Let's celebrate the release of Bridgerton's 2nd season on Netflix, by talking about the most important prop on the show: The teacups. For a show that's all about Lady Whistledown spilling the tea on the ton's favorite scandalous households, it is important to highlight that much of the gossip is being exchanged over teatime. This is pure eye-candy for vintage tea fans like myself, as it provides a glimpse of the various tea paraphernalia used to match the colorful sets and characters of the show.
Vogue published an article early last year, about how Bridgerton single-handedly made teatime popular again. The playful editorial also included a handful of links navigating fans to purchase modern tea sets for themselves. I'm sure this led many fans of the show, to open up their wallets and splurge. I, myself, am guilty of this.
I am also guilty of spending hours on the internet, hunting down the very pieces that the characters on the show use. And while I have not succeeded in hunting down all the teacups, I feel that this is a good space where I can share my progress about the few teacups I did manage to find. Preferably without being judged. (We are all friends here) *ahem!*
Lady Carlyle by Royal Albert
In Episode 3 (Art of the Swoon) at Gunter's Tea Shop, the Duke and future Duchess was having a public teatime, in full view of the ton. And while Daphne was blissfully watching Simon lick the cream off of his spoon, my eyes was glued to the teacup in front of him. Low and behold, it was the Lady Carlyle teacup by Royal Albert. By far, one of the most popular modern teacups. I love how our Duke isn't afraid of a little pink! *wink!*
Blue Mandalay by Masons
In Episode 6 (Swish), Daphne and Simon spend their Honeymoon at Clyvedon Castle, the Duke of Hastings' family estate. It was interesting to note that the china used by the Hastings household is Imari ware-styled, which is a design heavily influenced by Arita, Japanese porcelain. The exact tea set used here is the Blue Mandalay, by Masons. It's characteristics are very elegant yet bold, and is a very good reflection of Hastings family personalities.
Revelry by Coalport
And what china ware does the show's namesake household use? The Bridgertons are a noble family and uses Revelry by Coalport. The porcelain design is very classical and simple. The little cherub illustrations on the cups convey a softer and more humanistic approach, which is perfect for this family, as the audience would want to relate to them as protagonists. Well done, prop team!
Echt Cobalt Inglasur by Schumann Arzberg Bavaria
The last teacup on my list belongs to the HBIC herself, Queen Charlotte. It is from the Echt Cobalt Inglasur collection by Schumann Arzberg, Bavaria, Germany. This teacup was really really hard to identify, and definitely took a lot of "Sherlocking" on my side to find it. It was the most important teacup on my Bridgerton list because it is iconic, as it appeared on so many of the show's promos. The teacup itself is very royal in a deep cobalt blue, matched with gold floral patterns.
If you pay close enough attention to the matching plates and compotes on the show, you'd see that they are reticulated. It means that the floral patterns have holes punched in. That led me to believe that the teacup was either Japanese or East European. Both countries have a history of producing reticulated porcelain.
But the final clue that gave away the cup's identity had to do with an almost rectangle blue stamp on the bottom of the cup, which could be seen when Lady Bridgerton was sipping tea. That stamp looked very much like vintage Schumann Arzberg.
The Echt Cobalt Inglasur by Schumann Arzberg Bavaria Germany teacup is pretty rare and extremely hard to find. Serious recognition to the set and prop decorators on the show for choosing this royal and elegant tea set for Queen Charlotte.
Unknown Teacup
Even though I have found most of the main teacups on the show, there is still one tea set that I could not identify: Lady Featherington's green and gold tea set!
It is a forest green, raised pedestal teacup, with a decorative gold handle. I thought perhaps it may have been a Lefton teacup, or Sealy because Japanese teacups are famous for their elegant pedestal teacups. I thought perhaps it can be a vintage Grace teacup because of the fuller shape. But try as I might, the teacup has not been identified.
In one scene, the teacup is lifted and I noticed that there is no stamp underneath the cup! So the tea set is unmarked, which makes it even harder to identify.
So internet, if you know which tea set Lady Featherington has in her drawing room, please help this obsessed Bridgerton fan out and email me! cherie.teatime@gmail.com
Thank you in advance!
Image References:
All Bridgerton photos are from Shondaland & Netflix
Lady Carlyle photo is from Wedgwood.com
Coalport Revelry & Blue Mandalay Masons photos are from Replacements
Comments