Tea Towel Collection

Preparing a Meal, Japan, c. 1798 / 99. Creator: Kitagawa Utamaro
Preparing a Meal, Japan, c. 1798/99

Summer Robes (Natsugoromo), from the series "A Comparison of Incense (Takimono awase)
Summer Robes (Natsugoromo), from the series " A Comparison of Incense (Takimono awase)", c. 1822

Woman Serving Warm Biscuits, 1920 (screen print)
2622175 Woman Serving Warm Biscuits, 1920 (screen print) by American School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Still Life with Bowl of Fruit, 1912 (oil)
XIR35208 Still Life with Bowl of Fruit, 1912 (oil) by Monfreid, Georges Daniel de (1856-1929); Musee National d Art Moderne, Centre Pompidou, Paris, France; French, out of copyright

Girl baking in kitchen (chromolitho)
732769 Girl baking in kitchen (chromolitho) by American School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Girl baking in kitchen.); Look and Learn / Barbara Loe Collection

Still Life with a Fruit Dish, 1905 (oil on canvas)
XIR221136 Still Life with a Fruit Dish, 1905 (oil on canvas) by Monfreid, Georges Daniel de (1856-1929); 38x47 cm; Musee Toulouse-Lautrec, Albi

Children in the Dorman Museum Nativity play. Dorman Museum is a general museum located in Linthorpe within the borough of Middlesbrough. December 1985

MCC Bicentenary Auction at Lords Cricket Ground featuring memorabilia from 200 years of cricket at the famous ground attended by famous names from the world of sport and showbusiness

Humble Pie (?), 1869. Artist: John Tenniel
Humble Pie (?), 1869. After the American Civil War, the US government claimed compensation was due from Britain in respect of the damage done by the Alabama

Bowl Of Blueberries; Quebec, Canada

Black and white illustration of holding bottle with tea towel and using pliers to unscrew lid

Black and white illustration of drying wine glass with tea towel

Black and white illustration of tea towels on rail in cupboard

Black and white illustration of removing burnt food from electric hob using damp tea towel

Home baked rye bread with twisted decoration credit: Marie-Louise Avery / thePictureKitchen / TopFoto

Fresh tomatoes on the vine on laundered tea towel credit: Marie-Louise Avery / thePictureKitchen / TopFoto

Bacon and egg pie

Cheese and peas orzo in bowl with spoon on top of folded blue tea towel

Caramel, apple and almond tarts on cooling rack, close-up

Onion Confit

Row of freshly cut tagliatelle pasta laid out on a white tea towel

Smoke-roasted whole duck in roasting pan

Thai chicken satay on plate, tea towel

Oatmeal cookies on plate, glass of milk in background, close-up

Brioches on baking tray

Chicken paprika on plate

Potato gratin in baking dish

Boiled white rice in large saucepan

Liver and bacon with new potatoes and peas

Making wholemeal cottage loaves, brushing a baking sheet with melted butter, risen dough covered with tea towel in glass bowl nearby

Chicken pie in ovenproof dish on green tea towel, and plate with chicken pie and spoon in background

Three croissants on cooling rack, tea towel nearby, close-up

Apple sauce flavoured with cinnamon, in saucepan, on top of tea towel, close-up

Chelsea buns in baking tray, close-up

Chicken and seafood paella in pan

Sausagemeat stuffing, flavoured with sage and cranberries, in ovenproof dish, with spoon, close-up

Portable plastic trolley with shelves containing leeks, tea towels and potatoes

Macaroni cheese in baking dish

Mincemeat almond tart

Child holding hot serving dish of roasted vegetables with tea towel

Cutting spinach pasta sheets into rectangles

Man pouring sauce through sieve over bowl of lamb stew, holding casserole dish with tea towel

Hands holding wire rack against baked cake in cake tin, upside down, close-up

Butter melting in saucepan, holding handing with tea towel

Focaccia bread topped with rosemary, garlic and olives on baking tray, view from above

Bowl of seafood paella, with tea towel draped around it and sprig of parsley, view from above

Arranging half moon pasta shapes on floured tea towel

Tapping the bottom of a loaf of bread, close-up

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"Tea Towel: A Versatile Kitchen Essential Through Time and Cultures" From preparing a meal in Japan during the late 18th century to serving warm biscuits in the 1920s, the tea towel has been an indispensable tool in kitchens worldwide. This humble piece of fabric has witnessed countless culinary creations and artistic moments. In Kitagawa Utamaro's woodblock print "Preparing a Meal, Japan, c. 1798/99, " we catch a glimpse of a woman using a tea towel to dry her hands while she skillfully handles ingredients. The tea towel not only serves its practical purpose but also adds elegance to this scene from traditional Japanese cuisine. Fast forward to the early 20th century, where screen prints like "Woman Serving Warm Biscuits" showcase how tea towels became intertwined with domesticity and hospitality. With delicate patterns adorning their surface, these tea towels were not just functional but also decorative pieces that added charm to any kitchen. Artists have also found inspiration in the simplicity of everyday objects such as bowls of fruit or blueberries. In still life paintings like "Still Life with Bowl of Fruit" (1912) and "Bowl Of Blueberries; Quebec, Canada, " these vibrant fruits are often depicted alongside a trusty tea towel – perhaps used for cleaning or protecting surfaces from spills. The versatility of the tea towel extends beyond cooking scenes; it even finds its way into advertisements and illustrations. An advert for Vinolia soap from the early 1900s features an elegant lady holding a bottle with one hand while grasping a tea towel with pliers on another – showcasing its multi-purpose nature beyond drying dishes. Moreover, historical events capture glimpses of how tea towels played unexpected roles outside home kitchens. From John Tenniel's satirical illustration titled "Humble Pie (.