10 minutes in pan. Run a thin-bladed knife between cake and sides of pan, then invert cake onto a serving platter. Remove pan and parchment, and let cool at least 20 minutes. Serve slightly warm or cool, with whipped cream.

Doesn't that sound good? I am looking forward to it! I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving, and enjoy family, food, friends and blessings overflowing!

I wanted to let you know also that I my Black Friday Cyber Monday sale started early this year and is on now at with 15% off everything:




Here is a list of some of the blog parties I am joining...hope you can visit and enjoy their creativity! And here is the Linky for your tea related posts...remember that it is SSLLOOOOWWW so be patient! Thanks for joiing me!
                                              Time For Tea



21 comments:

  1. my gran had all the Helen Steiner Rice books , its brings back memories

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  2. Another great post. A yummy recipe, a very pretty three legged tea cup and some education is a great way. Happy Thanksgiving.

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  3. Hi Ruth, and Happy Thanksgiving! I adore your Nippon teacup! It is so beautiful! Your cake looks delightful as well.

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  4. Happy Thanksgiving, Ruth! Your Nippon teacup is a little beauty! I wondered what those tiny sets were called. I have two tiny Rose Chintz cups without the saucers that my auntie gave me. Your Christmas Tea sounds just wonderful; yummy and spicy! I'm glad your hubby is feeling better. Thank you for sharing and hosting and have a splendid week. I see my Tea Party is missing from your list. Would you mind adding it again? Thank you and once again, enjoy your holiday with your loved ones.

    Blessings & hugs,
    Sandi

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  5. Happy Thanksgiving. I love the teacup and the tea sounds delicious! Thanks for hosting.

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  6. Your three-footed teacup is so elegant. And I love the vintage Thanksgiving cards. Thank you for the info about teacup sizes; I definitely like the big breakfast size for a good cuppa, but the regular and demitasse are definitely a prettier-looking cup. You're the second one who has mentioned Murchies tea, will have to check that out. Have a Happy Thanksgiving! and glad to hear your husband is doing better.

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  7. I love your footed Nippon teacup, Ruth! It sure is a beauty. Thank you for the explanation in the teacup sizes. You're the second person that I've seen that is drinking the Murchie's Christmas tea.
    I'm glad your hubby is doing better. May you both have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

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  8. Happy Thanksgiving, I love your gold and footed teacup!

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  9. Hello Ruth
    The Nippon teacup certainly is stunning. We're both drinking our Murchie's Christmas Tea right through December until it's gone! Their blend called Queen Victoria was recommended, have you tried it?
    I like the size of the breakfast cup - the bigger the better which is why I'm usually sipping from a mug.
    Thanks for hosting and explaining the various teacup sizes.

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  10. I love the heavy gold trim on the cup! I hope your husband's health returns completely, and stays that way!

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  11. Happy Thanksgiving, Ruth! So glad to hear your hubby's health has stabilized.
    Your hand-painted, Nippon/Noritake footed teacup is beautiful! Nice teacup size lesson too. Your blog is always so informative.
    Murchie's Christmas tea sounds wonderful! It's hard to believe the holidays are upon us!
    Warmly, Phyllis

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  12. Hi Ruth,
    Your teacup is so very elegant today and I do love the rich gold trim and wow, what darling feet on the cup. Nippon is such a collectible pattern. Thank you for teaching me about the size of teacups and what they are used for. Your Cranberry Pumpkin Upside Down Cake looks yummy! Happy Thanksgiving and thank you for hosting Tuesday Cuppa Tea! Karen

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  13. Ruth, This is a very pretty teacup. Thanks for hosting!
    Sherry

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  14. You always have interesting information. Love tea cup for sale. The recipe looks wonderful too and I hope you have a blessed Thanksgiving!

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  15. It is wonderful that Hubby is doing better! Have a big cup of tea with a breakfast cup, and a sigh of relief. Explaining the different sizes was a great idea.

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  16. Your footed teacup is so elegant! I haven't one in my collection, so I will keep an eye out for one. I enjoyed reading your teacup glossary! Your cake looks amazing. Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

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  17. Hi Ruth! Happy Thanksgiving to you!! Thank you so much for the tutorial on the different sizes for teacups. I have them in all these varied sizes and didn't realize there were purposes for them - like the breakfast cup. What a world of beauty and detail it is in "tealand"! I rescued two lovely pieces from the thrift store this past week for under ten dollars. One is a forget-me-not pattern and the other is a violet pattern. I have other similar ones, but not like this. Quality English china. However - you will note that I'm just not keeping up with blog posts to the topic. Wish I could. I'm on deadline with my book and even now and playing hooky by visiting my dear tea ladies whom I miss so much! I hope to have at least ONE tea post for Christmas. Will see. Maybe I'll re-publish something special. This month, I re-published my 5 part Thanksgiving story. Blessings to you and your family on turkey day - thanking God for all good things and beauty!
    Joy!
    Kathy

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  18. Hey Ruth ... There's nothing cuter than three footed cups... I picked up a few of them while living in Japan.. They are so dainty and a pleasure to drink tea out of... Yours is so beautifully decorated in seasonal gold..You always share such unique and fabulous sets ..but hey I can't wait to try that upside down cake..( M-m-m- yummy)..HUGS

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  19. Love you pretty footed cup! The gold decoration is just gorgeous.
    Hope your Thanksgiving is filled with fun and family!
    Hugs,
    Patti

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  20. Beautiful teacups ...but the footed one is my favourite. HPS Michelle

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  21. Ruth, So glad to hear that your husband is doing better! Things like that are a bit scary. The three footed teacup is so beautiful! I do not have one with three feet. Enjoyed seeing the variety of sizes in the cups. Thanks for sharing with SYC.
    hugs,
    Jann

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Thanks for visiting and we love to hear from you! We read every comment. If my husband's health permits, I love to visit andreply. Have a wonderful day and a cuppa tea always at hand! :)

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