The Tradition of Tea

Tea was a staple of Victorian society on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. Although this beverage was not quite as revered in the United States as it was in the United Kingdom, American women took pride in their tea sets and hosted elaborate tea parties in high society. Morris County’s society women were no different, and many of the prosperous families in Morris County owned tea sets that were passed down the generations as heirlooms. In 1973, the Morris County Historical Society received a Boyce & Jones tea set from Mrs. Charles P. Condict. The tea set includes a tea pot, a sugar bowl, and a creamer. According to a receipt found with the Boyce & Jones tea set, the set was sold to the Condict family by T.F. Marquand of 166 Broadway, New York City set on June 25, 1828. The Wheat Sheaf design etched into the tea set was popular before and during the Victorian Era. This design was used to portray prosperity and thus was popular with the upper class.

This tea set, still in fantastic condition, is currently displayed in the dining room at Acorn Hall. Tea was often served in the Front Parlor, where the lady of the house met her guests and the butler served tea and light refreshments. Tea parties, which were often quite informal and included only a select few friends, took place around 4:00 pm, with tea being served at some point between 4:00 and 6:00 pm. Tea was served using a tea wagon, which was filled with tea and sweets, and often decorated with seasonal flowers. Tea parties could also be formal, at which time they would be served at the dining room table. For such parties, the dining room table would be filled with jellies and preserves, thickly sliced bread, biscuits, fruit salad, cookies, bonbons, nuts, and finger sandwiches. At both informal and formal tea parties, the hostess or a close friend served the tea.

To see the beautiful tea sets on display at Acorn Hall, especially the Boyce & Jones set, please stop by on Wednesdays or Thursdays between 11:00 am and 4:00 pm or Sundays between 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm. Acorn Hall and the Morris County Historical Society offer guests a glimpse at Victorian life through our tours, and we invite you to stop by and see what life was like in Morristown during the nineteenth century.