Maroon Tea Cart Porcelain Limoges Box

A tea cart trimmed in rich maroon stands ready for afternoon service on this porcelain box, laden with the promise of a pot of tea and good conversation. It was painted by hand in Limoges, France, the city famed for fine porcelain.

Wheeled In at Four O'Clock

The tea cart belongs to a gracious era of entertaining, when tea was rolled into the parlor rather than carried on a tray. This piece recalls that ritual in miniature, with maroon accents that give it a warm, traditional look. Every detail is applied by hand, so tones vary slightly.

Parlor Furnishings

• Hand-painted porcelain from Limoges, France
• Pairs with teapot, teacup and sugar bowl pieces in a tea grouping
• Fits a furniture, china or English parlor theme

Pour Another Cup

This is a thoughtful present for a tea room owner, a friend who hosts a monthly tea, or a grandmother who still uses her good china every Sunday. It also suits a bridal tea, a Mother's Day brunch, or a thank-you for the hostess of a garden party.

Set it in a china cabinet beside real teacups, on a kitchen shelf near the kettle, or on a side table in the living room. Collectors of tea pieces often build entire scenes, and a cart is a natural centerpiece around which teapots and cups can gather. The hand painting gives each cart its own character.