Message Boards

For those of you who are English or love English things:

Is this a souvenir set or legitimate English respected dishware?

On our Craigslist for $85
Just curious.
says:
In perfect condition.

- Set includes:
x1 Gravy Boat
x1 Sugar Bowl
x1 Tall Teapot
x6 Cups
x6 Saucers
x6 Plates

21 piece Vintage Queen's Castle Alfred Meakin set - $85

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Mary Ruth,

It is not a souvenir set. There's a bit of the pattern for sale on eBay and very little available at Replacements.com. I couldn't find the age of the pieces in the quick research I did, but it appears that the Alfred Meakin name was used from the late 1800's up to the 1980's.

Thanks Gracie. I saw you post and went onto eBay and Replacements (high cost) and there was a dish set to match this for $795!
Hard to see what is worth what till you do research!
I liked the gray/brown with pale blue... thinking it over...

Not a gravy boat...it's a creamer.

I would assume, too, that it is the real deal. Just looking at it, I would assume that it's probably 50s, 60s?

Martha

Mary Ruth, do they show the maker's mark in the Craigslist ad? Here's a pic of one from some vintage plates listed online. It says they are detergent and acid resisting colour which means they are not *really* old (antique) because in 'the olden days' dishes were washed with soap and no one was concerned with whether they were detergent proof. The oldest transferware I have only has the pattern and manufacturer's name. The newest stuff will say 'dishwasher safe' and even 'microwave safe'.

It's a nice set and would be lovely displayed in a china cabinet altho unless you serve tea a lot most of it is not very useful I find. I have several tea sets that are never used but do look pretty! And that is a pretty pattern. Altho have to admit there are few transferware patterns I don't like!

quote:

Originally posted by Mary Ruth:
Is this a souvenir set or legitimate English respected dishware?

If it's really Queen's Castle Alfred Meakin it's as legitimate as dish sets get. I expect the same set is in many English homes and used daily for tea. Probably sold all over the world these days tho and many only displayed.

Edited to add: The set you are considering may have a different Maker's Mark as those changed over the years even when the pattern didn't. Dishes began to be made detergent, dishwasher, and microwave safe as this became necessary. This pic is from here in case you want some plates! http://www.bonanza.com/listing...nner-Plates/10117742

This message has been edited. Last edited by: joyluck,

Thanks so much for the great responses. Yes, she provided a photo of the markings. She called the set 'vintage' and not antique, so I am sure it is from the 60's or thereabouts.

Would be nice to have plates too, since I serve scones and treats with my tea time.

I am thinking of this type of thing (tea sets) now because the holidays are coming up and our children do not have tea time. I have a few tea pots and serve tea whenever I have company. The cooler weather makes me think of tea time too.

This is the tea pot so the edges are different (unglazed it looks like). same wording as one show above.

The wording could be off (about gravy boat) because where I live there are a lot of retired and their children come down to empty the estate when their parents are too ill to do it themselves, or pass on. So, sometimes the history of items are lost or not known.

I think I liked it because it reminds me of the transferware type tea sets I saw in Nova Scotia on the farm, has that rural quality to it.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Mary Ruth,

Mary Ruth I have a Koval's china markings book and I will look up when that marking was used.

I don't believe it is old and it is not a pattern that is too desirable. I believe the pot is a coffee pot, not tea.

Only you can decide if the price is right for you there are 29 pieces (count the lids) and divide that into $85 you have about $3 each.

If you love it is it worth it. If you feel questioning maybe it isn't.

Mary Ruth I did check this trademark and it was not in my book. Nor did replacements.com have any samples of this pattern.

the detergent warning is an indication of its age. Maybe '70's?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: lady of shallot,

Thanks for your research for me. I am going to pass. IF I really like something it is 'instant' and this just was not. That should tell me something! DH said, hey at a third that price he would check it out, but not that amount. LOL

This set may be older than you think. The words "Made in (country of origin)" weren't used until after 1914. Prior to that only the name of the country was stamped on the bottom. Kovel's is the most reliable source for information, though.

Thanks Cavin!

Some of the farms I lived around had sets like this to serve tea and coffee in. They didn't own the gold plated stuff, but their tea and home baked goods were so good!

I think LOS is correct, that it is a coffee pot and not a tea pot. Teapots are usually squattier and rounder.

I love it! I love transferware, and I love that set. However, I agree about the price. It sounds like you have already decided against it, but at half that price I would probably snap it up if I had a use for it.

MR, it's a nice set. They have lots of different patterns in dishes like these. A popular one around here was the Friendly Village. The prices are not as high now as they once were. I can see where it would remind you of your childhood home though.

Keep looking. Do you have any flea markets around there? I know for me, I'd definetly want the dinner plates with it.

VG,
I had located 6 dinner plates on eBay to go with them! But now have changed my mind once I saw brown transfer ware in other patterns! Now that I am on the look out I am sure I will find something!

MR, like I said, I see these plates all the time. It is harder to find a complete set of anything but the plates are pretty easy to find. If you have a flea market, check it out. Our second hand stores often have them in. Even if they don't have a complete setting, if you keep looking, you will eventually find them.

Thanks VG!

do check the underside marks...so many of the former fine bone china made in england pieces are now being produced in china! that includes lenox china, too...

sjf,
GOOD TO KNOW, thanks for the heads up!

Oh my gee, Mary Ruth, I just started following you on pinterest and it has totally changed my pinterest feed forever! In a very good way! It will take me awhile to wade through all the eye candy. (I'm posting this on this thread since it is your most recent thread, and I didn't want to start another one or highjack someone else's.)

Nitalynn,
So HAPPY you are HAPPY! Eye candy is wonderful isn't it?

I search and pin when I am in a mood for certain items or features. Then when the topic comes up somewhere, if I have some photos saved, I share.

I love that most of the photos have their links so that it saves all the documentation and trying to match sources with photos.

Thanks for sharing with us!