1937 Coronation Cup: Could a priceless treasure be in your cupboard?
What is the 1937 Coronation Cup? Explore how this normal household object went from being a royal souvenir to becoming worth thousands.
Image: Public Domain
Can you imagine something worth thousands just gathering dust in your cupboard? Nor can we. However, the 1937 Coronation Cup appears to be much more than just a souvenir; it’s a rare artefact that has become a tangible link to a pivotal moment in British history.
These cups tell a story of national pride and are proof that an ordinary object can become extraordinary over time.
Join Sky HISTORY as we take a look at how the 1937 Coronation Cup went from being a royal souvenir to becoming a national treasure worth thousands.
Commemorating a coronation
In May 1937, the streets of London and towns across the British Empire were filled with jubilation. King George VI and Queen Elizabeth were crowned in a ceremony at Westminster Abbey that marked a moment of stability for a nation still recovering from the shock of Edward VIII’s abdication.
The coronation was an event of national significance, celebrated not just in the capital but far beyond. People lined the Mall to cheer on the new monarchs. Radios broadcast the ceremony to homes across the empire and manufacturers produced a huge array of commemorative items, from medals and coins to valuable china cups.
These types of cups were not actually that rare in their day. They were everyday objects, intended to mark a once-in-a-lifetime occasion. Today, nearly 90 years on, they have become much more than souvenirs.
More than trinkets
At the time, these cups were everyday memorabilia, not items expected to appreciate in value. Many were given as souvenirs or used simply for drinking tea. Today, that ordinary nature is part of their appeal. For collectors, they represent a slice of domestic life from a bygone age, capturing how global events filtered into the mundane routines of households.
Most 1937 Coronation Cups can be found on online auction sites, at flea markets, and in antique shops. Often, they sell for modest sums, sometimes less than a cup of coffee. Listings with good vintage condition might fetch a few pounds, reflecting nostalgia and historical interest rather than any serious monetary value.
Yet the same can’t be said for all Coronation Cups, each one is different, you see…
Hidden treasure in Leicestershire
One of the most exceptional tales of the Coronation Cup came from an attic in Leicestershire. An 87-year-old ceramic mug designed by the celebrated artist Eric Ravilious for Wedgwood was discovered after gathering dust for decades. This particular mug stood out for its unusual colour scheme and a slightly different rim design compared with other examples in the set.
At auction, experts had estimated that this Ravilious mug might bring around £800. What happened next surprised everyone following the sale. Bidding soared, and the hammer finally fell at an incredible £13,500. That sum was more than 16 times the original estimate. A big win for the owner.
This whopping sale just proves that, although ordinary Coronation Cups are modest collectables, some iterations linked to noted artists, high-end manufacturers, or limited production runs can be highly desirable to collectors. For every humble cup listed for a few pounds, there could be an item of far greater value hidden in a drawer or loft, waiting to be recognised for its historical and aesthetic significance.
Auctioneer Will Gilding said: 'We’re thrilled to achieve this astonishing result for this very special mug, which, although highly collectable, is still intrinsically just a mundane household item.'
Why these mugs matter
For history lovers, Coronation memorabilia like the 1937 Coronation Cup is more than old china. These objects bring alive a moment when the world was on the brink of enormous change.
Whether sitting on a kitchen shelf or selling for thousands at auction, 1937 Coronation memorabilia offers a fascinating window into Britain’s past. Ordinary or exceptional, these items remind us that history is not just recorded in books but in the everyday things people treasured and kept.
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