Mini Green Ceramic Rooster by Wade for Red Rose Tea
It comforts and enlivens without the risks attendant on spiritous liquors. Gentle herb! Let the florrid grape yield to thee. Thy soft influence is a more safer inspirer of social joy. James Boswell on tea in 1762
{HISTORY}
Since 1967, Red Rose Tea Company has been surprising tea drinkers with miniature ceramic figurines hidden inside boxes of specialty teas. It started as a whimsical promotion in England in the late 1960s - a purposeful little treasure meant to fit on a shelf and designed with a grooved base that acted as an ideal surface to strike a match to light the flame for the tea kettle.
Strike a match, and strike a chord it did! Tea drinkers immediately fell in love with these figurines and a collectors paradise emerged. Over the years, different series were created and unveiled as tea drinkers clamored to collect complete sets and different series. What has resulted over the past six decades is a variety of figurines and themes that include animals, the circus, architectural landmarks, endangered species, Americana and more.
Originally just circulating in England, the figurines crossed the pond as Red Rose extended their promotional giveaways in tea boxes sent to America in the 1980s, thus introducing a whole new market to these cute little kitchen workers.
With their ultra-shiny glaze and quirky designs, Wade figurines can be found in a variety of colors and subject matters. This sage green rooster is part of the Noah's Ark series, which debuted in 2002. In that series, in keeping with the story of Noah's ark and its "two by two" theme, there was also a sitting hen that matched this guy here.
Perhaps you are a collector yourself and are looking for a rooster to pair up with your hen. Or perhaps, you subscribe to the French aesthetic which always includes the presence of a rooster (or two!) in the kitchen. Or maybe you've just fallen in love with the idea of this little green guy acting as a companion to your tea kettle and cuppa. Either way, he's here to bring joy to your day!
{SPECIAL FEATURES}
- Miniature size
- Sage green color similar to jadeite
- From the 2002 Noah's Ark series
{CONDITION}
In beautiful vintage condition. No chips or cracks.
{SIZE}
Measures 1.5" inches (height) x .75" inches (width)
{FOR THE COLLECTOR}
Find more loveable little Wade figurines here...