The Green Checkered Tea Set

 

For the purpose of this blog, I'm going to call this set a tea set.  When I first saw it in an antiques shop, it was labeled as a chocolate set.  Yet, the cups are the size of demitasse cups, so it could be a demitasse set.  Whatever it is, I love it and I'm glad it's back out in my life.

This is the first antique/collectible that I ever bought.  I got it in the fall of 1987 at an antiques shop in Wingate, NC.  I admired it for months before hand, but it was about $60 and way out of my price range.  We had developed a relationship with the owner, her name was Bonnie, and she finally gave me a great deal on it and I got it for $20.  Keep in mind that I was only 12 years old at the time.  I really wish that I had kept up with Bonnie and I would love to know if she's still around somewhere.

I proudly displayed the set in our home in Monroe.  It was always out somewhere in the living room.  And when the household got divided between Bill and myself, I got it back into my own possession.  For years, I displayed it in whatever house or apartment I was living in.  When we moved into the house on Brice Street, it was one of the first things I put out to decorate the living room. 

But, as time went on, it eventually got packed away in a box.  Gone but never forgotten.  I came across it again the other day and decided that it needed a home inside my home again and not in a box in the garage.  When the day comes that I have people over again, I would love for others to enjoy it as I do.

The pattern is called "Checkers", obviously.  It was produced by a Japanese company called Kikusui.  I have searched the internet for other pieces just to see what's out there and have seen this same pattern in orange, red and yellow.  I have yet to add any pieces but you never know.  I might find a great piece and a good price.  But, for the time being, having this set back out is more than enough for me!