Child's cup and saucer

item details

NameChild's cup and saucer

ProductionCrown Lynn Potteries Ltd.; manufacturer(s); 1955-1960; New Zealand

Classificationdinner services

Materialsceramic

DimensionsPart: 78mm (width), 58mm (height), 59mm (diameter)

Registration NumberGH024235

Credit lineGift of Christine Kiddey, 2014

Overview

Crown Lynn nursery ware

This child's cup and saucer set decorated with little ducklings, a pig and a mouse is an early example of Crown Lynn's nursery ware range for children. It was treasured by the donor Christine Kiddey when she was a child growing up in New Zealand in the 1950s and 60s.

Crown Lynn began making nursery ware in about 1955 but they had stiff competition to overcome. The extremely popular but expensive Royal Doulton Bunnykins range dominated the market. At first the Crown Lynn series was seen as an affordable but second best option but it soon became a well established and popular brand. By the 1960s, their Bunny and Wee Pets were being promoted as an ideal Christmas gift.

During the 1980s Crown Lynn’s nursery ware was one of their most successful lines and included characters from television shows such as Paddington Bear, the Wombles, Sesame Street, Pirate Pete and Sally Anne, and some Disney characters. (From: Crown Lynn, A New Zealand Icon by Valerie Ringer Monk, 2006)