Commemorative Wares

Commemorative items have been produced for centuries to celebrate landmark events in our social history. Since the invention of transfer printing in the 1750s, British manufacturers spearheaded the mass production of decorative porcelain; this proved especially lucrative when producing commemorative souvenirs en masse. This is part of the reason why the vast majority of collectible pieces on the market are either pottery or porcelain.

Legacy Antiques is pleased to offer a broad selection of good quality antique and vintage commemorative wares, from pottery and porcelain to glass and books spanning three centuries.

Events relating to the British Royal family are still a popular subject for collecting; from the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953 to the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton in 2011, pieces have been designed and produced to celebrate these occasions.

Companies such as Wade, Beswick, Royal Doulton, and Aynsley produced pieces to suit all tastes and budgets, from fine bone china trios to everyday ceramic beakers.

Whitefriars Glass produced particularly fine pieces for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II; glassware is less commonly seen than the popular mass-produced ceramic counterparts. In addition to this, I offer glassware designed by Frank Thrower for Dartington Glass during the 1970s and 1980s, including the iconic FT1 tankards and FT2 paperweights.