God Save The Queen!

It's OK, I know we have a King now...but yesterday Bob and I had a day out in Diss and visited an establishment which sells old tools/militaria/army surplus/catering supplies/ etc etc etc. Gillings of Diss brands itself as "East Anglia's biggest Aladdin's Cave" and it certainly is. Bob had two items on his 'wishlist' - and the retail price of the cheaper item [Maun parallel pliers] was £28. We came away with those [new and unused], and three other items - for a total cost of £30. Result! I found a Coronation Mug from 1953. Well - more  of a tankard really, it is way bigger than your average mug. 

It measures 4½" high - and holds well over a pint, and was designed by Robert Guyatt. As you see, the design incorporates the Lion and the Unicorn, the Crown, and" 1953“- inside the gold rimmed mug are the words "God Save the Queen" 

According to the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, [who own a mug just like this] "Richard Gerald Talbot Guyatt CBE (1914-2007) began his career as a freelance graphic designer with posters for Shell-Mex and BP and book illustrations. At the Royal College of Art, where he was a professor from 1948 and later rector, he led the introduction of education in graphic design and influenced subsequent expansion into typography, illustration, printmaking, photography, film and television design.

From 1952-55 and 1967-70 Guyatt was consultant designer to Wedgwood and this commemorative mug for the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953 was the first of his Wedgwood designs to be put into large scale production. The company had revived the use of engraved designs in the mid 1930s – a mode of decoration which allowed the artist’s own work and ‘hand-writing’ to be reproduced in a factory setting, and well suited to Guyatt’s style. He also designed Wedgwood commemorative mugs for the Prince of Wales's Investiture in 1969 and several royal weddings. Guyatt’s other commissions included stamps, the WH Smith logo and packaging for Anchor butter.

I found the mug at the rear of a dingy shed, at the back of a shelf of plain white china. It was exceedingly grubby, and I took it to the bloke and asked how much. He looked at me and said "Three Quid?" "OK that's fine" I said [I'd been prepared for anything up to £10 for a mug this size!] It is very mid-century in design, reminiscent of the artwork of the 1951 Festival of Britain. I like it. 

Checking online, I see that optimists are advertising them for sale at prices between £30 and £300, and one recently sold at auction for £360. I shall keep mine and put a pot plant in it.

Following the incident with the Sylvanian Meerkats last month, I spotted some in a CS in Diss - but now priced at £15 for a box [previously £3:50] They had six sets on the shelf. But I wonder if they will sell at that price in the CS, where all the other toys are £5 or less?