Teacup thumbnail 1
On display
Image of Gallery in South Kensington

Teacup

ca. 1938 (made)
Artist/Maker
Susie Cooper China Ltd. (manufacturer)
Cooper, Susie (designer)
Place of origin
Burslem (made)

Earthenware cup with a cream-coloured body, of Falcon shape. Decorated with a narrow turquoise band near the base of the foot ring and on the interior, just below the rim, a further narrow turquoise band.

Object details

Categories
Ceramics
Earthenware
Object type
Teacup
Materials and techniques
Earthenware
Earthenware
Brief description
Cup with turquoise bands, designed by Susie Cooper, made by Susie Cooper Pottery, Burslem, ca.1938
Physical description
Earthenware cup with a cream-coloured body, of Falcon shape. Decorated with a narrow turquoise band near the base of the foot ring and on the interior, just below the rim, a further narrow turquoise band.
Dimensions
  • Height: 6.5cm
  • Width: 10.8cm (Note: including handle)
  • Diameter: 9cm
Gallery label
(2021)
The new tastemakers

In Britain between the wars, businesses sprang up to cater to a middle-class market of homemakers with an interest in modern design. Retailers altered their advertising to fit more progressive tastes. Manufacturers adopted new and sometimes cost-effective techniques of making furniture and products. The armchair and freestanding bookcase are by London-based furniture producer Isokon, using new methods of bending plywood. The tea set, produced by pottery entrepreneur Susie Cooper, is made from earthenware, an affordable alternative to bone china.

Plywood armchair
Short chair, 1936
Designed by Marcel Breuer
Manufactured by Isokon Furniture Company, UK
Laminated birch and zebrano veneer frame with moulded plywood seat
Given by Mr and Mrs Dennis Young
Museum no. CIRC.80-1975

Freestanding plywood bookcase
Penguin Donkey, 1939
Designed by Egon Riss
Manufactured by Isokon Furniture Company, UK
Moulded and flat plywood
Given by Mr J.E. Tinkler
Museum no. W.19:1 to 3-1993

Items from a tea set, about 1938–39
Designed by Susie Cooper
Manufactured by Wood & Sons, decorated by Susie Cooper Pottery, UK
Earthenware with aerographed and banded decoration
Given by Mrs M. Collins
Museum no. C.100&A to E-1978

The object sits in the 'Housing and Leaving' section of the Design 1900-Now gallery opened in June 2021.
Credit line
Given by Mrs M. Collins
Object history
Part of a tea set C100 to E-1978.
Collection
Ceramics Collection
Accession number
C.100D-1978

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Record createdNovember 14, 2008
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O172551/teacup-cooper-susie/
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