Historical information

This souvenir cup of the Coronation of King George VI of England in 1937 was the official design of the British Pottery Manufacturers Federation. Good quality souvenirs such as this one sold well in Australia in the Coronation year and are collected still today. The Coronation was held in Westminster Abbey in London on 12th May 1937 following the abdication of King George’s brother, Edward VIII, in December 1936. The Coronation was celebrated with the issue of medals, coins, stamps, official and unofficial gatherings and the production of memorabilia. The Coronation was the first to be filmed and broadcast on radio and the first to feature an outside television broadcast.

Significance

This souvenir cup is of interest as an example of the type of souvenir sold in Australia in 1937 to commemorate the Coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth of England. It is an attractive item and will be useful for display.

Physical description

This is a souvenir cup issued for the coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in May 1937. It is made of white china with the body of the cup tapering slightly to the top rim. One side of the cup features a colour image of a crown, a wreath and the initials ‘G’ and ‘E’ and the other side has a colour image of King George and Queen Elizabeth, with a crown on top and encircled by leaves and acorns from an oak tree. The names of the king and queen are printed around the rim of the cup and there are other phrases in French around and under the images of the couple.

Inscriptions & markings

‘Coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth May 1937’
‘Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense’
‘Dieu et Mon Droit’