DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.68274#0326
Dutch and Flemish Furniture
she takes some saffron, and infuses this in a small red
pot, and serves the tea and saffron in a covered cup, so
that none of the sweetness nor aroma shall be wasted.
In spring the saffron is discarded in favour of young
peach leaves. The tea is sweetened to taste, but milk
is never served until 1680, when it is used in imitation
of the French ; for the idea of milk in tea originated
with the Marchioness de la Sabliere. The conversation
at these gatherings turned on tea and general gossip.
The tea-table was of great importance in social
life. Even poets sang its praises in Holland, as they
did in England. A picturesque stanza from a Dutch
poet is worth quoting :
" In 't midden van de zaal daar stond een gueridon,
Op 't zelve een heteltje, zo blank gelijk een zon.
't Tvehpotje was behleed met zuiver zilverlahen,
Opdat geen vogt het goud van 't lofwerh \zou}mismaaken
Waar meed het was beleid ; de schoteltjes in 't rond
Van onder net beplakt met zagte stuhjes bont,
Uit vrees dat 't porcelein het lakwerk mogte schaaren,
Van 't lief japansche-blad, 't geen ruste op drie pylaaren
Van sakredaan, haneel en pih-zwart ebbenhout.
Het schenhen van de thee werd juffrouw Rois vertrouwt,
Die evenwigtig thee met water wist te mengen."
(In the middle of the hall there stood a table
Upon which was a small kettle, bright as the sun.
The teapot was covered with pure silver cloth
So that no liquid would deface the gold from the ornamentation
With which it was covered ; the small saucers around it
Pasted underneath with soft furry cloth, so that
The porcelains might not scratch the lacquer
From the pretty Japanese tray, which restedfon a tripod
Of sacredaan, cinnamon and jet-black ebony.
The pouring of the tea was trusted to Miss Rois,
Who knew how to mix tea and water properly.)
Thus we see that the tea-table was firmly established
as a social institution in Holland by the middle of the
seventeenth century, and porcelain was an important
230
she takes some saffron, and infuses this in a small red
pot, and serves the tea and saffron in a covered cup, so
that none of the sweetness nor aroma shall be wasted.
In spring the saffron is discarded in favour of young
peach leaves. The tea is sweetened to taste, but milk
is never served until 1680, when it is used in imitation
of the French ; for the idea of milk in tea originated
with the Marchioness de la Sabliere. The conversation
at these gatherings turned on tea and general gossip.
The tea-table was of great importance in social
life. Even poets sang its praises in Holland, as they
did in England. A picturesque stanza from a Dutch
poet is worth quoting :
" In 't midden van de zaal daar stond een gueridon,
Op 't zelve een heteltje, zo blank gelijk een zon.
't Tvehpotje was behleed met zuiver zilverlahen,
Opdat geen vogt het goud van 't lofwerh \zou}mismaaken
Waar meed het was beleid ; de schoteltjes in 't rond
Van onder net beplakt met zagte stuhjes bont,
Uit vrees dat 't porcelein het lakwerk mogte schaaren,
Van 't lief japansche-blad, 't geen ruste op drie pylaaren
Van sakredaan, haneel en pih-zwart ebbenhout.
Het schenhen van de thee werd juffrouw Rois vertrouwt,
Die evenwigtig thee met water wist te mengen."
(In the middle of the hall there stood a table
Upon which was a small kettle, bright as the sun.
The teapot was covered with pure silver cloth
So that no liquid would deface the gold from the ornamentation
With which it was covered ; the small saucers around it
Pasted underneath with soft furry cloth, so that
The porcelains might not scratch the lacquer
From the pretty Japanese tray, which restedfon a tripod
Of sacredaan, cinnamon and jet-black ebony.
The pouring of the tea was trusted to Miss Rois,
Who knew how to mix tea and water properly.)
Thus we see that the tea-table was firmly established
as a social institution in Holland by the middle of the
seventeenth century, and porcelain was an important
230