Object of the Day, Museum Edition: A Souvenir of the Coronation of King George VI, 1937

Mug
Staffordshire, England
Meakin & Co., 1937
Designer: Dame Laura Knight, O.B.E.
The Victoria & Albert Museum

Isn’t this attractive? Here, from the collection of the Victoria & Albert Museum, we see a souvenir of the rather unexpected 1937 coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (the Queen Mother). Made in Staffordshire, this mug by J. & G. Meakin, the transfer-printed portraits of Their Majesties are certainly more “moderne” than most I’ve seen. They’re very 1937 in design.

The handle of this bone china mug has been molded into the shape of the head of a heraldic beast. Another interesting touch is that instead of the traditional roses and thistles that are usually nestled behind pictures of the Royals and their coat of arms, we have a wild background of circus animals amidst the symbols of the Crown. This is especially interesting given the chaotic circumstances which led to his coronation—namely that pesky abdication crisis.

This atypical, stylized design is the work of Dame Laura Knight, O.B.E. who has signed the reverse.