KING EDWARD VII, C-1900'S, SUPERB SUPER FINE QUALITY BONE CHINA LARGE TEA CUP, SAUCER AND SIDE PLATE/SAUCER, FROM THE OFFICIAL STATE DINNER SERVICE, FROM THE KINGS VERY OWN YACHT, THE HMY 'VICTORIA & ALBERT III'.

PRODUCED BY THE FAMOUS FIRM OF COPELAND SPODE, WHOM SUPPLIED THE YACHTS AND SOME OF THE PALACES WITH THE STATE DINNER SERVICES. MAKERS MARKS TO REVERSE, POSSIBLY A DATE STAMP, HARD TO MAKE OUT BUT ONE IS FOR '08' FOR ONE ASSUMES 1908.

IN THE GOLD & ROYAL BLUE PATTERN FOR THE MAIN YACHT, SOMETIMES REFERED TO AS THE GARTER SERVICE.

THE DECORATION FEATURES A SIMPLE REPEATING DESIGN AROUND THE EDGE, THE CYPHER GARTER CREST OF THE YACHT TO THE CENTER OF BOTH THE CUP & SAUCER, SO BEAUTIFULLY DONE, TRANSFER WITH HAND PAINTED BLUE AND GOLD DECORATION, SUCH HIGH QUALITY, SUPERB, ALL OF WHICH IS HAND PAINTED AND EXECUTED IN REAL 24K GOLD PAINT AND GILDING.

THIS PATTERN WAS IN USE ALL THE WAY UP UNTIL THE FINAL DAYS OF BRITANNIA IN 1997.

USED ON BOARD THE FAMOUS YACHT FOR OFFICIAL STATE DINNERS THAT WOULD HAVE FEATURED THE CREAM OF WORLD SOCIETY, INCLUDING ALL THE MAJOR ROYAL FAMILY'S OF THE WORLD INCLUDING OUR OWN. THE GERMAN KAISER SO ADMIRED THIS PARTICULAR SERVICE WHILST DINING ON THE YACHT DURING COWES WEEK HE HAD IT COPIED FOR HIS OWN YACHT.
ROYAL YACHT CHINA IS VERY RARE AND RARELY COMES ONTO THE MARKET. ALL ROYAL YACHT CHINA IS FOR THE MOST PART HELD BY THE CROWN. IT ONLY EVER COMES ONTO THE OPEN MARKET IF ITS GIFTED BY A MEMBER OF THE ROYAL FAMILY OR DISPOSED OF IF ITS DAMAGED OR BROKEN. THE MAJORITY OF THE ROYAL YACHT SERVICE WAS KEPT BY THE QUEEN AFTER BRITANNIA WAS DECOMMISSIONED IN 1997. IT WAS TRANSFERRED TO FROGMORE ON THE WINDSOR ESTATE ALONG WITH OTHER FIXTURES AND FITTINGS FROM THE YACHT. ITS USED AT FROGMORE IN A DINNING ROOM FULLY EQUIPPED WITH FURNITURE FROM THE YACHT. THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH REGULARLY HOLD DINNERS OR EVENTS WITHIN THE ROOM TO SUPPORT HIS CHARITIES.

THIS EXAMPLE CAME FROM A COLLECTION OF ROYAL YACHT CHINA GIFTED TO AN EX ROYAL YACHT CREW MEMBER.

THE SET IS IN USED BUT FAIR CONDITION, THE GILDING ON THE CUP IS NEAR MINT BAR SOME VERY SLIGHT WARE, AN EXCEPTIONAL PIECE, NOT HAD ONE OF THESE LARGE TEA CUPS BEFORE, RARE. BOTH SAUCERS ARE IN GOOD ORDER, NO CHIPS, CRACKS OR RESTORATION, BUT THE GUILDING, THROUGH USE, HAS WORN OFF THE CENTRAL GARTER WITH THE SHIPS NAME, ALTHOUGH IN THE RIGHT LIGHT YOU CAN SEE CLEARLY "ROYAL YACHT".
A SET OF TRUE BEAUTY.

THE BEST PIECE IN THIS PATTERN I HAVE YET HAD, NO DAMAGE, NO REPAIRS. THIS SERVICE FOR THIS KING IN NEAR PERFECT CONDITION, THESE ARE ALWAYS USUALLY BROKEN, CHIPPED OR CRACKED, THIS EXAMPLE IS NEAR MINT, NO DAMAGE, NO RESTORATION, A RARE OPPORTUNITY.

A MUSEUM PIECE.

EACH SAUCER/SIDE PLATE 7" & 6" ACROSS.

CUP JUST UNDER 2.5" TALL, 5" WIDE.

I BOUGHT A COLLECTION, ALL FROM THE SAME SOURCE, FROM THE ESTATE OF AN EX ROYAL YACHTSMAN, PLEASE CHECK MY OTHER LISTINGS FOR A PERFECT MATCHING TRIO TEA SET, AND MATCHING COFFEE CUPS.