Ashtead Potters Limited (1923-1935), a Christopher Robin Nursery earthenware part tea set
c.1928, printed with maker’s text, design numbers and numbers from the set
Comprising: a tea pot and cover no.7, 2 cups both no.4, 2 saucers both no.5 (different sizes), 2 milk jugs no.10 and no.11 (different sizes) and a sugar bowl no.23, each piece underglaze printed in colours with various characters from the A.A. Milne children's books illustrated by E.H. Sheppard, on a cream ground
Tea pot 10.5 cm high, 17 cm wide (8)
Note: The complete nursery set comprises 24 pieces, each is printed with a number from 1 to 24 and also with various Design Registration numbers. The first Winnie the Pooh book was published in 1926 and the first complete set of this nursery ware was given to the Duke and Duchess of York when they visited the pottery in 1928. Apparently, the second set was given to A.A Milne’s son, the original Christopher Robin. The Ashtead pottery was set up to offer work to disabled veterans from the First World War, but sadly due to a combination of factors, competition, the depression and the death of its founder Sir Lawrence Weaver, it closed at the beginning of 1935.Design numbers: 740056, 740058, 740061, 740355, 740356, 740358.
Tea pot: a few stains on the base and base of spout, with some crazing to the interior base, slightly discoloured. A few tiny speckss in the glaze. A small glaze flaw to the end on the collar on the cover.
All others: A few marks and tiny specks in the glaze. Light natural wear, some light crazing to the glaze.
Overall the set is in good condition.