Blackpool Seaside Memorabilia - Index and Introduction

Blackpool Civic Trust hold a collection of Blackpool Seaside Memorabilia. This page holds the index and the pages after it a photographic display of the collection.

Item 34 Small Ornamental 'Salver'

 

Blackpool Civic Trust Seaside Memorabilia - Introduction

Collecting heraldic porcelain miniatures or 'crested china' was something of a national pastime especially in late Victorian and Edwardian times. A visit to a seaside resort provided the perfect opportunity to add to one's collection and what better place than Blackpool to find something memorable.

Blackpool Civic Trust's collection of mainly seaside memorabilia was built-up largely through the efforts of earlier Executive Committees, as well as by the generosity of many individual donors, who recognised the heritage importance of the artefacts to Blackpool's story and took steps to preserve them (see below for known donors).

The pottery firm W.H. Goss of Stoke-on-Trent began manufacturing crested china in the 1880s and many examples of their seaside ornaments are featured in the following pages. Other well-know British manufacturers whose products are to be found in the collection include Florentine, Grafton and Willow Art. There are several examples of ornaments made by European manufacturers.

 

The Civic Trust collection provides an insight into what holiday-makers and visitors to Blackpool mostly fondly remembered about the resort, and what memories they wished to share with families and friends. Not surprisingly, it is Blackpool's famous attractions that proved the most appealing.

Some of those attractions are nationally listed. The Tower, which is the most popular subject, has a Grade 1 listing. Other listed buildings or structures include the Winter Gardens (Grade 11*) and North Pier (Grade II). There are also ornaments featuring the Great Wheel (1896-1928) and
Blackpool Pleasure Beach, which has its own individually listed attractions. In addition, there are a few interesting examples that depict historic scenes of Princess Parade and Talbot Square

These assorted artefacts, then, offer a colourful mini-narrative of Blackpool's much-loved seaside heritage.

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Thanks to all those who made donations to the collection, including Pat Diminuentes, Tom Lowe, Barry Shaw, Elaine Smith, the late Joan Greenhalgh, the late Yvonne Greatorix and the late Tony Schofield. The Civic Trust would be delighted to hear from any donors whose names don't appear here, so they may be added.

Thanks to Barry Shaw for permission to use information from his article, 'Crested China Souvenirs', Heritage Blackpool, Issue 28, Winter ed., 2019.

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Page 1 - Items 1 to 20

 

Item/Fig no	Description	Condition/Comments
1	Small vase with panoramic view of Tower & Wheel	Fair/cracks inside rim
Fig 1a	Small vase detail	See above
2	Small Tower with crude base	Good
3	Teapot with 2 coat-of-arms	Good
Fig 3a	Lancashire coat of arms	See above
4	Imperial Hydopathetic Hotel porcelain cup	Fair plus/lettering starting to rub away
5	Glazed teapot - "Pleasure Beach"	Good.
Fig 5a	Detail showing coloured, mottled glaze	See above
6	Doubled handed ornamental vase (?). "Busy Day at Blackpool"	Good.
Fig 6a	Back of vase above.	See above
7	Small jug	Good minus/lettering starting to fade a little
8	Small vase with view of Blackpool from sea	Fair/a little grubby & faded image
9	Small bell	Good minus/light colours starting to fade a little
10	Simple decorative cup	Good.
11	Small ornamental object with figure	Fair plus/"The God of Luck"
12	Small decorative plate with 3 views of Blackpool	Good
Fig 12a	Detail of above showing Gigantic Wheel	See above
Fig 12b	Detail of Fig 12 showing Tower	See above
13	Miniature teapot in Wedgewood style	Good minus/No chips but a little grubby. No maker's mark
Fig 13a	Other side of teapot above showing some wear & tear
14	Double-handed cup	Fair plus/Sound & intact but gilt details rubbing away
15	Miniature watering-can	Fair
16	Small rowing boat	Good
Fig 16a	Detail of above	See above
17	Small model of 17th century jug (Kendal Museum). C1602	Good minus/small chip in base
Fig 17a	Inscription on bottom of model jug above	See above
18	Small double-handed tureen-style vessel	Fair/gilt and Town crest wearing away
Fig 18a	Reverse side of above	Good minus/small chip in base
19	Jug with image of the Great Wheel	Fair plus
20	Small pig	Fair/colours & gilt started to fade
Fig 20a	Face-on shot of pig above	Fair

 

Page 2 - Items 21 to 40

 

Item/Fig no	Description	Condition/Comments
21	Miniature basket	Fair plus/good colours but gilt rubbing away
22	Small cup	Fair/line running through coat-of-arms
23	Small ornament with sea motif - "Rough Sea at Blackpool"	Good
24	Small ornament with sea motif (compare with Item 23 above)	Fair plus/undamaged but grubby
Fig 24a	Group shot of Items 23 & 24	See comments above
25	Miniature casket with hinged lid & inlaid glass image	Poor plus/discoloured gilt, loose bottom of casket, etc.
Fig 25a	Close-up of top of casket	Fair minus/image still quite clear despite grimy borders
26	Small Bee-Hive	Fair
27	Small ornament with sea motif - "Rough Sea at Blackpool"	Fair minus/image still quite clear despite grimy borders
28	Miniature shoe, side view	Good
Fig 28a	Miniature Shoe	See above
29	Small ornament with sea motif - "Storm at Blackpool"	Good minus
30	Coloured cup	Poor/lettering not decipherable
31	Miniature ornament with inscription on reverse side	Fair plus
Fig 31a	Inscription on the above item	See above
32	Miniature ornament (jug) with same inscription as Item 31	Good minus
Fig 32a	Inscription on the above item	See above
33	Glass with inlaid image of Gigantic Wheel	Poor/image is crumbling away under glass
34	Small ornamental "salver"	Good minus
35	Small candle-stick holder	Good
36	Medium size shoe with raised heel & buckle	Good minus/very fine lines under glaze
Fig 36a	Front of shoe above	See above
37	2 model Towers with more detailed bases	See individual entries below
38	Larger model Tower	Good
Fig 38a	Back of larger model Tower	Good/nice detail
39	Smaller, slimmer model tower	Fair/cruder modelling and finish
40	Miniature dish with integral stand	Good/overhead shot of inside showing Council coat of arms
Fig 40a	Shot from side of Item 40	Good

 

Page 3 - Items 41 to 60

 

 

Item/Fig no	Description	Condition/Comments
41	Four-handled small vase (?)	Fair/faded colours & legends
Fig 41a	Three-Quarters shot of Item 41	See above
42	Jug with modelled face	Good
Fig 42a	Three-Quarters shot of 42, showing face	See above
43	Small column	Fair
44	Small Tower with panoramic view	Poor/crack front of base
45	Shoe with raised heel and panoramic view	Good/gilt started to rub away
Fig 45a	Front of shoe	See above
46	Large cup with 2 views of Blackpool attractions	Good
Fig 46a	Other side of cup showing Gigantic Wheel	As above
47	Cup	Good-/gilt around rim rubbing away
48	Small vase	Fair+/big blemish on one side
49	Small ornament with lid in form of crab	Good
Fig 49a	Overhead shot of crab	See above
50	Small Manx cat with coat of arms	Good-/Floretine china
Fig 50a	Other side of item 50 with legend	Good-
Fig 50b	Cat face on	See above
51	Small jug - A present from Blackpool	Fair/poor original print quality
Fig 51a	Coloured side of jug above	See above
52	Small, slim vase with small handles	Fair
53	Small pot/cauldron on 4 feet	Fair+/faded legends & colours
54	Small 3-handle cup	Fair/small chips on rim, small marks
55	Small shell	Good/Grafton China
Fig 55a	Small shell - reverse side	See above
56	Miniature tureen with lid	Fair+/faded gilt details
Fig 56a	Lid of tureen	See above/grubby
57	Miniature casket with 4 feet	Fair/made in Czechoslovakia
58	Small round decorative ornament with lid	Good
59	Jug with image of Pleasure Beach, South Shore	Good
60	Tall, slim vessel	Good-/a few faint marks around rim

 

Page 4 - Items 61 to 80

 

Item/Fig no	Description	Condition/Comments
61	Miniature tapered hat	Good-/a few faint marks around rim
62	Miniature house	Fair/crude original
63	Small vase	Fair+/minor chips
64	Decorative cup with bird motif	Front of cup Fair
65	Miniature grandfather clock	Fair
66	Small ornamental basket	Fair+
67	Small rectangular jug with view of big Wheel	Fair
68	Small shoe	Fair
69	Small top hat & umbrella	Good-
Fig 69a	Top of item 69	See above
70	Small shallow cup-shaped ornament	Good
Fig 70a	Inside of item 70	See above
71	Small ornament with lid with view of Tower & Promenade	Good
72	Salt cellar	Good
73	Blackpool Donkey	Fair-/reverse side has noticeable chip
Fig 73a	Detail of donkey's saddle above	Fair+
74	Small cat with blue ribbon	Good-
75	Small swan	Fair+/crude printing in original
76	Small "Giant Wheel"	Good-/fading gilt detail
Fig76a	Back of Wheel	Good
77	Pepper pot	Good
78	Miniature round bowl-shaped ornament	Fair+
79	Organ	Fair+
80	Small, flat, shallow rectangular vase	Good/Tower, sea & boats
Fig 80a	Reverse side of vase above	Fair+/small chip on rim

 

 

Page 5 - Items 81 to 100

 

Item/Fig no	Description	Condition/Comments
81	Small vase	Fair/crooked original image
82	Small gypsy caravan (?)	Fair
83	Miniature serving dish (covered)	Fair/faded coat-of-arms
84	Small candle-stick holder with handle	Good-/bit grubby
85	Model of Mary Queen of Scots Chair	Good-/Willow Art, China Longton
86	Cup	Good
87	Cup/mug, Blackpool from North Pier	Good-
88	Formal chair	Good-
89	Small three-legged vase	Good
90	Ornate dish with model pipe & pic of cherubs, bird & building	Fair+/kitsch
91	Small lighthouse	Good
92	Model fireplace with patriotic legend	Fair+
93	Rustic fence with marker bearing coat of arms	Fair+
94	Small jug with panoramic view of Central Promenade	Good
Fig 94a	Detail of item 94 above	Good
95	Miniature basket 2 angled feet	Good-
96	Large Tower with base	Good-
97	Large teapot with view of Talbot Square	Very Good
Fig 97a	Detail of above Item	See above
98	Teapot	Very Good
99	Cheshire Cat - "Tim"	Good
Fig 99a	Reverse side of Cat with "Tim" inscribed	Good
100	Salt cellar	Fair+

 

Page 6 - Items 101 to 128

 

Item/Fig no	Description	Condition/Comments
101	Miniature vase	Fair
102	Small dish with lid	Fair/made in Czechoslavia
103	Basket with twin-handles	Poor
104	Large Midland Railway Jug with handle	Good/"Health, Pleasure, Glorious Sea"
Fig 104a	Detail of item 104	Good/made in Derbyshire, "BB"
105	Miniature frog-shaped ornament	Fair/small blemishes
Fig 105a	Reverse side of item 105	See above
106	Miniature watering-can	Good-/Willow Art, China Longton
107	Book-shaped ornament	Good-
108	Small vase held in sculpted hand	Good-/fading coat-of-arms
Fig 108a	Detail of Item 108 showing hand	Good-
109	Small letter-box with legend	Good-
110	Glass ornament with sealed print of Giant Wheel	Fair/front of glass has numerous scratches, etc
111	Sculptured Giant Wheel	Good-/needs gentle cleaning
112	Cup with mottled glazed surface - "Present from Blackpool"	Fair/chip on rim
113	Large decorative plate with gold ribbon inter-lacing	Very Good/image of Pleasure Beach
Fig 113a	Back of plate	See above
114	Serving dish with integral cover (one moulding)	Good-/near duplicate
115	Small teapot with lid	Fair/grubby, loose lid, coat-of-arms askew (maker's fault)
116	Small, heavy ornament of unknown type	Good-
Fig 116a	Detail of Item 116	See above
117	Blackpool Tower with proper base	Fair
118	Small, shallow curved dish with lid	Fair
Fig 118a	Detail of Item 118	Fair
119	Miniature model of leather bottle, New Bury battle site, 1644	Good/museum collection
120	Silver spoon with handle bearing coat-of arms	Good/hallmarked
Fig 120a	Detail of handle	See above
121	Medium-size scallop style plate with Giant Wheel, etc.	Very Good/finely drawn images
122	Miniature pitcher/jug, Princess Parade historic image	Good-
123	Basket with twin handles, "Rough Seas, Princess Parade"	Good-
Fig 123a	Detail of item 123, showing pic of rough seas	Fair
124	Model of Florence Nightingale statue	Poor/missing lamp (?), uneven base
125	Winter Gardens Empire Sweet Dish, Ltd ed	Very Good/1989
Fig 125a	Presentation certificate re Item 125	Good
126	Small hinged case with metal embossed coat-of-arms	Poor/brass/gold finish rubber away, surface damage
127	Ornate metal spoon with enamel picture of donkey & performer	Fair
128	Engraved Blackpool Tower Centenary spoon, 1894-1994	Poor/damaged underside of spoon, gilt rubbed off handle

 

Page 6 Continued - Group photo of small ornaments

Item/Fig no	Description	Condition/Comments
	Group photo of small ornaments.	Mixed condition, generally Fair - Good
129	Small pitcher/jug
130	Miniature storage jar
131	Small pitcher/jug
132	Medium-size, three-handle cup
133	Two-handle cup
134	Teapot shaped ornament with drainage holes in top
135	Round vase
136	Small three-handle cup
137	Small cup
138	Miniature jug
139	Miniature cup/bowl with handle
	No Photos of the items below
140	Medium -size box with of angel & holly	Poor/broken lid catch, badly marked, etc.
141	Wooden unadorned money-box?	Poor/broken lid catch, missing image on lid, very worn & marked
142	Duplicate miniature vase with sea motif	Good -
143	Duplicate small column-type ornament	Good-
144	Duplicate miniature vase with inscription	Fair/misaligned original printed inscription

Please click here to go to Page: Index 1 2 3 4 5 6

 

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