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Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Ceramics, Room 139, The Curtain Foundation Gallery

Loving Cup
1953
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This cup was designed by Milner Gray (1899-1997), an eminent twentieth century artist and designer who was a key figure in British industrial design. Throughout his career, Gray was often commissioned to design royal coats of arms, and was invited to do so by the Council of Industrial Design for Queen Elizabeth II's coronation in 1953. Commemorating royal events with ceramic souvenirs has long been a popular practice.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Title
Materials and techniques
Earthenware, glazed, with black transfer-printed decoration and additions of pink applied by hand.
Brief description
Loving cup, glazed earthenware, commemorating the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, designed by Milner Gray for Courage and Co. Ltd and made by Royal Doulton, 1953
Physical description
Cup with two handles, off-white with pink and black decoration. On one side there is a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II on a horse with the date '1953' above and the message 'Here's A Health Unto Her Majesty' below. On the other side the Royal Arms, Crown and Cypher are depicted.
Marks and inscriptions
  • HERE'S A HEALTH UNTO HER MAJESTY (On front below portrait)
  • MADE FOR COURAGE AND COMPANY LIMITED - LONDON - DESIGNED BY MILNER GRAY. BREWERS SINCE 1787 (On base)
Credit line
Given by Hilary Perraton in memory of Freda Lingstrom
Object history
This cup was originally given by the designer Milner Gray to his friend Freda Lingstrom, who was the Head of BBC Children's Television in the 1950s.
Subjects depicted
Summary
This cup was designed by Milner Gray (1899-1997), an eminent twentieth century artist and designer who was a key figure in British industrial design. Throughout his career, Gray was often commissioned to design royal coats of arms, and was invited to do so by the Council of Industrial Design for Queen Elizabeth II's coronation in 1953. Commemorating royal events with ceramic souvenirs has long been a popular practice.
Collection
Accession number
C.8-2015

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Record createdNovember 20, 2014
Record URL
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