There is nothing that is considered more English than a cup of tea. One time remaining pleasure of English tradition is having tea in the afternoon served in a fine china antique tea set along with a scone. As a way to deal with the heat and humidity, tea became popular to the British around the tie of the Raj to keep from becoming dehydrated. Tea became a universal drink enjoyed by all and is still loved by the English this very day.

The taking of tea in high society in Britain is a social event and the perfect time to take a little time to relax after a hard morning shooting any marvel of creation which had mastered the art of flying. It is a refined event designed to cleanse oneself of the murderous deeds of the morning, and sets oneself up nicely for a game of afternoon billiards.

The early 18th century saw vast supplies of tea coming in from East India, and sated the growing appetite for a 'cuppa cha'. China was arriving from the east; at first mostly used as ballast. Once they had learned how to look after it, china tea sets followed. In the mid eighteenth century china clay was discovered in Cornwall, and the extraction led to a proliferation of bone china pieces being produced, in particular in the Staffordshire region. New home grown china pottery included tea services, dinnerware, and decorative items.

With the love of tea, elegant tea sets and pots began to be largely produced. Many were decorated by hand with fine art pieces. Collectors are reminded of the importance of this time in the history of Britain by these ornately decorated pieces.

An antique tea set is a highly coveted item, and is terribly collectible. Many high quality sets with little signs of wear sell for several hundreds of pounds at auction houses. Stateside too, collectors across the continent seek out the most decorative and attractive sets for private collections.

Many collectors specialize more in single tea pots, which can be meticulously decorated and made from china, porcelain, silver or stoneware, however a complete antique tea set will have greater value than just a single piece.

Royal Doulton is a commonly known English manufacturer of tea sets and pots. The date back to 1815 and are widely known. They are actually known all over England to many men because they also use their materials to create urinals and toilets for pubs.

Wedgewood china is another popular name. Josiah Wedgwood started this company in 1759 and soon became known as the brand of the queen. In the 1800's porcelain became the new favorite among the people of high standing.

Mythology designs were common on Wedgewood creations, often taking from the myths of the Egyptians, Greek and Romans. The huge demand for these pieces was so incredible that it was no longer practical to get the materials from China. In order to deliver enough to meet demand, many were forced to use locally obtained materials as a substitution.

Silver tea services are also highly priced, made from plated or sterling silver they were seen as a status symbol and now fetch high prices at markets, auctions and antique fairs.

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