A Pair 1937 Dame Laura Knight Edward VIII & George VI Burleigh Coronation Mugs

When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

A Pair 1937 Dame Laura Knight Edward VIII & George VI Burleigh Coronation Mugs:
$344.09

Here for your consideration is a very rare, matched pair, of 1936/37, genuine original, Burleigh Earthenware, Edward VIII and George VI Coronation mugs, designed by Dame Laura Knight with facsimile signatures and both numbered 814375/6. The artwork in these delightful Coronation mugs is quite simply,sublime !!
These stunning mugs were made forKing Edward VIII\'s and George VI\'s coronations with both being dated 1937. George V passed away on the 20th January 1936. Edward VIII the Duke of Windsor becomes king from 20th January 1936 to the 10th December 1936.
Condition: no chips, cracks, fleabites, restoration or damage. These matched mugs are in beautiful original condition, commensurate with 79 years of age. (A real testament to their previous owner).
Dame Laura Knight, DBE, RA RWS(4 August 1877 – 7 July 1970)
An English artist who worked in oils, watercolours, etching, engraving, drypoint andceramics. Laura Knight was a painter in the figurative, realist tradition who embraced EnglishImpressionism. During her long career, Laura Knight was among the most successful and popular painters in Britain. In 1929 she was created aDameand in 1936 became the first woman elected to theRoyal Academysince its foundation in 1768. Her large retrospective exhibition at the Royal Academy, in 1965, was another first for a woman.Although Dame Laura Knight was known for painting amidst the world of the theatre and ballet in London, and for being awar artistduring theSecond World War, she was also greatly interested in, and inspired by, more marginalised communities and individuals including Gypsies and circus performers. Her success in the male-dominated British art establishment paved the way for greater status and recognition for women artists.
Edward VIII ... The Dukeof Windsor (23rd June 1894 - 8th May 1972)becomes king from 20th January 1936to the 10th December 1936.

He showed impatience with court protocol,and politicians were concerned by his apparent disregard for establishedconstitutional conventions. Only months into his reign, he caused aconstitutional crisis by proposing marriage to the American socialite WallisSimpson, who had divorced her first husband and was seeking a divorce from hersecond.

Theministers of the United Kingdomand the Dominions opposed the marriage, arguing that the people would neveraccept a divorced woman with two living ex-husbands as queen. Additionally,such a marriage would have conflicted with Edward\'s status as head of theChurch of England, which opposed the remarriage of divorced people if theirformer spouses were still alive. Edward knew that the government led by BritishPrime Minister Stanley Baldwin would resign if the marriage went ahead, whichcould have forced a general election and ruin his status as a politicallyneutral constitutional monarch.

Choosing not to end his relationship withWallis Simpson, Edward abdicated at 10am on 10th December 1936. He wassucceeded by his younger brother Albert, who chose the regnal name George VI and was crowned on Edward\'s coronation date of May 12 1937. With a reign of 326days, Edward was one of the shortest-reigning monarchs in British andCommonwealth history. He was never crowned.

Hence these mugs are associated with one of thegreatest love stories in history ...

King Edward VIII did something thatmonarchs do not have the luxury of doing - he fell in love. King Edward was inlove with Mrs. Wallis Simpson, not only an American, but also a married womanalready once divorced. Yet, in order to marry the woman he loved, King Edwardwas willing to give up the British throne - and he did.

To some, this was the love story of thecentury. To others, it was a scandal that threatened to weaken the monarchy. Inreality, the story of King Edward VIII and Mrs. Wallis Simpson never fulfilledeither of these notions. Instead, the story is about a prince who just wantedto be like everyone else.

Edward finally married Wallis on the 3rdJune 1937 and they remained together for the rest of their lives,exiledfrom the United Kingdom, living in France.

George VI ...(Albert Frederick Arthur George (1895-1952)

King of the United Kingdomand theDominions of the British Commonwealthfrom 11 December 1936 until his death. He was the lastEmperor of India and the first Head of the Commonwealth.

As the second son ofKing George V,he was not expected to inherit the throne and spent his early life in the shadow of his elder brother, Edward.He marriedLady Elizabeth Bowes- Lyonin 1923 and they had two daughters,Elizabeth and Margaret.George VI ascended the throne as the third monarch of theHouse of Windsor on May 12th 1937.

During George\'s reign the break-up of theBritish Empireand its transition into theCommonwealth of Nationsaccelerated. The parliament of theIrish Free State removeddirect mention of the monarch fromthe country\'s constitutionon the day of his accession. Within three years, the Empire and Commonwealth, except the Irish Free State, was atwarwithNazi Germany. In the next two years, war with Italy and Japan followed. ThoughBritain and its allieswere ultimately victorious, the United States and theSoviet Unionrose as pre-eminentworld powersand the British Empire declined. After theindependence of India and Pakistanin 1947, George remained as king of both countries, but the titleEmperor of Indiawas abandoned in June 1948. Irelandformally declared itself a republicand left the Commonwealth in 1949, and India became a republic within the Commonwealth the following year. George adopted the new title of Head of the Commonwealth. He was beset by health problems in the later years of his reign.

Dimensions as follows ...

Height: 3.25 inches or 8 cm

Diameter: 2.8 inches or 7.3 cm (top)

Diameter: 3 inches or 7.9 cm (base)

Diameter: 4.5 inches or 11.5 cm (including handle)

Weight: 209 grams or 7.5 oz (each mug)

Produced some 79 years ago these original Dame Laura Knight designed mugs have long since been highly sought-after, regarded as being amongst some of the most stylish designs of all the royal commemoratives. They still looks absolutely sensational today. The art work involved is quite magnificent !!

These original mugs are becoming quite rare to find, I\'ve only one pair, and once they\'re gone .... they\'re gone, and if there\'s one thing I\'ve learned about antiques, when items are of quality, rare andstylish,he who hesitates usually losesout.These coronation mugs would add value to any ceramic collection. A real must for any seriouscollector.

These delightful mugs would make an ideal gift, or solid future investment.

The Coronation mugs willbe sent out recorded, special delivery with insurance.

Please note, all my international postal charges are only estimates andwill be confirmed and altered upor down when I knowthe destination to where,items arebeing sent. Please also note I only charge actual costs of postage and packaging with insurance, no more.

Please feel free to look at my other items.