Small girl having a doll's tea party. She sits in what appears to be a conservatory surrounded by her dolls and with a tea set. She is holding a cup and saucer. The doll on the left has been placed on a miniature couch, another component of the child's playthings.

By playing with her dolls in this manner she is practicing her social skills and etiquette and copying the actions of her mother as she entertained friends and family. This play was an essential part in the young girl's learning for adulthood.

In the early 19th century many European potteries began to make miniature china tea sets specifically for children. Miniature tea sets produced before this date had been intended for the display cabinets of adults.

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

Dow, Gwyn and June Factor (eds.) Australian childhood: an anthology, South Yarra, Vic.: McPhee Gribble, 1991

The endless playground: celebrating Australian childhood, compiled and edited by Paul Cliff; with introductory essays by Robert Holden and features by Jack Bedson ... [et al.], Canberra: National Library of Australia, 2000

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

King, Constance Eileen. The collector's history of dolls, London: R. Hale; New York: St. Martin's Press, 1978, c1977

Powerhouse Museum Collection: Juvenilia. Toy tea sets

Victoria and Albert Museum: Museum of Childhood. Collections. Dolls

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