Cup and Saucer
ca.1847 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Commemorative items of pottery were tremendously popular in the 19th century and this cup and saucer would have been manufactured after the Swedish soprano Jenny Lind made her first remarkable appearance in London in 1847. Jenny Lind (1820-1887) was born Johanna Maria Lind in Stockholm and by the age of 25 was a leading figure of the opera houses of Sweden, Germany and France. Called 'the Swedish nightingale' for her beautiful voice, she was an overnight sensation in England after her first appearance in the country as Alice in Robert Le Diable at Her Majesty's Theatre on 4 May 1847, a performance attended by Queen Victoria, Prince Albert, Queen Adelaide and the Grand Duke Constantine, when crowds of people thronged in the Haymarket to glimpse her. The Times wrote the next day: 'that we never witnessed such a scene of enthusiasm as that displayed last night on the occasion of Mademoiselle Jenny Lind's début as Alice in an Italian version of Robert le Diable'.
This cup and saucer were made in the Burslem factory of Edward Challinor who began his career as an apprentice of J and R. Riley in Burslem in the area of Staffordshire known as 'the potteries', and started his own business in 1819 when he bought the Overhouse Pottery at Burslem. During his career Challinor used various backstamps identifying him as 'E.C', 'E. Challinor' and 'E & C. Challinor'. As a reference to Jenny Lind's soubriquet as 'the Swedish Nightingale', this cup and saucer include nightingales in their decoration. The inclusion of Lind's portrait at the bottom of the cup would have appeared as a charming surprise when the tea was drunk.
This cup and saucer were made in the Burslem factory of Edward Challinor who began his career as an apprentice of J and R. Riley in Burslem in the area of Staffordshire known as 'the potteries', and started his own business in 1819 when he bought the Overhouse Pottery at Burslem. During his career Challinor used various backstamps identifying him as 'E.C', 'E. Challinor' and 'E & C. Challinor'. As a reference to Jenny Lind's soubriquet as 'the Swedish Nightingale', this cup and saucer include nightingales in their decoration. The inclusion of Lind's portrait at the bottom of the cup would have appeared as a charming surprise when the tea was drunk.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts. (Some alternative part names are also shown below)
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| Materials and techniques | Glazed earthenware |
| Brief description | Glazed earthenware cup and saucer printed with a decorative floral and foliate pattern with curlicue and nightingales, and an image of Jenny Lind (1820-1887) 'the Swedish Nightingale'. Made by Edward Challinor, Staffordshire, ca.1847 |
| Physical description | Cup and saucer, transfer-printed in black with a decorative floral and foliate pattern with curlicue and nightingales around the rims of the cup and saucer, and an image of Jenny Lind (1820- 1887) 'the Swedish Nightingale' in the centre of each. The base of the saucer is printed in black with the backstamp of the manufacturer Edward Challinor, printed 'E. CHALLINOR' within a decorative scrolled border. |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Acquired with the support of the Friends of the V&A |
| Summary | Commemorative items of pottery were tremendously popular in the 19th century and this cup and saucer would have been manufactured after the Swedish soprano Jenny Lind made her first remarkable appearance in London in 1847. Jenny Lind (1820-1887) was born Johanna Maria Lind in Stockholm and by the age of 25 was a leading figure of the opera houses of Sweden, Germany and France. Called 'the Swedish nightingale' for her beautiful voice, she was an overnight sensation in England after her first appearance in the country as Alice in Robert Le Diable at Her Majesty's Theatre on 4 May 1847, a performance attended by Queen Victoria, Prince Albert, Queen Adelaide and the Grand Duke Constantine, when crowds of people thronged in the Haymarket to glimpse her. The Times wrote the next day: 'that we never witnessed such a scene of enthusiasm as that displayed last night on the occasion of Mademoiselle Jenny Lind's début as Alice in an Italian version of Robert le Diable'. This cup and saucer were made in the Burslem factory of Edward Challinor who began his career as an apprentice of J and R. Riley in Burslem in the area of Staffordshire known as 'the potteries', and started his own business in 1819 when he bought the Overhouse Pottery at Burslem. During his career Challinor used various backstamps identifying him as 'E.C', 'E. Challinor' and 'E & C. Challinor'. As a reference to Jenny Lind's soubriquet as 'the Swedish Nightingale', this cup and saucer include nightingales in their decoration. The inclusion of Lind's portrait at the bottom of the cup would have appeared as a charming surprise when the tea was drunk. |
| Associated objects |
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| Bibliographic reference | |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.1655:1 to 2-2014 |
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| Record created | July 31, 2014 |
| Record URL |
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