This weeks bumper haul of arrivals.

A varied and mixed bunch this week, from reclaimed materials from not only the first Mauretania (1906) but her later namesake (1938), rare pre WW1 silver from the Hamburg South American Line (HSDG), the seldom seen QE2 solid silver maiden voyage medallion to unusual tea & coffee pots from the deck service of the Queen Mary.

First up are a rare pair of survivors, two items from the First Class service of the Hamburg South American Line (HSDG), both dated 1912, and manufactured by the well know quality firm of Wellner. One is an elaborate cigar and match ash can with movable extinguisher, the other a rather beautiful iced butter dish. Manufactured in heavy quality silver plate, each item is made up of multiple components. Items are seldom seen from this famous shipping company. Similar items would have been used within the 1st Class on the companies various famous liners on the South America route. c-1912

Next up we have a collection of recycled items from a selection of iconic liners of the 20th century. We think of recycling as a modern trend but its been going on since the year dot. The first ocean liner to be resurrected in souvenir form was the Mauretania of 1906, although it could be argued Burnel's Great Eastern being broken up in late 1880's holds that title. The first Mauretania was so beloved by the great British public that they clambered for a part of the illustrious ship, so much so that it held almost a religious significance, and maritime piece of the true cross. Every item conceivable was created out of the broken up grand old lady of the atlantic, from garden benches, to tea trollys, the list was endless. They majority of items were produced to be sold within upscale departments stores such as the famous Liberty's of London's Regent Street. From the first Mauretania we have this charming desk barometer fashioned not only from the ships timbers but a recognisable part of the ship, a cross section of her quality handrails in beautiful teak. This practice continued all the way up until the 1960's with a jewellery box fashioned from White Star's last ship, Britannic and later still, a tankard from the second Mauretania in 1966. 

Another arrival is the always popular & famous seldom seen sold silver maiden voyage medallion produced for the iconic QE2, our much beloved and much missed liner.

And finally two rare finds, a pair of stainless steel coffee and tea pots, by the famous quality English firm of Old Hall. Produced for Cunard in the early 1950's these were used for the deck service by stewards serving tea & coffee to passengers wrapped in in their pure wool deck blankets on the famous deck chairs, watching the North Atlantic dash by. I have often seen these being used in numerous brochures in the 1950's but never had an example myself.