Did you ever hold a tea party and there was nobody there to drink the tea? That's how your little girl might feel if she has a tea party with her miniature tea set. Most companies like Addison and Madison, which make porcelain tea sets, also make porcelain dolls for sitting around with and drinking tea. These guests are usually quite big and well appointed in every way. They tend to be between fourteen and twenty inches tall, have long styled hair and are made out of porcelain.
Madison makes porcelain tea dolls that look like they are visitors from the Victorian era. They boast long velvet coats, plush satin and chiffon skirts with lots of ruffles, lacy parasols and lots of curls. Many of them also wear hats with feathers sprouting from the cap.
They are, like many collectibles of this nature, sold by name. For instance, Addison's sweet Marjorie doll is fourteen inches tall, has blonde curls and an overcoat that is olive green. Her dress is made of white lace ecru and her hat is piled high with snowy white feathers.
The Isabella porcelain doll is a song in a pink and green velvet ensemble. Her rose colored sun hat boasts roses and she carries a pot of roses. She has a cascade of coiled auburn curls and an air about her that is definitely a bit spirited and Irish.
The Chloe porcelain doll has a mauve velvet overcoat, a cream colored satin and lace dress and carries a heart shaped satin purse. She has a hat that sprouts a cascade of feather and small white birds.
Needless to say all three of these characters would be interesting company at a tea party. However porcelain dolls can be quite pricey and they can break. Most mothers buying porcelain dolls like this (like me) are more buying them for themselves. If your child is the kind that likes to throw things, then maybe a tea doll made out of delicate china is not the best idea.
If your little girl is short on guests for her tea party she can always enlist the aid of her stuffed animal collection. Simply take all of her favorite friends and seat them around a little table so they can enjoy their pretend party. To make it a little more real pour juice in the teapots (grape juice looks like tea) and let her eat fruit, cakes and cookies with her friends.