QE2's Original Crockery by Julia Chandler for the Marquess of Queensberry

[MI 1083]

Just wondering, would anyone know anything about this style deck tea china?  If and when it was used on the QE2 at one time?  Of course, it is well known, the older Cunard Queens used the stylish art deco Cube deck tea sets but did the QE2?  I recently purchased the set from a reputable nautical items dealer who listed it from early QE2 service.  The backstamp does feature the well known modern block style lettering CUNARD that was the logo style of the QE2.  No date code is discernable however from the backstamp, at least not that I can tell.  This backstamp is very different from the familiar chinaware back stamps from the older Queen sisters.  The maker was Myott, Staffordshire England.  I have searched all the publications I have, old brochures even, hoping to identify this pattern in use on the QE2.  I enjoy collecting and learning about the QE2 tableware and interior design concepts.  Any information would be appreciated.  Note the below photo link.  (the cup and saucer in the early Snowflake pattern is shown for scale).
Thanks,
Rick


https://www.flickr.com/photos/trakphoto/3726985639/

[Bob C.]

I can't speak for the cubic cream and and sugar containers but here is a picture from August 1969 and a close up of the cup and saucer.

[Louis De Sousa]

If i recall right the cup and sauce was used right up the 1994 refit (i have a set of it myself).

Louis

[MI 1083]

Thanks BobC and Louis for what you shared.  Bob, your circa 1969 photo of Afternoon Tea in the Double Room is just amazing!  Oh to have been seated for tea in all that swinging sixties red oppulance, those low slung swank red loung chairs.  Your photos do help as it identifies clearly the Snowflake pattern in use in the Double Room as well as other known venues on the ship at that time.  I think I remember reading somewhere, the gold Snowflake china was eventually relegated back to the Lido until the pattern was phased out competely or broken up.  According to Louis, as late as 1994, interesting.  The information on the cube tea sets will come eventually.  Now that I remember, a lady in an antique shop showed me a larger set similar to mine for sale once.  She said she "got it off the QE2".  Guess we know what "got it" means.  Anyway, regrefully, I didnt have the money to buy it from her at the time.  I would just like to see a photo of it in use, on deck or elsewhere for provenance.

[Bob C.]

MI,  I have another photo that shows the same pattern in the Queens Room in 1969 but no cubic containers jsut the metal ones in the above photo.  I will have to look at my Britannia/Tables of the World restaurant photos to see if the patter was also used there.

[MI 1083]

Found on ebay - but without gold edging!

Thanks Twynkle, that cube pottery is very similar but that one carries the older Cunard Steamship Co logo backstamp which predates it for the QE2.  The Cunard backstamp on my piece carries the more modern block letter style logo that was introduced on the modern QE2.  That is not to say this piece did not see service on the QE2.  I have heard that even old Cunard Line steamer rugs from the original Queen Elizabeth were in use on the QE2 up until the very end so who knows, maybe some china transferd over as well.  Much was made of the brand new china and cutlery especially designed for the 1968 QE2 to fit her more modern appeal but I have not been able to figure out this later cube china or its' introduction period.

[Stowaway2k]

I've not seen the "Cube" pictured in any of my early QE2 publications/brochures, but...

http://www.worldcollectorsnet.com/magazine/issue33/iss33p6.html

http://www.myottcollectorsclub.com/inf-cunard.html

a couple of other references:

http://www.cunard-whitestarline.net/id33.html

http://www.cunardchina.com/

[MI 1083]

I've not seen the "Cube" pictured in any of my early QE2 publications/brochures, but...

http://www.worldcollectorsnet.com/magazine/issue33/iss33p6.html

Thanks stowawaly2k, the first link of information you posted does mention Myott being the cube supplier for QE2!  Thanks, as that does confirm that.  Now just to find a photo of the cube set in use on the QE2.  Thanks again, Rick

[Twynkle]

Rick -
'Fraid I Haven't found any photos on QE2 as yet -
Have you seen this site?
http://www.luxurylinerrow.com/cunardchina.html

[MI 1083]

Rick -
'Fraid I Haven't found any photos on QE2 as yet -
Have you seen this site?
http://www.luxurylinerrow.com/cunardchina.html

Thanks Twynkle, that link is actually the website I bought the cube set in question from a few months ago.  I have purchased quite a lot of ocean liner china and silver from that site.  He gets some good items time to time.
Rick

[Rod]

The cube design was in use when I was on there 71-89. Sugar bowls were designed to take standard size sugar cubes of course.

[Rob Lightbody]

I received the following email last week.

Dear Rob,

I was looking at your interesting website and was wondering if you have any photos of the crockery from the QE2 from 1969 without the watermark on top that I could see?  My mother-in-law Julia Chandler designed the "snowflake" pattern for the Marquess of Queensberry, and as she has passed away, I'm trying to find out information and photos for my father-in-law.

All the best,

Naomi

So lets use this topic, please, to post your photos of QE2's original crockery - and stories about it - and if people can also clarify how long it was used aboard, that would be useful too.

Comprehensive Information here from the VADS Guide - http://vads.ahds.ac.uk/diad/bres/pub/COID/244/57.jpg

Key points are :-

• Made of Steelite, an entirely new "unbreakable" china.
• QE2 had 24 items of tableware, compared to 90 on the previous Queens.  17 items were Steelite.
• Marquess of Queensberry responsible for the design and rationalisation
• Designed by Julia Chandler

[Bob C.]

Here's a photo of my sister and me at afternoon tea in the Double Down Room in 1969 with various pieces of the original crockery.

[Adam Hodson]

There is some interesting information about the crockery and tableware in the VADS journal. http://vads.ac.uk/diad/article.php?title=244&year=1969&article=d.244.39

[June Ingram]

Thanks, Rob, for starting this topic !

And great picture, Bob, and thanks, Adam, for the great link !