Ridgways 'Old Curiosity Shop' Child's Tea Set, Circa 1895
Ridgways 'Old Curiosity Shop' Child's Tea Set, Circa 1895
5825
A rare and complete late Victorian child's tea set by Ridgways, decorated with scenes from Charles Dickens's beloved novel *The Old Curiosity Shop*, circa 1895. Charming, literary, and increasingly difficult to find complete, this delightful service captures the Victorian enthusiasm for Dickens, storytelling, and the ritual of the nursery tea table.
Each piece is printed with characterful scenes inspired by the novel, bringing its memorable world into miniature. The tea set was made not merely as a toy, but as a carefully considered domestic object for children: a small-scale reflection of the adult tea service, intended to encourage the manners and rituals of polite society while providing imaginative pleasure.
The complete set has particular appeal, allowing the printed narrative and decorative scheme to be appreciated as intended. Its diminutive scale, finely detailed imagery, and rich literary association make it a wonderfully evocative survivor from the late 19th century.
Ridgways was among the notable Staffordshire pottery manufacturers of the period, producing wares that combined attractive transfer-printed decoration with everyday practicality. This *Old Curiosity Shop* service is an especially engaging example, uniting Victorian ceramics with one of the era's most enduring literary voices.
A highly decorative and collectible piece for a nurseryware collection, a lover of Dickensiana, or anyone drawn to the charm of Victorian childhood. It would display beautifully in a cabinet, library, nursery, or period interior.
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