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Festival of Britain Tea Service

Teapot
1950-1951 (made)
Artist/Maker
Goodden, Robert Yorke (designer)
Durbin, Leslie (maker)
Place of origin
London (made)

Robert Goodden (1909-2002) was a nephew of R.M.Y. Gleadowe, the distinguished silver designer, and though trained as an architect began to design silver work while still a student at the Architectural Association. He was made a Royal Designer for Industry (RDI) in 1947 and later played a considerable part in the Festival of Britain, designing the Lion and Unicorn building. From 1948 to 1974 he was Professor of Silversmithing and Jewellery at the Royal College of Art, London; from 1967 to 1974, Pro-Rector of the Royal College. In 1956, he was made a CBE. He was Prime Warden of the Goldsmiths' Company, 1976-77.

Robert Goodden brought in as gifts on the 13th July, 1976, one working drawing, details and studies for the service including a detailed drawing for the sugar tongs and the couplets drawn out for the engraver. The couplets were written by Robert Goodden himself; at one point he intended elaborating them into a series of full scale poems but these were never realised.

Leslie Durbin (1913-2005), silversmith, was a pupil at the Central School of Arts and Crafts and whilst there held all the scholarships granted by the Goldsmiths' Company, including the Travelling Scholarship. Subsequently he carried on his workshop at Rochester Place, Camden Town, relinquishing it only late in 1975. He made the Stalingrad Sword in 1944 and much plate for City Livery Companies, universities and other official bodies. He taught for some time at the Royal College of Art.

Object details

Categories
Metalwork
Silver
Tea, Coffee & Chocolate Wares
Object type
Teapot
Parts
This object consists of 4 parts.

  • Hot Water Jug
  • Teapot
  • Sugar Bowl
  • Cream Jugs
TitleFestival of Britain Tea Service
Materials and techniques
Silver, parcel gilt
Silver
Gold
Raising
Casting
Engraving (Incising)
Gilding
Brief description
Hot water jug from a tea service, silver, parcel-gilt, London hallmarks for 1950-51, mark of Leslie Durbin, designed by Robert Goodden RDI, CBE.
Physical description
Festival of Britain Tea Service: hot water jug, teapot, milk jug, sugar bowl and tongs
Dimensions
  • M.176 1976 hot water jug height: 27cm (Note: At tallest point.)
  • M.176 1976 hot water jug width: 26cm (Note: At widest point.)
  • M.176 1976 hot water jug depth: 20cm
  • M.176 a 1976 teapot height: 19cm (Note: At tallest point.)
  • M.176 a 1976 teapot width: 24cm (Note: At widest point.)
  • M.176 a 1976 teapot depth: 32cm
  • M.176 b 1976 cream jug height: 12cm (Note: At tallest point.)
  • M.176 b 1976 cream jug width: 17cm (Note: At widest point.)
  • M.176 b 1976 cream jug depth: 13cm
  • M.176 c 1976 sugar bowl height: 11cm
  • M.176 b 1976 cream jug diameter: 16cm (Note: At widest point.)
Marks and inscriptions
  • London hallmarks for 1950-51, maker’s mark of Leslie Durbin, and the special mark of the Festival of Britain
  • Engraved and chased with marine imagery and rhyming couplets composed by the designer.
  • WATERS BEAR VESSELS / YET WHERE HOT MEETS COLD / ONE VESSEL HAS BOTH WATERS IN ITS HOLD / WHEN MOUNTAIN BUDS UNFOLD BENEATH THE SEA / THIRSTING AND QUENCHING SHALL EACH OTHER BE / UNNATURAL NATURE IF BY YOUR DESIGN / THE SWEETEST CRYSTALS SHOULD BE FOUND IN BRINE / WHITE FROM THE GREEN, PEARLS FROM THE EMERALD TURF / AND THE GREEN OCEAN CREAMING INTO SURF.
Gallery label
(12.12.2023)
Festival of Britain Tea Service
Silver and parcel-gilt
Designed by Robert Goodden and made by Leslie Durbin
London, 1950-51
Museum no. M.176:A-C-1976 & M.58-1996

This tea service was commissioned for the Royal Pavilion at the Festival of Britain, a national exhibition held on the south bank of the Thames in London in 1951. It was used by George VI and Queen Elizabeth at the opening. Goodden trained as an architect but began to design silverware while still a student. The service is engraved with marine life and Gooden’s own rhyming couplets.
1. FESTIVAL OF BRITAIN TEA SERVICE
Silver, parcel gilt
London 1950-1
Mark of Leslie Durbin MVO (b.1913)
Designed by Robert Goodden CBE RDI (b.1909)
Engraved and chased with marine imagery and rhyming couplets composed by the designer. WATERS BEAR VESSELS / YET WHERE HOT MEETS COLD / ONE VESSEL HAS BOTH WATERS IN ITS HOLD / WHEN MOUNTAIN BUDS UNFOLD BENEATH THE SEA / THIRSTING AND QUENCHING SHALL EACH OTHER BE / UNNATURAL NATURE IF BY YOUR DESIGN / THE SWEETEST CRYSTALS SHOULD BE FOUND IN BRINE / WHITE FROM THE GREEN, PEARLS FROM THE EMERALD TURF / AND THE GREEN OCEAN CREAMING INTO SURF.
This service was commissioned for the Royal Pavilion at the Festival of Britain (1951). The Museum finally acquired the missing tongs in 1996. Robert Goodden was trained as an architect but began to design silverware while still a student at the Architectural Association. He was Professor of Silversmithing at the Royal College of Art 1948-1974. His students have had a distinctive influence on the course of post war British design.
M.176a-c,-1976 M.58-1996
Object history
Designed by Robert Goodden, RDI., CBE., for the Royal Pavilion at the Festival of Britain.
Hot water jug: H 25.7 L 30.0
Teapot: H 18.5 L 32.0
Sugar Bowl: H. 10.5 Diam 16.5
Cream Jug: H 11.5 L 15.5

Summary
Robert Goodden (1909-2002) was a nephew of R.M.Y. Gleadowe, the distinguished silver designer, and though trained as an architect began to design silver work while still a student at the Architectural Association. He was made a Royal Designer for Industry (RDI) in 1947 and later played a considerable part in the Festival of Britain, designing the Lion and Unicorn building. From 1948 to 1974 he was Professor of Silversmithing and Jewellery at the Royal College of Art, London; from 1967 to 1974, Pro-Rector of the Royal College. In 1956, he was made a CBE. He was Prime Warden of the Goldsmiths' Company, 1976-77.

Robert Goodden brought in as gifts on the 13th July, 1976, one working drawing, details and studies for the service including a detailed drawing for the sugar tongs and the couplets drawn out for the engraver. The couplets were written by Robert Goodden himself; at one point he intended elaborating them into a series of full scale poems but these were never realised.

Leslie Durbin (1913-2005), silversmith, was a pupil at the Central School of Arts and Crafts and whilst there held all the scholarships granted by the Goldsmiths' Company, including the Travelling Scholarship. Subsequently he carried on his workshop at Rochester Place, Camden Town, relinquishing it only late in 1975. He made the Stalingrad Sword in 1944 and much plate for City Livery Companies, universities and other official bodies. He taught for some time at the Royal College of Art.
Bibliographic references
  • Robert Goodden and Philip Popham, Silversmithing, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 1971. figs. 41 & 42.
  • Carol Hogben ed. British Art and Design 1900-1960. London, V&A, pp. 182-3. ill.
Collection
Metalwork Collection
Accession number
M.176A-1976

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Record createdMarch 3, 2004
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O95026/festival-of-britain-tea-service-teapot-goodden-robert-yorke/
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