WHITE STAR LINE/R.M.S. TITANIC: A stunning cobalt blue Demit...

Hammer

£4,500

WHITE STAR LINE/R.M.S. TITANIC: A stunning cobalt blue Demitasse cup and saucer of the style used on Titanic and Olympic. Cup measures 2ins. x 2¼ins. and the saucer's diameter is 4¾ins. The bottom of the saucer is labelled 'Stonier & Co. Liverpool, Spode Copeland's China, England, R4332, Rd No. 580303, White Star Line.' and bottom of cup is labelled 'Rd No. 580303, Spode Copeland's China, England, White Star Line.'
This pattern is arguably the most opulent design ever featured on any White Star Line china. Similar china bearing the identical registration number was recovered from Titanic's wreck site in 1987. (See p. 99 Titanic: The Exhibition (Lithograph Publishing Company, 1997). Although the general practice was for china to be interchangeable amongst White Star Line ships, the exquisite pattern of these pieces, coupled with very few similar pieces having surfaced, suggests that that this pattern was reserved for exclusive use on the Olympic class.
The few pieces of this pattern to come to market have been attributed to presentation pieces (ref. Southampton Maritime Museum) or to pieces either from, or destined for use, on Titanic. What is remarkable here is that rather than just the saucer or cup, this lot consists of the Demitasse cup and saucer set. The interlocking letters "OSNC" on the saucer stand for Oceanic Steam Navigation Company, White Star Line's parent company. White Star Line was known for its luxurious appointments on board its ships. This china represents the best of the best. The unusually exquisite cobalt blue colour is so richly blue it practically leaps from the pattern, it could easily become the pinnacle of any Titanic collection. The cup has been restored but the saucer is in superb order.