Grannies Tea Set S & C Bell China

by Davina Rispoli
(Hertfordshire UK)

I inherited an old tea set that I believe belonged to my Granny who resided in Aberdeen. It has six large plates, six small plates, six teacups and saucers and sugar and cream jug.

On the bottom of the set it reads:

S & C England
Superior
Bell China
No. 2399

Can anyone assist me as to whether this is a valuable set that should be kept in the family or just a little bit of "rubbish" taking up valuable space.

Thanks
Dee

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Peter (admin) says about "Grannies Tea Set S & C Bell China"

Hi Dee

Bell China is a pottery mark of a Staffordshire pottery called Shore & Coggins of Longton. They traded from 1911 to 1966. Their other pottery marks included Queen Anne and Princess Anne China.

As the dates show, there is a rarity and novelty value to Shore & Coggins wares (apart from having a fantastic sounding English name!). They didn't produce for that long and represent a kind of 'glory days' in UK Staffordshire potting where the market was so strong smaller family run firms could carve out a niche for themselves and hold off the giants.

Of course, this has all changed with the giants all swallowing up the smaller firms in the latter part of the 20th Century and then themselves all going into administration in 2009.

As it happens, thing are going full swing now with Portmeirion, a small family firm started in the 1960's recently buying out the giant names of Royal Worcester and Spode for a trifling £3million.

Anyhow, about your 'little bit of "rubbish" taking up valuable space'....

To me (an enthusiast), you own a little piece of English history. I am not saying the wares of Shore & Coggins of Longton fetch a fortune because they don't. However, I have seen a single cup & saucer fetch £7.

To sell you need to know how to list properly on ebay - take good looking photos and write the history/provenance of the wares and 'big-up' Shore & Coggins (at the bottom of this page you will see a banner link to a page where I explain more about this process). If a couple of Staffordshire collectors of S & G gets to see and like your set, you'll be quids in.

Go to my China Replacement for further info about how to value your set and get a link to ebay.

Hope this helps.

Peter (admin)

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HOW I MADE MONEY FROM BITS & BOBS OF OLD CHINA

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HOW I MADE MONEY FROM BITS & BOBS OF OLD CHINA

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