Title
Thee-piece Tea Set
Date
1939
Description
A three-piece tea set (English, 1939) manufactured by Josiah Wedgwood & Sons, Etruria, England, retailed by William H. Plummer & Co., New York. The set is comprised of a lidded tea pot (.1ab), a lidded sugar bowl (.2ab), and a creamer (.3). The Queensware set is decorated with raised blue decoration against a white ground. This tea set is from a limited issue release by Wedgwood of commemorative ware following the 1939 visit of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth to the United States. This was the first ever visit by a reigning British Monarch to the US. The King and Queen were invited by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in a move to strengthen Anglo-American ties prior to the outbreak of World War II.
.1ab (teapot) = The teapot lid has an eagle finial surrounded by a blue raised relief oak leaf garland and is inscribed in blue “FRIENDSHIP MAKES PEACE”. The body is decorated on one side in blue raised relief with the crowned profile bust of King George VI (1895-1952) surrounded by laurel leaves with a banner reading “HM GEORGE VI 1939”, the other side is similarly decorated with a profile bust of Queen Elizabeth (1900-2002). The handle has a molded lion head mask, blue raised relief garlands around the handle and spout. The underside is impressed “24”, “VHC39”, and is inscribed in blue “COMMEMORATING FIRST VISIT OF BRITISH REIGNING SOVEREIGNS TO THESE UNITED STATES IN 1939…/ MADE EXCLUSIVELY FOR W.H. PLUMMER & Co, LTD, NEW YORK / WEDGWOOD / ETRURIA, ENGLAND. / ISSUE LIMITED TO / 3000 OF WHICH / THIS IS 110.”
.2ab (lidded sugar bowl) = The lid of the sugar bowl is topped with an eagle finial and is decorated around the rim with a blue raised relief oak leaf garland. The body is decorated on one side with a half rose and thistle crest surrounded by laurel leaves with a banner reading “HM GEORGE VI 1939” in blue raised relief, on the other side with the Great Seal of the United States. The shield over the eagle bears the date “1939”. Lion mask form handles are on either side of the body. The underside is impressed “7RC39”, “30”, and is inscribed in blue “COMMEMORATING FIRST VISIT OF BRITISH REIGNING SOVEREIGNS TO THESE UNITED STATES IN 1939. / MADE EXCLUSIVELY FOR W.H. PLUMMER & Co, LTD, NEW YORK / WEDGWOOD / ETRURIA, ENGLAND. / ISSUE LIMITED TO / 3000 OF WHICH / THIS IS 109.”
.3 (creamer) = The creamer is similarly decorated around the body as the sugar bowl. The strap handle is decorated with a lion mask. Blue raised relief garlands surrounded the handle and spout. The underside is impressed “24”, “VHC39”, and is inscribed in blue “COMMEMORATING FIRST VISIT OF BRITISH REIGNING SOVEREIGNS TO THESE UNITED STATES IN 1939. / MADE EXCLUSIVELY FOR W.H. PLUMMER & Co, LTD, NEW YORK / WEDGWOOD / ETRURIA, ENGLAND. / ISSUE LIMITED TO / 3000 OF WHICH / THIS IS 109.”
.1ab (teapot) = The teapot lid has an eagle finial surrounded by a blue raised relief oak leaf garland and is inscribed in blue “FRIENDSHIP MAKES PEACE”. The body is decorated on one side in blue raised relief with the crowned profile bust of King George VI (1895-1952) surrounded by laurel leaves with a banner reading “HM GEORGE VI 1939”, the other side is similarly decorated with a profile bust of Queen Elizabeth (1900-2002). The handle has a molded lion head mask, blue raised relief garlands around the handle and spout. The underside is impressed “24”, “VHC39”, and is inscribed in blue “COMMEMORATING FIRST VISIT OF BRITISH REIGNING SOVEREIGNS TO THESE UNITED STATES IN 1939…/ MADE EXCLUSIVELY FOR W.H. PLUMMER & Co, LTD, NEW YORK / WEDGWOOD / ETRURIA, ENGLAND. / ISSUE LIMITED TO / 3000 OF WHICH / THIS IS 110.”
.2ab (lidded sugar bowl) = The lid of the sugar bowl is topped with an eagle finial and is decorated around the rim with a blue raised relief oak leaf garland. The body is decorated on one side with a half rose and thistle crest surrounded by laurel leaves with a banner reading “HM GEORGE VI 1939” in blue raised relief, on the other side with the Great Seal of the United States. The shield over the eagle bears the date “1939”. Lion mask form handles are on either side of the body. The underside is impressed “7RC39”, “30”, and is inscribed in blue “COMMEMORATING FIRST VISIT OF BRITISH REIGNING SOVEREIGNS TO THESE UNITED STATES IN 1939. / MADE EXCLUSIVELY FOR W.H. PLUMMER & Co, LTD, NEW YORK / WEDGWOOD / ETRURIA, ENGLAND. / ISSUE LIMITED TO / 3000 OF WHICH / THIS IS 109.”
.3 (creamer) = The creamer is similarly decorated around the body as the sugar bowl. The strap handle is decorated with a lion mask. Blue raised relief garlands surrounded the handle and spout. The underside is impressed “24”, “VHC39”, and is inscribed in blue “COMMEMORATING FIRST VISIT OF BRITISH REIGNING SOVEREIGNS TO THESE UNITED STATES IN 1939. / MADE EXCLUSIVELY FOR W.H. PLUMMER & Co, LTD, NEW YORK / WEDGWOOD / ETRURIA, ENGLAND. / ISSUE LIMITED TO / 3000 OF WHICH / THIS IS 109.”
Cultural Origin
English
Medium
glazed earthenware (Queensware)
Extent
.1ab (tea pot) = 5.5" x 9" x 6.25"
.2ab (lidded sugar bowl) = 4.5" x 5.25" x 4.5"
.3 (creamer) = 2.75" x 5.25" x 3.875"
Collection
Source
Bequest of Mr. Francis J. Connell, 1988.
Identifier
PSNC.7420.1ab - .3
For more information about this item, please contact its owning institution.