A few years ago, I picked up a teacup at a thrift store made by Noritake. It didn’t have a saucer, but for 99 cents I bought it because I liked the pattern and thought, the saucer probably just got separated from the cup and I’ll find it here on my next visit. (Unlikely, perhaps, but it’s happened before so it wasn’t a scenario without precedent.) That Fall I tucked it into an Autumn vignette on top of my barrister bookcase, and it looked divine.
The pattern is called “Harvesting,” and the backstamp included a secondary stamp indicating Ireland. Now I’m not sure if that means Noritake china made in Ireland, if the pattern name is actually “Ireland Harvesting,” or if Noritake has a line of wares called Ireland and “Harvesting” is one of the patterns in that line. At any rate, over time, I have really become enamored with this pattern – like most Noritake I’ve seen, it is just very sumptuous in color and detail, and the little pears are just so lovely.
Sadly, years have gone by and I’ve never found a saucer – indeed, I’ve never seen another piece of Noritake Ireland anything in the wild.
I did, however, recently come upon a couple of faux gilded pears and suddenly I knew two things: they would go beautifully with my Noritake Ireland Harvesting teacup, and I was officially out of patience trying to find a saucer.
Cue Ebay!
This pattern isn’t particularly plentiful, but I did locate a single saucer for a price that I was willing to pay (including the shipping) to finally mark this piece off my long list of Things I’ve Lost Hope of Finding Randomly While Thrifting.” Because of a really wonderful seller who shipped immediately, I had the saucer within just a few days and immediately set a pretty little tea table using my gilded pears and several other gold-themed pieces.
You’ve probably noticed I’m not very good at photographing food, but this did look very bare without any food at all on the riser/cake stand so I ran out and bought some stunt grapes to go with apples and cheese I had on hand. I do fully realize that apples aren’t really very practical for a tea party – but I do think grapes and cheese are perfect!
Here is our lovely Miss Ireland Harvesting with her new friend, along with a silver-plated spoon by 1847 Rogers Brothers called “Flair.”
This gorgeous cup is not marked except for a tiny, under-glaze gold swirl on the bottom. I’m sure there’s a name for this heavily-textured style of embellishment, but I can’t find it. Another thrift store set!
Pretty thrifted linens await.
My ivory-and-gold Sadler teapot, also thrifted, stands ready for you to steep your favorite variety of Twining’s. (Yes, my OCD friends, I should have turned the teapot lid so the gold stripes matched up… I’m trying not to care but it’s driving me nuts too now that I’ve noticed it!)
Gold-rimmed Old Country Roses creamer and sugar bowl are standing by to help you concoct your perfect blend. These were also a Goodwill find – part of a whole tub full of English bone china tea things I found for $20! (OCR in a thrift store? Unheard of!)
And a view from the other direction so you can see a little more of our vintage tablecloth in muted Spring colors – an antique store find many years ago!
Here’s an image to Pin if you’re like me and convinced you’ll forget – but will want to remember – the name of that pretty teacup by Noritake!
I hope you’ve enjoyed our little tablescape in celebration of finding a mate for the Noritake Ireland Harvesting teacup! Do you have a favorite tea blend? A favorite teacup? An item you finally gave up hunting for and finally just went to Ebay? 🙂 I’d love to hear about it!
