Teapots, napkin rings and butter dishes: The retro homeware making a surprise comeback
A nice cup of tea is as British as it comes, but actually pouring one from a teapot has – until now – been a slowly dying ritual. Except that lately, sales of teapots are up, as are those of other traditional homewares, such as butter dishes, napkin rings and egg cups. And somewhat surprisingly, it’s younger consumers who are driving the resurgence.
Nearly a third of 29 to 44-year-olds said teapots were back in fashion, according to a recent survey carried out by B&Q.
It’s something that the British homewares brand David Mellor has found too, reporting a 20 per cent increase in its white bone china range, with the most growth for traditional products – such as teapots – according to Corin Mellor, the company’s creative director. “We’ve found that younger generations are taking entertaining more seriously,” he says, adding that sales of cups and saucers are also up.
Elsewhere, brands such as Burleigh and Spode, known for their traditional designs, are increasingly producing colourful, fashion-conscious collections that catch the eye on Instagram, to appeal to a younger buyer, and dainty cake stands are another trending product. It all dovetails neatly with the continued popularity of cottagecore – an aesthetic that idealises rural life and celebrates a slower, more traditional way of living.
For Fleur Kenny, a home buyer at Selfridges, the return to traditional homewares is due in part to the continued popularity of tablescaping (or tablesetting), something that she believes is now “very much part of our lives”. Just as one might accessorise an outfit to make it feel personal, “accessorising your kitchen table with full tea sets is an extension of personal style”. Butter dishes are also selling out at Selfridges, with brands such as Hay and Anna + Nina providing contemporary examples; Mellor says butter knives are also on the up.
Sugar Plum Bow earthenware butter dish by Anna + Nina, £38, Selfridges
Staying in is, it seems, the new going out, and younger generations might now be more likely to spend their money on their homes than on a night out.
Tablecloths have become a style signifier in recent years, with a host of trend-conscious brands springing up to provide designer cloths in a range of patterns. The napkin ring – an item that only a few years ago felt hopelessly out of date – is also having its own fashion moment.
Fashion editor and ceramicist Deborah Brett is a fan of the napkin ring: “My German grandmother always gave each of my siblings and I a silver serviette ring with a linen napkin to use while we stayed with her,” she says. “At every meal, we knew which one was ours. It’s such an elegant tradition and one I passed on to my children. I had theirs engraved with their names, and when my grandmother passed away, I inherited hers.” When Brett started her own ceramics line, DB Ceramic, napkin rings were the first products she made; and now, they are among her most popular items.
As she puts it: “The idea of adding joy to something everyday, to the mundane, through small but chic details, is something worthwhile and uplifting.”
