Wee Birdy

Top tea sets: Willow by W2

Willow Black and Yellow Cake Stand, £30, by W2.

Willow Black and Yellow small tea pot, £20, by W2.

Willow Black and Yellow tea cups, £35, by W2.

Loving this modern take on the traditional Willow tea set by London-based design company W2, the same people behind the popular Pantone mug range. Available to purchase online or from their flagship shop on South Bank.

W2 shop
1.22 Oxo Tower Wharf
Barge House Street
London SE1 9PH
Tel. 020 7922 1444
Nearest tubes: Waterloo and Southwark
Click here for a Wee Birdy map.

Opening hours:
Monday to Saturday 10am - 6pm

Wee finds: Tea time tiles

Thank You For Being You Hand Printed and Fired Tile, US$26, from Reap What is Sew’s Etsy shop.

'It's Nice To Be Nice' Handprinted Tile, US$26, from Reap What Is Sew’s Etsy shop.

I love these tea-themed handprinted tiles by London designer Hazel Nicholls. A graduate of Camberwell College of Art, the themes of “love, loss and fame” are recurrent in Hazel’s work. Keep up to date with Hazel’s amazing work on her blog.

Top tea sets: English Eccentrics

'More Tea Vicar?' extra large teapot, £32, from the V&A Shop.

'Not For All The Tea In China' jar, £20, and 'Storm in a Teacup' cup and saucer, £10, from the V&A shop.

'I'm a little teapot' small teapot, £20, from the V&A Shop.

The award-winning English Eccentrics ceramics range by UK-based Big Tomato Company features a tea set with wit and smart-arsed slogans. Naturally, I love them. For the best prices around, head to the V&A shop.

The V&A Museum
Cromwell Road
London SW7 2RL
Tel. 020 7942 2966

Nearest tube: South Kensington

Click here for a Wee Birdy map.

Top tea sets: Lin Jing for V&A

Limited edition Lin Jing Keke jug, £60 and Limited edition Lin Jing Qiqi teapot, £145 from the V&A shop.

The fluid clean lines displayed in these stunning pieces by Lin Jing are perfect for those into minimalist design. The limited edition teapot and jug are part of a tea set that’s currently sold exclusively in Shanghai and on show at the V&A’s recent China Design Now exhibition.

The V&A Museum
Cromwell Road
London SW7 2RL
Tel. 020 7942 2966

Nearest tube: South Kensington

Click here for a Wee Birdy map.

Top tea sets: Katy Potts Tea for Two

 

I’ve been collecting vintage English tea sets for over 10 years now, and I’m a big fan of pieces from Staffordshire potteries. So I was thrilled to discover Katy Potts Tea For Two. Her collection of English tea sets make for a perfectly mismatched afternoon tea (the very best kind, in my opinion!).

Available online and in-store at Liberty, the tea sets are beautifully presented in a rather smart black box, making them an excellent (and totally unique) gift. A tea set for one, comprising of a cup, saucer and plate, will set you back £45, while a tea set for two, comprising of two cups, two saucers and two plates, costs £75. A wonderful selection of vintage teapots are also available for £60.

 
Liberty
Great Marlborough Street
London W1B 5AH
Tel. 0207 734 1234
Nearest tube: Oxford Circus
Click here for a Wee Birdy map.
 
Click here for more shops in W1.