62 Comments

Loved these...you made me think of one of the loveliest 'tea-themed' poems: Milk for the Cat

When the tea is brought at five o'clock,

And all the neat curtains are drawn with care,

The little black cat with bright green eyes

Is suddenly purring there.

At first she pretends, having nothing to do,

She has come in merely to blink by the grate,

But, though tea may be late or the milk may be sour,

She is never late.

And presently her agate eyes

Take a soft large milky haze,

And her independent casual glance

Becomes a stiff, hard gaze.

Then she stamps her claws or lifts her ears,

Or twists her tail and begins to stir,

Till suddenly all her lithe body becomes

One breathing, trembling purr.

The children eat and wriggle and laugh;

The two old ladies stroke their silk:

But the cat is grown small and thin with desire,

Transformed to a creeping lust for milk.

The white saucer like some full moon descends

At last from the clouds of the table above;

She sighs and dreams and thrills and glows,

Transfigured with love.

She nestles over the shining rim,

Buries her chin in the creamy sea;

Her tail hangs loose; each drowsy paw

Is doubled under each bending knee.

A long, dim ecstasy holds her life;

Her world is an infinite shapeless white,

Till her tongue has curled the last holy drop,

Then she sinks back into the night,

Draws and dips her body to heap

Her sleepy nerves in the great arm-chair,

Lies defeated and buried deep

Three or four hours unconscious there.

Harold Monro (1879-1932)

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That is just wonderful! Tea and a cat :) Thank you for sharing, Sarah 🤎

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Another great set of pictures.

I can't help feeling you missed one great 'tea' quote: "I would rather have a cup of tea than sex." - Boy George

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I’m glad you enjoyed them, Jon :)

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What a great set from artists I mostly haven't even heard of. And how old I must be to easily recognise the late Queen Elizabeth in her early twenties (Conversation piece)

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Conversation Piece is just lovely. Up close and in person too. Thanks for commenting, Ronald. I’m pleased you enjoyed the selection! :)

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Was early 20th century a golden age for British figurative art? It's my go-to for poetry too.

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It was. It was also a time of significant change as younger artists moved away from the traditional Edwardian styles. And such a fascinating and important period in history. I love that time.

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delightful to view in these unsettling times...

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Thank you, Margaret 🧡

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What heaven to see this on a freezing day, thank you.

Love the Agatha quote. Espec when one thinks of the context.... (!)

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Thank you, Laura. I’m so pleased you enjoyed the selection 💛

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Amazing pictures cheering me up as I sit here with my mug of tea and ginger biscuits !

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That sounds lovely. And I’m so glad you enjoyed them 🧡

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I am so delighted I found this enchanting collection I missed when you initially posted it. My Jane Austen students will ❤️ it! It prepares me for a lovely holiday 🫖 tea party. Have a joyous & blessing-filled Christmas 🎄!

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Thank you. I’m so pleased you enjoyed it. Have a wonderful Christmas-time 🎄✨

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Wonderful depictions of the 'best drink of the day'

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On that note… I’m off to put the kettle on 🤎

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Ha! Just enjoying a pot of Earl Grey

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Wonderful! Cheers… so to speak! :)

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I have my favourite tea at three...in my favourite mug "l love tea".

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That’s a lovely tradition to have 🤎

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A cup of Assam tea is my favourite drink of the day next to water. I so appreciate these wonderful paintings all depicting people taking tea or still lives of teapots and crockery. It’s impossible to choose a favourite! Thanks for sharing these delightful scenes, all so individual..

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Thank you for commenting, Margi. I’m so pleased you enjoyed the selection. It was an absolute joy to work on the post 🤎

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I opened your post at 3:08 pm, with my tea sitting right in front of me.

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A perfect way to view it. I hope you enjoyed the selection 🫖🤍

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What a wonderful set of paintings, thank you. I'm off to sketch a teapot.

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I’m so glad the selection has inspired you, Daphne 🧡

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À wonderful selection of paintings. I love the feeling of cosiness and domesticity in all of them. Lots of tea cosies depicted, I noticed!

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Thank you for commenting, Georgina. I’m glad you enjoyed the selection 🤎

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I must have my tea! My favorite of these paintings is “the tea table.” The colors of stunning—I will be referencing when I paint my house

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So pleased you enjoyed the selection, Lee 🤎

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Love this collection especially. Just confirmed table for afternoon tea at Four Seasons in Georgetown DC. Best annual treat ever.

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Oooh, lovely. Have a wonderful time 🤎

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Sweet collection. Today in Pennsylvania is a perfect tea day, on the sofa with dog and blanket. Love "The Merry Wives."

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That sounds lovely and cosy, Maud. I’m glad you enjoyed the post 🧡

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