๐ธ A Tapestry in a Teacup Trio by Paragon Star ๐ธ
Imagine a tea set that escaped from a Victorian ladyโs sewing basket! This Paragon Star trio is a delightful masquerade, where sturdy English bone china pretends to be a soft, hand-stitched masterpiece. ๐งตโจ
๐ธ A Garden Sewn in Porcelain ๐ธ
The cup, saucer, and plate are adorned with a "Sampler" pattern that looks exactly like cross-stitch embroidery. Instead of brushstrokes, the tiny pink roses, golden buttercups, and forget-me-not blues are made of hundreds of miniature "X" marks. Itโs as if a meadow was captured, one careful stitch at a time, and frozen in time beneath a shiny glaze. ๐ธ๐ก
โ๏ธ The Scalloped "Cloud" Plate โ๏ธ
The plate is the true star of the show! Rather than a simple circle, its edges are sculpted into a rare, scalloped silhouetteโit looks like a fluffy white cloud drifting across a summer sky, or perhaps the ruffled hem of a lace apron. This "Queen Anne" shape gives the set a regal, wavy personality that catches the light in a game of hide-and-seek. โ๏ธ๐
๐ A Checkerboard Border ๐
Tying the whole garden together is a whimsical checkerboard rim. A tiny parade of emerald green and sky-blue squares marches around the edges, resembling the neat, finished border of a handmade tapestry. Itโs the perfect frame for a "stitch-perfect" afternoon tea. ๐๐ต
๐ The Finishing Touch ๐
The handle of the cup is dainty and elegant, arched like a silver spoon, inviting you to lift it for a sip of something magical. When you flip them over, the little Black Star mark whispers of its 1929 birthday, a tiny celestial seal of approval from a bygone era of elegance. ๐โจ
๐ The Birth Certificate: 1929 ๐
This set was officially registered in 1929. In the world of antique china, this makes it a "Jazz Age" baby! While it looks like a cozy, old-fashioned sampler, it was actually born right as the world was transitioning from the roaring 20s into the sleek Art Deco era.
๐ The pattern was a clever "modern-vintage" look for 1929โusing the new technology of the time to mimic the look of hand-sewn embroidery from the 1800s.
๐ Most tea sets of the time were perfectly round for easy stacking, but this wavy edge on an oval shape was much harder to fire in the kiln without warping. It was a luxury shape meant for high-end tea rooms and special guests.
๐ The black star on the back is the calling card of the Star China Company, which was the original name for Paragon.
๐ 1923โ1933 ๐
This specific star mark was only used during this narrow window.
๐ The Transition ๐
By 1930, the company officially changed its name to "Paragon China Ltd," so this set is one of the very last to carry the ancestral "Star" mark before the company became the royal giant we know today.
๐ Whimsical Tidbit ๐
Because this pattern was registered in 1929, it would have been at the height of fashion just as the Duchess of York (the future Queen Mother) began commissioning Paragon for her own nurseries! Itโs very likely that while this set was being made, the factory was buzzing with excitement over their royal visitors.
There is some light staining in the cup and what looks to be some marking made in manufacturing on the bottom of the side plate. Please see photos.
Please Note: There could be small imperfections, including stray decorator marks, tiny areas of missing glaze, little rough spots, etc. This is not damage as production techniques were not quite as professional as they are today and are considered as part of their charm.
All items are in vintage and antique preloved condition. Some minor surface scratches may be present. I do my best to note and photograph any wear. Please contact me with any further questions :)