Have you ever seen something which was the epitome of romance? Something so perfectly special like an English tea with ladies wearing fancy summer gowns and drinking out of bone china cups with elegant rose patterns. Something you could treasure all your life, perfectly preserving forever that one romantic moment when it all came together... I'm thinking of china posy bowls.

I inherited the first one from my Aunt Sally, my Dad's Mother's sister. It's a pale green urn shaped bowl with three pastel coloured roses in it. Two petals are nicked but I've treasured it for over 20 years. The next one came from an old lady's house. Her son had retired her to a nursing home and was looking to make a buck. I brought home another bowl of flowers, slightly nicked too. I have a third but I forget where it came from.

Anyway, if you turn over my flowers you see 'Royal Adderley' and then a flower graphic and then 'floral bone china'. The roses and flowers are beautiful, carefully made to look real, detailed. Each has it's own nicks, before I ever got them. But I love them. I think they are the most romantic thing I own. Flowers that will live forever, as long as you continue to dust them and wash them every few years. No watering required and they will never wilt. They are my perfect romantic treasures.

Bone china needs to be washed now and then. Just fill the sink with warm soapy water and let them soak awhile. The water will help them from becoming dried out and prevent cracking and chipping. Nothing will completely prevent chipping but it does help. Store them where they won't be knocked around. Full sun will bleach them over time. If you have to move, pack them individually and carefully and send them to me.

I thought I would find a website for Royal Adderley, no luck. Don't even try typing in bone china during a search. You will be swamped with sugar bowls, tea sets and other such things. I tried figurines and had a bit more luck, still not what I was looking for. On Ebay they seem to call them china posy bowls. I found quite a few and have saved the photos of each. Most of all I was surprised at how cheap they are offered for. I expected they would cost a mint, but they are all around the $10 range. I'm not keen on ordering bone china to be shipped in the mail, but it does give me hope for the next flea market, antique shop or garage sale. One woman's trash is another woman's treasure!