Available at auction on April 25th is a lot
comprised of seven pieces of a tea service (three cups, three sauces, one sugar
bowl) with a logo designed by Sylvia Pankhurst in 1909.
The tea service was originally produced by commission from
HM Williamson of Longton in Staffordshire for use in the Women’s Social and
Political Union (WSPU) exhibition at the Prince’s Skating Rink in Knightsbridge
in May 1909. The purpose of the
exhibition was to introduce the concerns of the WSPU, most notably women’s
suffrage, to the general public in a way which would dispel the negative
stereotypes usually associated with the women’s movement. Visitors to the exhibition could browse among
the works of women artists, seamstresses, milliners, and local food
producers. They could hear speeches by
eminent activists and debate contentious issues in a decorous atmosphere. They could also visit a replica gaol cell to
illustrate the harsh conditions under which suffragettes were held when
imprisoned.
And, of course, visitors could drink tea from the specially
commissioned tea sets.
Pankhurst’s logo is
in three colours: white for purity, purple for dignity, and green for
hope. According to historian Anne Sebba,
the logo is based on a psalm “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.” The
winged woman of the logo is sowing grain with a flight of doves above her and
various wildflowers at her feet.
The original tea service was divided into sets of 22 pieces which
were sold off at the end of the exhibition.
For more information about the auction and these pieces
please contact us.
For more information about the historical background of the pieces please go to annesebba.com.