Teacup, saucer and plate set
Classification(s):
Pottery
Date: c. 1951-1976
Designer: Susie Cooper (1902 - 1995)
Organisation: Susie Cooper Pottery
Dimensions:
80 × 160 mm (8 × 16 cm)
Medium: Bone China
Object number: P8
See Also
Place of Production:England
DescriptionMatching set comprising teacup, saucer and plate. Shape and pattern designed by Susie Cooper. Manufactured in England, c.1950s. The bone china set has a lithograph transfer print of a modernist geometric design of flower heads and dots on a green background. The outside of the teacup has small good dots with a gold band to the handle and foot.
Makers mark to base of each piece “Susie Cooper Bone China England”.
The tea cup has 2 large cracks, the saucer has a large crack and a chip to the rim.
A paper label “P8” is attached to the base of the plate and saucer.
The saucer has a secondary I.L.E.A number painted on the base “456-A”.
The teacup has an I.L.E.A number painted on the base “456-A”.
It appears the original number for the set was “P8” but was renumbered at a later date to “456-A”.
Makers mark to base of each piece “Susie Cooper Bone China England”.
The tea cup has 2 large cracks, the saucer has a large crack and a chip to the rim.
A paper label “P8” is attached to the base of the plate and saucer.
The saucer has a secondary I.L.E.A number painted on the base “456-A”.
The teacup has an I.L.E.A number painted on the base “456-A”.
It appears the original number for the set was “P8” but was renumbered at a later date to “456-A”.
ProvenanceThis object was originally acquired for the Inner London Education Authority’s (ILEA) ‘Circulating Design Scheme’ collection.
The collection was instigated by the London Country Council (later the Greater London Council) and the Council of Industrial Design (COID). The collection’s original purpose was concerned with the teaching and dissemination of modern, ‘good design’.
The collection was established in 1951/52 as the ‘Experiment in Design Appreciation’, later renamed the ‘Circulating Design Scheme’.
The Circulating Design Scheme lent boxed showcases to London schools. The showcases contained handling objects, material samples and interpretation on a specific subject.
COID withdrew its involvement in the Scheme in 1957. After which time, it was managed exclusively by the London County Council from 1957-1963.
After the administrative restructuring of London authorities, the Scheme was jointly managed by the Greater London Council and the Inner London Education Authority (ILEA) from 1963 – 1976.
The Scheme was operational until 1976 when the collections were withdrawn from circulation. ILEA was abolished in the late 1980s and the collection was donated to Camberwell College of Arts in 1989/90.
ILEA was responsible for secondary and tertiary education in the inner London boroughs, this included Camberwell.
The collection was instigated by the London Country Council (later the Greater London Council) and the Council of Industrial Design (COID). The collection’s original purpose was concerned with the teaching and dissemination of modern, ‘good design’.
The collection was established in 1951/52 as the ‘Experiment in Design Appreciation’, later renamed the ‘Circulating Design Scheme’.
The Circulating Design Scheme lent boxed showcases to London schools. The showcases contained handling objects, material samples and interpretation on a specific subject.
COID withdrew its involvement in the Scheme in 1957. After which time, it was managed exclusively by the London County Council from 1957-1963.
After the administrative restructuring of London authorities, the Scheme was jointly managed by the Greater London Council and the Inner London Education Authority (ILEA) from 1963 – 1976.
The Scheme was operational until 1976 when the collections were withdrawn from circulation. ILEA was abolished in the late 1980s and the collection was donated to Camberwell College of Arts in 1989/90.
ILEA was responsible for secondary and tertiary education in the inner London boroughs, this included Camberwell.
NotesThis object was circulated to London schools as part of the Inner London Education Authority’s (I.L.E.A) Circulating Design Scheme, which operated from 1951-1976. Operating in its earliest guise as the ‘Experiment in Design Appreciation’ c.1952, the cup, saucer and side plate featured in the initial ‘Pottery’ group. Therefore, this object dates to the inception of the Scheme and was present in the earliest formative displays. Photograph of display © Design Council / University of Brighton Design Archives.
After being rejected by the Royal College of Art, Susie Cooper began working for local potter A.E. Gray (Grays Pottery) in 1922 as a paintress. With a desire to design shapes as well as patterns, she left Gray’s to establish Susie Cooper Pottery in 1929. Cooper initially bought white ware from various manufacturers and added her own designs, she designed her first shapes in 1930 using Wood & Sons Ltd. as the manufacturer. At the same time lithograph patterns were developed, signalling a departure away from predominately hand painted wares. By smartly decorating modern shapes, Cooper’s output appealed to the middle-class market that bought into the vogue for stylish designer tableware but had limited budgets. Cooper supplied tableware to retailers such as John Lewis, Harrods, Selfridges and Heal's.
After being rejected by the Royal College of Art, Susie Cooper began working for local potter A.E. Gray (Grays Pottery) in 1922 as a paintress. With a desire to design shapes as well as patterns, she left Gray’s to establish Susie Cooper Pottery in 1929. Cooper initially bought white ware from various manufacturers and added her own designs, she designed her first shapes in 1930 using Wood & Sons Ltd. as the manufacturer. At the same time lithograph patterns were developed, signalling a departure away from predominately hand painted wares. By smartly decorating modern shapes, Cooper’s output appealed to the middle-class market that bought into the vogue for stylish designer tableware but had limited budgets. Cooper supplied tableware to retailers such as John Lewis, Harrods, Selfridges and Heal's.