Wednesday 30 January 2013

Eileen Soper nursery china - part two

A few more pieces from my collection. Designed by Eileen Soper for the Playtime series and made by Paragon.


Paragon China began as the Star China Co., owned by Herbert Aynsley and Hugh Irving. The name Paragon was adopted as a trade mark in around 1900 and the company formally became known as Paragon China Ltd. in 1919. The name was selected deliberately to allude to excellence and quality of product.


Paragon was fortunate enough to receive continued royal patronage, initially from the Duchess of York in 1926 and again from Queen Mary in 1933, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother in 1938 and Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.
The Eileen Soper illustration in the background is from The runaway kitten by Enid Blyton 



The company manufactured bone china wares and during the inter-war period established a reputation for producing high-quality tea and table wares. Nursery and toy wares were also a speciality having been part of the Star China product line since 1904. 


I love the rose and thistle design on the handle of this mug, but I'm not sure how robust it would have been in the hands of a child! 
The Eileen Soper illustration in the background is from Jolly little jumbo by Enid Blyton



The design on the left is from a nursery plate and the illustration on the right is from 
Polly Piglet written by Enid Blyton and illustrated by Eileen Soper



Eileen Soper included her signature on all her nursery pieces


Dogs featured in lots of the designs, but the little mouse is more unusual.

Previous Eileen Soper post here

Thanks for looking, Barbara.

15 comments:

  1. LOVE! I just ordered some cute nursery plates for my 5 day old Grand niece. We're hosting a baby shower in her honor next week and I wanted to get something sweet for her.

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  2. barbaraannefisher30 January 2013 at 21:08

    Hi Gayle I bet mum, and baby will love those. Maybe it will be the start of a collection!

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  3. These are so adorable. I can't believe anything this precious exists.

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  4. barbaraannefisher31 January 2013 at 10:47

    Hi Donna, I’m glad you like them. They are incredibly delicate and very pretty and not really designed for little hands, and that’s probably why I collect them.

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  5. barbaraannefisher31 January 2013 at 15:50

    Thanks Joleene.
    I've just read Donna's review http://dmyatesbelieveinyourself.blogspot.co.uk/ and can't wait to get started on your books

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  6. Oh Barbara! Need I tell you that I love these beauties?
    They are fantastic!!! Those images of little girls and boys...that handle... I agree with you it seems a bit fragile but I always think "thank you to those clever parents that don't give these plates and cups to their children so that today we can enjoy them so much" haha, don't you think so?
    Congratulations!

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  7. barbaraannefisher31 January 2013 at 21:41

    Hello Silvina, I thought you would like them. I agree about the clever parents. It was so nice of them to keep all these lovely things so that we could enjoy them now!

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  8. Barbara

    If I could find these in Australia, I'd be all over them. I couldn't imagine using them though, be too scared to damage one.

    While I just love all of them, in particular the little cup with the flower handle just stands right out - these really are the best nursery china - they just ooze quality.

    You are very lucky to own them and thanks for sharing- I wouldn't have known they existed otherwise.

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  9. These are so precious. Love them! I can't get over how beautiful they are. Thanks for sharing. I love the bowl!

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  10. Such unique pieces, those are adorable :) I love the dog illustration in the last photo.

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  11. barbaraannefisher1 February 2013 at 16:38

    Thanks Nikki-Ann, needles to say, but I think so too.

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  12. barbaraannefisher1 February 2013 at 16:46

    Hi Michelle,
    Maybe you will find them now that you know about them – that sometimes happens to me. I see something online and then it turns up on one of my days out. It must be something to do with being made aware. Thanks for calling in.

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  13. barbaraannefisher1 February 2013 at 19:08

    Stephanie and Hilde, thank you!

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I really appreciate your comment. Thank you!
Barbara xx