Mill Scene Cup and Saucer

Object ID: 1988.93.3020  

Royal Winton is a line of fine china tableware manufactured by Grimwades Limited, a company founded by Leonard and Sidney Grimwade in 1885. The company became well known for its Chintz patterns, all-over designs usually featuring colourful flowers on a light background, the first of which were released in 1928.

As the export trade grew, Royal Winton catered to international consumers by producing souvenir dishes displaying scenes in Canada and the United States. One of the most popular souvenirs produced by Royal Winton Grimwades is a plate bearing an image of Niagara Falls. During the 1930s and 1940s, Royal Winton products were available for purchase at The Powell River Department Store, Westview Jewelers, and The Gift Shop.

Based on the stamp seen on the bottom of each piece, this teacup and saucer set was produced between 1938 and 1950. The round art deco mark contained the text “Grimwades Made in England” until 1938 when the text on some stamps was shortened to simply “Grimwades England”. An additional green “England” stamp is barely legible, but indicates that this cup and saucer set was manufactured for export.
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This art deco style tea cup & saucer are an eggshell colour with a square shape handle. They both feature a mill scene design with the caption “Powell River”, a gold painted edge, and a thin blue decorative line. There is one chip in the teacup rim near the handle, and both the cup and saucer are heavily crazed, typical for china of this vintage.