Object Record
Images
Metadata
Object Name |
Cup |
Caption |
Tiny mug |
Description |
Small white ironstone Copper Lustre Tea Leaf design cup. Child size cup. Tea Leaf ironstone dishes were named for their decorations. There was a superstition that it was lucky if a whole tea leaf unfolded at the bottom of your cup. This idea was translated into the pattern of dishes known as Tea Leaf. By 1850 at least twelve English factories were making this pattern, and by the 1870s it was a popular pattern in many countries. The Tea Leaf was always a luster glaze on early wares. There are many variations of Tea Leaf designs, such as Teaberry, Pepper Leaf, and Gold Leaf. The Tea Leaf pattern was first called Lustre Band and Sprig. Other names: Band & Spray, Lustre Band & Spray, Edge Line and Sprig, Lustre Leaf, Lustre Spray. Nineteenth century pioneers favored heavy practical dishware that would stand long moves by river boats, heavy wagons or trains. Dishes had to withstand countless washings using homemade lye soap. Tea Leaf caught the ladies' fancy because it was simple white, yet had elegant shapes, copper lustre added color, it was durable, and it was cheap. It was used in the modest homes of farmers, miners, millers and country people across America. Undecorated white ironstone was first patented by Charles James Mason in England in 1813 and English potter Anthony Shaw created the original Tea Leaf motif in the 1850s. Due to its sturdiness and affordability Tea Leaf decorated ironstone was made into everything from tea cups to chamber pots. From 1875 to 1900 Tea Leaf was the most popular pattern made. By 1900 at least 25 English potters had produced their own variations of Tea Leaf and perhaps 12 American contempories tried to get a share of the market. English Tea Leaf was sent to the U.S. by the shipload. It was packed in barrels and distributed throughout the country by the cheapest method possible. Tea Leaf was used as ballast in ships landing along the Atlantic Coast. After discharging the dishware they loaded with cotton, wood, tobacco. Thus the Tea Leaf ballast made the trip more profitable than using & dumping rocks as ballast. After 25-30 years Tea Leaf went out of style and was not shown in catalogs after 1910. |
Catalog Number |
1979-0489-001 |
Search Terms |
Cups Tea Leaf ironstone |
Subjects |
Cups |