The humble tea towel! Probably one of the most underappreciated items in our kitchen. It is what we reach for to handle hot trays, clean up spillages and dry our dishes. They are a stalwart kitchen accessory that we simply could not live without. The tea towel originated in the 18thcentury when every upper class family had an expensive tea set. The mistress of the house would use her tea towel to dry the china after it had been used. She wouldn’t let the servants do it for fear of the delicate crockery being broken.
There was a time when the only tea towel pattern available was a burnt orange or leafy green plaid. Nowadays however, tea towels come in all sorts of shapes and sizes and most people like to buy them to match the décor of their kitchen. You can also get more fashionable and decorative types of tea towels due to a recent boom in the arts and crafts movement. This movement has birthed a multitude of designers who have started to sell household items and accessories with their designs on, the most famous of these probably being Cath Kidston. Her instantly recognisable floral designs can be found on tea towels in many a English home.
There are even customisable tea towels available. These are especially popular with schools and charitable organisations. Whole classes can draw pictures and have them printed on to the towels. The school or charity will then sell the tea towel to parents in order to raise funds. Tea towels have also long been used to commemorate special national occasions such as royal weddings and coronations. These types of towel are not used but are stored away as a keepsake and will usually gain value as the years go by.
Overall it is safe to say that tea towels make a very practical and decorative addition to any home!