Size 28" x 36"
Format Oil on Canvas
Signature Lower Right
Frame Not known

History of the painting

Other observations

Ruth (now aged 10) is cutting cake for the tea party, joined by three other girls. One older slightly darker haired girl (possibly the same girl featured in "The Great Performance 1890" although in that painting her hair was even darker) standing at the same table with Ruth and by two other blonde haired girls (one feeding a spoon of milk to the cat and the youngest seated in a collapsible chair). Edwin is devoting his full attention to his cup on tea, sensibly letting the girls get on with their party.

Four of these five children (all except the youngest seated girl) also feature in "The Scrap Book 1894" and all four of these girls in "The Young Dressmakers 1893".

The cone shaped barrel to the right of the painting also featured in "The Young Kitemakers 1897" and a similar shaped barrel (this time with a lid and no handle) featured in "Firing The Salute 1900" and "The Children's Breakfast 1901".

The large earthenware jug to the rear of the room featured in at least 12 of Harry Brooker's paintings, starting with the "The Great Performance 1890" right through to "The Tea Party 1907"

The straw boater in many paintings around this time is seen this time hanging on the wall to the right of the room.

This painting was used to illustrate the book "An Edwardian Childhood" published by Little & Brown.. The painting appears as a full page print in that book.