Saucer Shard [New Zealand Railways Refreshment Rooms]
Maker and role
New Zealand Railways, Commissioned by
W. H. Grindley & Company Limited, Maker
Production date
1936-1954
Object detail
Accession number
2016.76.4
Description
White ceramic saucer shard. Stamped in blue on rim is logo consisting of a circle made from a belt with text "N.Z.RLY.REFRESHMENT ROOMS / 8". Maker's Mark on base of cup in black "[missing] / HERCULES / VITRFIED".
Brief History
Railway station refreshment rooms were initially leased out by New Zealand Railways to private operators until NZR began to take over these leases from 1917 as an extra source of income. Ceramic ware for food service was labelled according to the station it belonged to in the North Island's refreshment rooms. This saucer shard, being number 8, belonged to the Mercer Station refreshment room. ceramic ware was originally provided to the refreshment rooms from suppliers in the United Kingdom, until WWII made the importing of ceramics difficult. The Amalgamated Brick and Pipe Company (later Crown Lynn) supplied the first teacup to NZR in 1940.
This saucer was manufactured by vitrified hotel ware company John Maddock & Sons who started business in 1842 in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, England. Burslem is one of the six towns in Stoke-on-Trent which became known as the 'The Potteries' because of the plentiful supply of clay in the area. The thriving pottery industry was established in the 18th century. However, archaeological remains also suggests the Romans and Saxons made pottery in the area and the earliest finds date from as far back as 2,000 BC.
This saucer was manufactured by vitrified hotel ware company John Maddock & Sons who started business in 1842 in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, England. Burslem is one of the six towns in Stoke-on-Trent which became known as the 'The Potteries' because of the plentiful supply of clay in the area. The thriving pottery industry was established in the 18th century. However, archaeological remains also suggests the Romans and Saxons made pottery in the area and the earliest finds date from as far back as 2,000 BC.
Marks
N.Z.RLY.REFRESHMENT ROOMS / 8 Logo
[missing] / HERCULES / VITRFIED Maker's Mark
[missing] / HERCULES / VITRFIED Maker's Mark
Media/Materials
Credit Line
New Zealand Railways et al. 1936-1954. Saucer Shard [New Zealand Railways Refreshment Rooms], 2016.76.4. The Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT).
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