Beatrix, Société Céramique

The four entries for Teacup Tuesday so far have not quite met the conditions of this gathering: showing off one's wonderful antique teacups. Although I still have a few antiques to share, it is the spirit of the moment that makes me wanting to show what is an activity on my side and that is this 72 year old teacup plate.

*BLUE*, flowers and nature are an eternal source of inspiration, which can be seen on many a tea and dinner service.


In the last posts on my blog I showed the wonders of Dutch water land close to my home, today something that is very dear to me appears on my blue scene. It is a chipped teacup saucer of a tea and dinner service that was designed in 1938 on the occasion of the birth of our present Queen Beatrix.
Beatrix, Société Céramique, with a stray flower design, in blue, red, black and black with a gold rim,was mass produced earthenware and a best seller. Today the interest on the antique market has diminished somewhat. There are quite a few pieces for sale on the internet at reasonable prices, but the teacups are rarely on offer. When I come across it in antique shops I exclaim ‘How truly cute and lovely this is’. Apart from the blue flower design I appreciate the model just as much.



As to the designers of the Société Céramique very little is known, Royal Sphinx have let me know. So who the designer was of Beatrix remains a question mark. If there is anyone who knows the answer, please let me know.
Of at least one artist is known that he traded his talents as a decor designer and a model maker to keep up a family, but he is not related to Beatrix.



The Société Céramique(1863-1958) started in Maastricht and at that time produced every day use earthenware. It originated from Clermont en Chainaye, which in 1859 was taken over by Guillaume Lambert. He continued the business as Société pour la fabrication des faiences en produits céramiques de toute espèce sous la raison sociale Guillaume Lambert & Cie; shortened in 1863 as Société Céramique. In 1958 it merged with Royal Sphinx. The Société Céramique was a booming business and highly competitive with what happened in England and France.


The above picture of a sugar bowl is from: http://forums.ebay.com/db2/topic/Pottery-Glass-Porcelain/Societe-Ceramique-Maestricht/510154529

I love dinner services; there is nothing more inviting than a beautifully decorated table. Sometimes just the last left over piece of such a service is a *TREASURE*. This plate is a true treasure to me, as it is a link to days gone by within my family (it belonged to one of my grandmothers), a link to a well used dinner service, but also reflects Dutch history, Delft blue (which this is not) and Dutch national costumes. Polka dots and flowers are often used in the material designs of those. Its royal blue colour is very attractive.





The Beatrix plate arrives on our breakfast table everyday, together with other magnificent pieces of craftmanship. It is a bright and cheerful start of the day to use it. Wild flowers from our garden combined with the final stage of a huge bunch of purple gladiolas put in a Delft blue jug accompanied it all on last Sunday morning. I hope you will enjoy my ‘Dutch Blues’ and I will certainly enjoy your posts on Teacup Tuesday! And who knows, maybe you will find a Beatrix somewhere out there when you go hunting on an antique spree?! At least you know the history behind the design.







Queen Beatrix, visiting te village of Vries.
She is an intelligent, hardworking and very creative Queen - she makes beautiful sculptures. On this occasion she wears a blue floral dress.
Source: http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bestand:Koningin_Beatrix_in_Vries.jpg