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, July 1, 2012

Tuesday Cuppa Tea Duchess Bouquet, Trip To Seattle

Hello and welcome to my meme Tuesday Cuppa Tea! Again, happy Canada Day to my Canadian blogger friends! Hope you had a great weekend!




Today's teacup is a lovely summer floral bouquet on white bone china by Duchess, England, which is named for the Duchess China Works site in Longton, Staffordshire, and dates 1947-1960. The handle certainly hearkens back to the art deco era. I love the various wild flowers in the bouquet. Summer is certainly here throughout much of the USA. For more on the teacup at Antiques And Teacups, click on the photos.

I want to extend my best thoughts and prayers to folks in Colorado and Utah battling wildfires and in Ohio and many parts of the East coast and miswest who have had such terrible weather.



Friday was my Honey's birthday, so we took the ferry into Seattle from Bainbridge Island. The Alaska cruise season is in full swing. This is the Celebrity Infinity at Pier 66. Also in port for the day at Pier 91 down the wy was the Royal Caribbean Rhapsody of the Seas and a Holland America ship, all bound for Alaska. We were concerned that the ferry would be packed, even though we were walk on passengers, because Friday was the delayed opening of the newest addition to the Seattle Waterfront, the Great Wheel.




The Great Wheel was built over the last 9 months and is sort of a smaller cousin of the London Eye. The Great Wheel also has climate controlled pods, but the wheel is 175 feet high where the London Eye is 474 feet high. The London Eye is pictured below from one of our rides on her:




Quite a bit smaller, but quite fun. We weren't able to ride it, we were in on the 9:45am ferry, and the Great Wheel didn't officially open until 4pm and was sold out for 6 days. It was supposed to have opened the 20th, but last minute touches were still being completed.


It was off to Seattle Center, home of the Space Needle and home of the 1962 world's Fair that created the complex which includes the Space needle. Pacific Science Center, Experience Music Experience, The monorail station to downtown Westlake Center, and many more fun things. But we were here for the King Tutankhamun Exhibit...on the way, one of the public..and huge...bigs of street art so popular in Seattle.

 We entered, saw an IMAX theater production called Egypt's Mummies, had lunch and headed to the exhibit.





 You were allowed to photograph, but not with flash, and these are the only photos that even semi turned out so I quit and just enjoyed the exhibit.

  
This was the sarcohagus to the cat of Thutmose I. If you look closely you can see it's votary statue and on the far right, the mummy case that the cat was entombed in in the sarcophagus. Cats were sacred in Egypt and believed to represent the goddess Bastet. If anyone has a cat, you know they certainly think so!



This is a reclining hawk covered with gold sheet that was beautiful. There was a tremendous lot of gold sheet jewelry as well as finely cast and inlaid pieces on display. The piece below...which is out of focus due to the amount of people and jostling...is a beautiful pendant example. 
 
 I found the following at the Cairo Museum site. These were items included in the exhibit that the photos weren't useable.





These photos are of artifacts of pharoah Psusennes I, who reigned 1007-1001 BC include his mask, a breastplate ornament and the coverings for his toes. The mummy was discovered in 1947.

Although the exhibit was titled King Tut, having seen the 1975 exhibit in San FRancisco, this exhibit didn't have the gold funerary mask that was so spectacular and actually had more items from other pharoahs. But it was beautifully laid out and nicely done.

Mu interest goes way back...I have a Master's degree in Physical Anthropology, and at one time had thought to go into Egyptology. My first job was working at an Egyptian antiquities store in San Carlos, Ca for a relative of the head of the Antiquities department in Cairo. I was 15 and learned to read hieroglyphics on my lunch breaks and when things were slow. Edward Mansoor was a great teacher, and his wife Nabila was like an adopted sister. I've forgotten it now, but it was an important part of my life for years.


 Afterwards we peeked through the railings at the Chihuly Garden Of Glass which finally opened last month, but that had to wait for another visit.



Then it was on to a performance of Les Miserables at the 5th Avenue theater, which was one of the best companies we have ever seen. We have seen it at least 6 times in London, and here a number of times at various theaters on the West Coast and in BC. It is our very favorite musical with it's themes of redemption and grace. Truly a spiritual experience...and I cry every time! So we had a wonderful time! After a short night's sleep, it was back on the ferry and home again. 


I hope you have a wonderful 4th of July! I thank God daily for our freedoms!

Please link up to Tuesday Cuppa Tea with the following linky and visit some of the blogs I am joining. Have a great day!


Monday Marketplace
Terri~  http://artfulaffirmations.blogspot.com/ 
Teacup Tuesday
Trisha~  http://sweetology101.blogspot.com/ 
Tea Party Tuesday
Teatime Tuesday
Kathy~  http://blissfulrhythm.blogspot.com
Victoria - A Return to Loveliness
Martha~  http://www.marthasfavorites.com/ 
Teacup Tuesday 
Tuesday Cuppa Tea
Tea With Friends
Celia ~ http://attitudeivlife.blogspot.com/  Afternoon Tea
 Tuesday Teatime 
Friends Sharing Tea Wednesday

What’s It Wednesday

14 comments:

  1. Happy birthday to your hubby! It looks like it was a really fun day. Love the teacup and the fact that it has a desing on both sides. thank you for hsoting and have a wonderful day!

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  2. The Duchess teacup is lovely and it looks like you day in Seattle to celebrate your husbands birthday was wonderful! Happy Tea Day!

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  3. Thank you for the Canada Day wishes Ruth and happy 4th to you! The birthday celebration for your hubby took you to some interesting spots. No way I'd go on that wheel!
    Very interesting to hear of your educational expertise - I'm impressed.
    When the King Tut exhibition was in Toronto years ago, I bought 2 bookends that I still use today.
    Judith

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  4. What a nice trip! Love the Egyptology exhibit. Your tea cup is pretty too. Happy 4th of July!
    Beth

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  5. Happy Birthday to your hubby! That is a pretty teacup. Sounds like you and your hubby had quite an outing on the weekend. Sounds fascinating. Have a wonderful 4th of July holiday this week, Ruth.

    Blessings,
    Sandi

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  6. Hi Ruth,
    I also wish Happy Birthday to your hubby. What a wonderful tour you made. I am sure you have many great memories to that time. Your tea cup is so natural painted, just wonderful. Thank you for sharing the tea cup and the great story and pictures.
    Best greetings, Johanna

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  7. What a wonderful way to celebrate your hubbys birthday! Such interesting sites so close to home! Your teacup is so lovely and I enjoyed the history on it. Thank you for hosting and have a great fourth of July!
    Nancy

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  8. Happy Canada Day and Happy Birthday to your husband! What a fun day you had going to Seattle. Glad it didn't rain! Your summer bouquet teacup is perfect for this time of year. Thank you for hosting.

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  9. Wow! Lovely post. I so enjoyed both King Tut and the Les Miserables. It too is one of my favorites. We have a lot of things in common besides tea cups. Have a wonderful week. Blessings, Martha

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  10. Hello Ruth~ WOW...what a great post! LOVE the photos. Been in the Space Needle, seen the King Tut exhibit. Next time we go to Seattle I'd love to go up on that wheel! SOunds like you had a nice time on your outing. Hugs,
    Shawn

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  11. What a pretty Duchess cup! The flowers are truly summer looking and the coloring is vibrant.
    It sounds like you and your husband had a fabulous day together. Happy Birthday to him : )
    Hugs,
    Terri

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  12. Looks like a grand trip - and a lovely teacup to great us all today, Ruth! I love the art deco handle you pointed out - I notice that, too, and wonder how accurate that is in dating the cups.

    As to that wheel - NOPE! Not going on it! I don't do heights. But, what a marvel it is - and the one in England!

    Egypt fascinated me in my youth, too - my love of ancient civilizations and history. How I might be a curator in a museum today if I'd have followed those studies . . .

    Joy!
    Kathy

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  13. I love your tea cup. It's beautiful. Happy birthday to your hubby.

    Jocelyn @
    http://justalittlesouthernhospitality.blogspot.com/

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  14. Wow! What a lovely trip you have - awesome wheel! I love the teacups you shared they're lovely! I appreciate you sharing and hosting,
    Kathy

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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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