A cane picnic hamper (unlined) with hinged lid containing two each of cups, saucers and plates, and a bowl, all of plain white china with gold rim.

Miniature china was being made in the early 17th century for the very wealthy but was not generally available until later that century and into the 18th century. The importation of small sets from China for children of the wealthier classes persuaded the English potteries that there was a market and so the production of miniature tea and dinner sets for children began. By the late 19th century many of the major potteries were manufacturing miniature sets, using reduced patterns or designing patterns with more appeal for children. Many sets were plain white with a coloured or gold band.

This cane picnic hamper is another aspect of this marketing.

Play with toy tea sets invloves imitating adults as part of the process of growing up and by extension learning table or tea-time etiquette. With the picnic hamper the child's toys are entertained not just with a tea party, but with a picnic. It is not hard to imagine the child with doll and soft toys sitting on a rug set under a shady tree.

Batkin, Maureen. Gifts for good children: the history of children's china. Part 2, 1890-1990, Ilminster, Somerset: Richard Dennis, [1991?]

Cadbury, Betty. Playthings past, Newton Abbot [Eng.]: David & Charles, c1976

King, Constance Eileen. The encyclopedia of toys, Adelaide: Rigby, 1978

State Library of South Australia: Mortlock Wing exhibitions. To be a child August 2004-