Tennis Or Strawberries Anyone?

Hammersley Chrysanthemum Pattern

The excitement begins! Wimbledon, that mother of all tennis tournaments, starts today. The crowds gather, the grass is green, and copious amounts of strawberries and cream will be consumed.

Last year 55,000 pounds of strawberries were eaten. I suppose that means tennis isn't the only sport at Wimbledon. The British aren't so crass as to sponsor strawberry eating contests, but someone is doing a lot of strawberry eating over there.

It was a lot more elegant in the "good old days". The strawberries were served in a strawberry basket complete with sugar and creamer in the side pockets. Lovely dresses, and large luscious hats made a colorful display in that parcel of time.



Hammersley Morgan's Rose Pattern

In an amazing little side note, I looked up Strawberry Festivals in California. I counted seven in California on the first google search page. California is also famous for the crimson treat.

Cottage Violet's has searched high and low for strawberry baskets. We have five Hammersley fine bone china strawberry baskets in stock. These vintage baskets are in excellent vintage condition.




Here's the best part! In honor of Wimbledon they are all on SALE. They are all marked down from $129.00 to $89.00. That's a $40.00 savings. If you are a dealer interested in the whole lot for your shop please contact me for wholesale pricing. The sale lasts thru July 6, 2014, the last day of Wimbledon 2014.



Hammersley Strawberry Ripe Pattern

Here's a link to the official Wimbledon website: www.wimbledon.com . And a little article I wrote on Squidoo: http://www.squidoo.com/strawberries-and-wimbledon that will explain the strawberry connection in further detail.










Here are two more of those lovely fine china baskets! I can't wait for you to see them.

Hammersley Strawberry Ripe (different from other pattern)

Hammersley's Simple Elegant Creamy Whitw with Gold Trim

 

 

 

I love serving you, Theresa

 

Strawberry Baskets - Wimbledon Tradition

We love Hammersley china here at Cottage Violet's. The beautiful patterns and lovely shapes are some of the finest of traditions from England's china heyday.

Wimbledon is also an English tradition. The lovely grass courts and royal spectators make this one of the finest tennis events every year.

Besides having jolly old England in common, tennis and Hammersley china share another connection. Strawberry baskets! That's right, Strawberry baskets.

Visitors and spectators at Wimbledon eat literally tons of strawberries and cream each year. Now, they are served in punnets (little baskets). But in days gone by when there was a piece of china for every eating event, Strawberry baskets were all the rage..

Strawberry baskets usually consisted of three pieces. A lovely handled basket with a removable creamer on one side, and a removable sugar bowl on the other side. They sported the loveliest patterns of the day.

A Hammersley Morgan's Rose pattern Strawberry Basket

 

There would also be china tennis set's in the same pattern. A tennis set was an eight inch salad plate with a lipped rim to hold a matching teacup. Of course, what would an English event be without a spot of tea.

 

Hammersley Chrysanthemum Pattern available at Cottage Violets

 

So in honor of Wimbledon, Cottage Violet's says "All Hail to the Queen", and let the serving begin.

 

Blessings, Theresa