In Part I, I showed the role of roses in romance and your teacup. They also play a role in the décor of the teacups themselves. Don’t forget the teapots, sugar bowls, cream pitchers, and other accoutrements for a rosy tea time!

Roses have been gracing teawares since the invention of porcelain and bone china. Some designs have become classics and have endured through the ages. Others are more modern. Either way, they spruce up the atmosphere and practically beg for you to throw a tea party!

The vast majority that I have seen are in shades from pale pink to deep red. The designs usually have names like Abigale, Romantic Rose, Botanical Rose, Lydia, Charmed Rose, Cordelia, Festive Rose, and Victorian Rose. The Victorian Rose is especially appropriate in my mind since this was when tea time was “born,” thanks to a hungry Lady-in-Waiting to Queen Victoria and the fashion among the aristocracy in Britain of eating dinner around 7 or 8 pm.

I’m personally attracted to rose designs in blue and purple, not as common but that’s probably the attraction. Right now I only have one blue rose cup and saucer, but the Blue Rose porcelain dinner set is very tempting. That way, whether it’s afternoon tea, high tea, or just plain tea, everything would match. Not a big deal, but certainly novel in our house where the teawares are a mix of styles.

Even if a full set is a bit out of budget range, you can make tea time bloom with a piece here and there. Mugs, teacups and saucers, sugar and creamer sets, or maybe just a regal teapot will be the star of the table. You can always keep that floral beauty to yourself with a tea-for-one set, like the one in the Wild Roses design.

If you are a collector of James Sadler designs, there is a rose cottage teapot you will adore. From the thatched roof, to the rose vines growing on the walls, to the cats, dogs, and duck keeping things cozy, this teapot will charm you and your tea time guests.

If you don’t want the actual flowers, you can still add a touch of rosiness to your tea table with Amsterdam, Grimaldi, and San Remo rose colored teapots. Amsterdam has other rosy pieces, too, including cups and saucers and cream and sugar sets.

Don’t forget the accessories, including a rose-covered dome cozy to keep your tea warm.

Whether you’re steeping up a rosy tea or a regular one, serve it up in a rose-designed teapot or drink it from a rosy teacup. They’re so pretty even the bees get fooled. Enjoy!

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