DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.68274#0325
The Importance of Porcelain
rank and means of the proprietor. Rich or poor, it is
always exquisitely clean. As carpets and rugs are
not common, the floor is covered with bright mats,
and the walls are either whitewashed, or encased in blue
and white tiles. Upon them hang pictures, more or
less valuable. The round table and the chairs are of
sacredaan wood, and the latter are furnished with cushions
of Utrecht velvet. The chimney-piece is ornamented
with Chinese knickknacks that will interest the visitor
for several hours, and, on either side of it are two oak
cupboards inlaid with ebony. Facing the chimney
stands the china-cabinet with its fragile treasures, the
vrouw's idol, the object of her tenderest care.
The guests usually arrived between two and three
in the afternoon, and were received and extended many
formalities peculiar to the occasion. Unless it rained,
no cloak or wrap was worn, so the guests were received
in the tea-room at once and immediately seated them-
selves, resting their feet—winter or summer—on a foot-
warmer. The hostess takes a sample of tea from her
many tea-caddies, each filled with a different kind of
tea, and puts them into a different pot, each pot having
a little silver strainer in the spout. When the tea is
drawn, she fills the smallest cup with a sample from each
pot and hands these tiny cups to her friends, so that
they may discover what kind they prefer. One prefers
this, and one prefers another ; but, as a rule, the choice
is left to the hostess. Now the tea-making begins in
earnest. According to the number of guests, the hostess
takes a single or double teapot, and from a larger caddy
the tea that has been chosen. While this is being drawn,
229
rank and means of the proprietor. Rich or poor, it is
always exquisitely clean. As carpets and rugs are
not common, the floor is covered with bright mats,
and the walls are either whitewashed, or encased in blue
and white tiles. Upon them hang pictures, more or
less valuable. The round table and the chairs are of
sacredaan wood, and the latter are furnished with cushions
of Utrecht velvet. The chimney-piece is ornamented
with Chinese knickknacks that will interest the visitor
for several hours, and, on either side of it are two oak
cupboards inlaid with ebony. Facing the chimney
stands the china-cabinet with its fragile treasures, the
vrouw's idol, the object of her tenderest care.
The guests usually arrived between two and three
in the afternoon, and were received and extended many
formalities peculiar to the occasion. Unless it rained,
no cloak or wrap was worn, so the guests were received
in the tea-room at once and immediately seated them-
selves, resting their feet—winter or summer—on a foot-
warmer. The hostess takes a sample of tea from her
many tea-caddies, each filled with a different kind of
tea, and puts them into a different pot, each pot having
a little silver strainer in the spout. When the tea is
drawn, she fills the smallest cup with a sample from each
pot and hands these tiny cups to her friends, so that
they may discover what kind they prefer. One prefers
this, and one prefers another ; but, as a rule, the choice
is left to the hostess. Now the tea-making begins in
earnest. According to the number of guests, the hostess
takes a single or double teapot, and from a larger caddy
the tea that has been chosen. While this is being drawn,
229