Did you snag one of our vintage teacups last weekend at ZINC? Do you have teacups you inherited but rarely use? Autumn is the perfect time to bring a little magic to your space with some simple alternative uses for vintage china. These 5 teacup styling ideas are good for cups in perfect condition as well as those with chips, crazing or cracks. Here are 5 ways to use a vintage teacup without drinking tea.
5 - Cache Pot
Dress up your favorite indoor plant by slipping the plastic pot into a beautiful teacup “cache pot”. The word “cache” comes from the French for “to hide” since these vessels obscure our view of the growing medium, roots, and those unsightly plastic pots. You can add moss to cover any part of the pot that sits above the cup. I prefer to remove the plastic pot before watering my indoor plants so as not to stain the china with water runoff. You can also line the bottom of the cup with a little plastic wrap (or small plastic saucer) to protect the glaze from moisture.
4 - Vase for live floral arrangements
Set a shot glass in a teacup and fill with cut flowers to create a low centerpiece for your breakfast table or tea table. Choose small blooms that won’t cause the cup to topple over. The shot glass will help to keep the cup steady and make changing the water in the arrangement a breeze. Check the water level daily since thirsty stems will drink quickly. Use plenty of greenery and textural accents to drape over the edge of the cup for an especially romantic look.
3 - Jewelry Display
Create a jewelry capsule for the week or month by displaying select pieces on a teacup and saucer. Good jewelry, like good china, should be rotated. Challenge yourself to wear pieces that always seem to fall to the bottom of your jewelry box. Hang earrings on the lip of the cup. Drape bracelets over the handle. Place rings and pins or other small pieces in the saucer. Change out the cup and jewelry with the season or with your wardrobe. It looks especially charming on an antique vanity.
2 - Votive Holder
Place a tealight candle into your teacup base. Add a small square of baking parchment underneath the candle to catch any wayward wax. Pieces with designs on the inside of the cup or along the rim are especially elegant since the light highlights these pretty details. Place the votive on coffee tables, mantles or en masse on the dining table. Remember that these votives will work like “uplighters” casting their light up and out rather than pooling onto the table like glass votives and taper candles.
1 - Dessert Dish
Serve pretty desserts in china cups. A scoop of tiramisu, a cupcake, or even a selection of a few fancy holiday biscuits would all fit perfectly into your finest cups. My husband frequently uses our teacups to serve homemade gelato when we have a dinner party. In these cases, a small demitasse spoon and a crispy ginger wafer look right at home on the saucer. Remember to only use china that is in good condition when serving food or tea. Cups with chips, cracks, and crazing may leach nasty chemicals and metals into the food. And, of course, tea infused desserts, like poached pears, look right at home when placed in pretty teacups.
Speaking of tea-infused desserts, did you know Pétale has a monthly newsletter? Our first edition will be sent out Monday September 30th. Inside you’ll get early access to our seasonal menu, information on our Holiday POP-UP, as well as a simple vintage-inspired recipe. Sign-up using the form below and stay tuned for next week’s blog post.
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