Tea drinking has been a popular pasttime of the British for the last two centurys. Once only for the rich, as the tea was such an expensive commodity, later becoming a staple item of every home. Before the invention of tea bags, all tea was sold as loose tea and would need a strainer to sieve out the tea leaves. The strainers came in many different designs, from plain utility shapes of simple functions, to elaborate fine siver designs, and even figural china pieces.
 
This is a silver plated tea strainer finely modelled as a flower with the edges shaped as leaves, these would be rested on the cup then the tea would be poured through to catch the leaves. This elaborate strainer would have been from the house of a lady who enjoyed fine things and would be part of her afternoon tea ritual, favoured by ladies of society.
 
The strainer is in very good condition with no ware to the silver plate.
 
Dimensions: 15cm in length with a height of 2.5cm