Tea and China

At the Peninsula Beverly Hills hotel, high tea meets high art when the staff breaks out the porcelain tea service to accompany scones and cucumber sandwiches.

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* Introduced March 1999.

* Designed and hand-painted by Lissi Kaplan, former opera singer and official porcelain painter to the office of Gov. Gray Davis.

* 540 pieces in the collection, including 120 teacups, 120 saucers and assorted serving plates, creamers, jelly jars, place-card holders and napkin rings that sport tiny vases.

* Teacups measure 2 1/2 inches high.

* Saucers measure 6 inches in diameter.

* Each teacup/saucer pair valued at $85.

* Porcelain made from an original 18th century mold and ordered from the Czech Republic.

* Each piece fired approximately five times in the kiln, at between 1,700 and 2,200 degrees.

* Lavender, yellow and fuchsia colors featured in whimsical “fantasy botanical” designs of French blue bellflowers, crocuses and green vines.

* Porcelain painting technique modeled after 15th century porcelain painting method of the Ming Dynasty.

* China paint and 24 karat gold liquid (for teacup rims and handles) ordered from Dresden, Germany.

* Herbal, citrus-flavored, green, oolong and decaffeinated teas served twice daily in the hotel’s Living Room at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.

* Pot of tea costs $3.75.

* No cracks or chips reported to date.