Empire Porcelain Co. Ceramic Invalid Feeding Cup with Red Cross Symbol c.1938

This is a classic example of an invalid feeding cup produced by the Empire Porcelain Company, which was founded in 1896 at the Empire Works in Stoke.

The piece has a cup-shaped body, tapering in towards the discoid base. The top has an almost semi-circular opening, with an undulating edge, opposite the elongated, integral spout. The small looped handle is applied at a 90-degree angle to this.

The top of the feeding cup is transfer-printed with a red circle containing a white cross. In addition, the rim of the opening, the spout, the edge of the cup and the handle are all gilded.

The base is transfer-printed with the words ‘EMPIRE WARE ENGLAND’ flanked by the numbers ‘7’ and ’38’. According to the ‘Encyclopaedia of British Pottery and Porcelain Marks’ by Geoffrey A. Godden, the numbers are the potting month and year, which means this piece was produced in July of 1938.

It has a maximum height of approximately 5.8cm, with a maximum length of 13.0cm and a diameter across the base of about 5.2cm.

It has an unwrapped weight of 160g.

It is in excellent condition, with no chips or cracks.