Welcome to the New Year’s Eve edition of Teacup Tuesday, and today’s gorgeous Royal Stafford teacup! If this is your first Teacup Tuesday and you’re wondering what’s going on, you’ll find some background in this post. And as always, we’re starting out on Instagram.
Teacup Tuesday 31 December 2019
Happy Teacup – and New Year’s Eve – Tuesday! Wow what a gorgeous one we have today! I LOVE this black and gold – perfect for a celebration. And the pink in the center makes it even lovelier! It doesn’t show in this picture, but if you come over to the blog, you can see the flowers in the bottom of the cup too! Plus you’ll get lots of other photos and fun info on this beautiful Royal Stafford teacup. Just click the link in my profile or visit MANTELandTABLE.com. Let’s celebrate the new year!
Extra Royal Stafford Teacup Tidbits
I had New Years Eve in my mind from the moment I set eyes on this gorgeous teacup! I pictured a fabulous party in a beautiful ballroom.
You know how when you’ve planned an event and it’s going well, you sometimes want to stand back and watch it all? Let’s take a minute with a lovely cup of tea before joining in with the laughing, dancing, and toasting!
We’re in a gorgeous ballroom in a stately old stone building downtown. On the top floor with arched picture windows looking out over the river and the city lights. The floor is gold veined white marble, the walls are satiny paneling, and the air is pink with rosy lights and gauzy curtains. Gold streamers drip from the ornate plaster ceilings, and reflect in gilt framed mirrors.
White velvet chairs line the dance floor, and surround the tables in little groups throughout the rest of the big room. Each table holds gold candles and pink flowers, and gorgeous china to match our teacups. And gold rimmed crystal champagne flutes of course!
A band is playing, and handsome men in black tuxedos whirl beautiful women in elegant gowns around the dance floor. People are laughing, champagne corks are popping! And now that our tea is done – we’re off to join the celebration!
Manufacturer’s Info
When I looked up Royal Stafford, I got a modern company, started in 1994. Their website makes it clear that they only make earthenware, and don’t have any historical information on the old Royal Stafford China company.
(Which is odd, kind of, since the current Royal Stafford company seems to have been formed from the merger of the old Royal Stafford China and another company in 1992. You’d think they’d have gotten some records … ?) But Anyway.
Since our teacup says “Bone China” we can safely assume it was made by the previous Royal Stafford China company.
More research turned up the fact that Royal Stafford had been a brand name of a company called Thomas Poole and Gladstone China Ltd of Longton, Stoke-on-Trent England.
There was of course, an original Tomas Poole, who started the pottery in 1845. In 1860, a Mr Johnson joined him, whereupon they changed the name to Johnson & Poole. Thomas Poole Jr took over the business several years later. He’s credited with lots of improvements to the company and the industry, including the 21-piece tea set. (As opposed to the then standard 40-piece set!)
The company continued to pass from son to sons – with Mr Johnson exiting the firm in 1880 – and in 1925, they renamed it ‘Thomas Poole (Longton) Ltd.’ Then, in the late 1930’s they acquired Gladstone China Company. (I found at least three different dates for this merger, so we’ll just approximate.)
Finally in 1952, they took their trade name as the company name and became Royal Stafford China. They started using this backstamp around the same time, so our beautiful teacup could be anywhere from 27 – 67 years old. Click HERE for more pottery info.
Royal Stafford Teacup ~ Behind the Scenes
Oh dear! We had a small catastrophe with this one! I should have known better, but apparently I didn’t!
Even though this round table was too small for my panels, I thought it would probably be ok to leave the corners unsupported. But while I was trying to drape stuff over it, the back piece crashed down, taking my lights, fabric, and ribbons with it! And my panel got dented! What a mess!
But after I picked everything up off the floor, I went and got a larger sturdier, table. It was definitely not as pretty, but I wasn’t photographing the table, I told myself.
Fortunately, nothing happened to the teacup, and I’ll be able to use it tonight before we pop the champagne for the celebration of another year!
Teacup Shopping
If you love teacups as much as I do and want to start or add to your collection, Click HERE for the Shopping Page. Then scroll down and click on the picture of the teacup.
Have a Lovely New Year’s Eve Teacup Tuesday!
Another beautiful teacup with a dreamy story…I love it. I also love the dark interior and the light outer of the teacup pattern…so pretty. Thank goodness your beautiful cup was not damaged in the mishap!! I have had several myself…;) Happy New Year friend, enjoy the evening and your lovely teacup.
I know – I was so lucky it didn’t fall! 🙂 Thanks so much for always reading and commenting Denise! I hope you know how much it means and how much I truly value our friendship! 💗 I also hope you have a wonderful celebration tonight! Are you guys going out somewhere fancy?
I love your blog and I value our friendship as well Barbara 🙂 We never leave our neighborhood on NYE night…for fear of the obvious. Every year different friends throw a big bash, so we will stay close to home and enjoy the festivities 🙂
Oh that sounds like so much fun! 💖 And very smart! I on the other hand will be driving across town to dance to 70’s covers all night! Woo! 🎉
Be careful on those roads Barbara!
I sure will! 🙂
Happy New Years Eve, Barbara! This teacup is gorgeous and is perfect for the holiday. The celebration you described suits is wonderfully….what a dreamy New Years Eve Party! I wish you health and happiness in the New Year!!!
Hi Shannon! Thanks so much – I got off on a whole separate daydream about party dresses too! 🙂 I hope you have a wonderful New Years Eve as well, and thanks so much for being here! It’s been great meeting you and sharing all this fun with you this year! 💗