Fairylite Foreign Cup of Knowledge Green Plain
From Mystic Tea Room
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Both the [[:Category:Cup of Knowledge (6) Fairylite Foreign|Fairlylite Mint Green Cup of Knowledget]] and the [[B. Shackman Cup of Knowledge Green Plain|B. Shackman Plain Green Cup of Knowledge]] were made at the same pottery [[:Category:Made in Japan|in Japan]] and were intended for export. They can be told apart because British law at the time required the "Foreign" backstamp under the glaze, while the United States, where [[:Category:B. Shackman|B. Shackman]] only insisted upon a paper label, and once the label the label was washed off, there was no visible backstamp at all. Thus all of the sets marked "Fairlyite Foreign" went to Great Britain and all of those with paper labels, many of with now present as unmarked, went to the United States. | Both the [[:Category:Cup of Knowledge (6) Fairylite Foreign|Fairlylite Mint Green Cup of Knowledget]] and the [[B. Shackman Cup of Knowledge Green Plain|B. Shackman Plain Green Cup of Knowledge]] were made at the same pottery [[:Category:Made in Japan|in Japan]] and were intended for export. They can be told apart because British law at the time required the "Foreign" backstamp under the glaze, while the United States, where [[:Category:B. Shackman|B. Shackman]] only insisted upon a paper label, and once the label the label was washed off, there was no visible backstamp at all. Thus all of the sets marked "Fairlyite Foreign" went to Great Britain and all of those with paper labels, many of with now present as unmarked, went to the United States. | ||
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+ | This [[:Category:Cup of Knowledge (7) Japan|Japanese Cup pf Knowledge]] was manufactured by the same (as yet unidentified) [[:Category:Made in Japan|Japanese pottery]] that manufactured the [[Fairylite Foreign Cup of Knowledge Green Plain|Fairylite Foreign Cup of Knowledge Plain Green]] for export to England, with a copy of the [[:Category:Aynsley|Aynsley]] [[:Category:Tea Leaf Reading Instruction Sheets and Booklets|instruction booklet]]; | ||
+ | The B. Shackman Cup of Knowledge, which was also accompanied by a copy of the [[:Category:Aynsley|Aynsley]] [[:Category:Tea Leaf Reading Instruction Sheets and Booklets|instruction booklet]]; | ||
+ | and the [[Unmarked Made in Japan Cup of Knowledge Plain Green|Unmarked Green Japanese Cup of Knowledge]] that came with its own different and unique [[:Category:Tea Leaf Reading Instruction Sheets and Booklets|instruction booklet]]. | ||
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+ | If the characteristic back stickers, box, or [[:Category:Tea Leaf Reading Instruction Sheets and Booklets|instruction booklet]] are separated from the [[:Category:B. Shackman|B. Shackman]] [[:Category:Cup of Knowledge|Cup of Knowledge]], it becomes, by default, an example of the [[Unmarked Made in Japan Cup of Knowledge Plain Green|Unmarked Green Cup of Knowledge]] that was [[:Category:Made in Japan|made in Japan]]. | ||
Here's how to tell the [[:Category:Fairylite Foreign|Fairylite]] set apart from others: | Here's how to tell the [[:Category:Fairylite Foreign|Fairylite]] set apart from others: | ||
- | * Pieces are backstamped [[:Category:Fairylite Foreign|"Fairylite Foreign"]] | + | * Pieces are not backstamped [[:Category:Fairylite Foreign|"Fairylite Foreign"]] or[[:Category:Aynsley|"Aynsley"]]; they have only a paper sticker.. If the back stickers, box, or[[:Category:Tea Leaf Reading Instruction Sheets and Booklets|instruction booklet]] are lost from the set it becomes, by default, an [[Unmarked Made in Japan Cup of Knowledge Plain Green|Unmarked Green Cup of Knowledge]] |
- | * The colour of the [[:Category:Fairylite Foreign|Fairylite]] and [[ | + | * The colour of the [[:Category:B. Shackman|B. Shackman]], [[:Category:Fairylite Foreign|Fairylite]], and [[Unmarked Made in Japan Cup of Knowledge Plain Green|Unmarked Japanese Green Cup of Knowledge]] clay body is slightly greyish, typical of [[:Category:Made in Japan|Japanese]] ware, but unlike British bone china, which is a bright white. |
- | * The quality of the transfers of the [[:Category:Fairylite Foreign|Fairylite]] | + | * The quality of the transfers of the [[:Category:B. Shackman|B. Shackman]], [[:Category:Fairylite Foreign|Fairylite]], and [[Unmarked Made in Japan Cup of Knowledge Plain Green|Unmarked Japanese Green Cup of Knowledge]] playing cards is muddier than the English originals, with a yellowish tinge inside the cards. |
- | * Despite the attempt to closely copy a British tea cup shape, the | + | * Despite the attempt to closely copy a British tea cup shape, the feet of the [[:Category:B. Shackman|B. Shackman]], [[:Category:Fairylite Foreign|Fairylite]] and [[Unmarked Made in Japan Cup of Knowledge Plain Green|Unmarked Japanese Green Cup of Knowledge]] cups are amusingly [[:Category:Made in Japan|Japanese]], in a classic six-petal scallop shape. |
- | * The handle of the [[:Category:Fairylite Foreign|Fairylite]] and | + | * The handle of the [[:Category:B. Shackman|B. Shackman]], [[:Category:Fairylite Foreign|Fairylite]] and [[Unmarked Made in Japan Cup of Knowledge Plain Green|Unmarked Japanese Green Cup of Knowledge]] cups are a simple C-shape with an inward curl; the [[:Category:Aynsley|Aynsley]] cup handle is in the more elaborate [[:Category:Doris|Doris]] pattern. |
- | * Although the | + | * Although the [[:Category:B. Shackman|B. Shackman]], [[:Category:Fairylite Foreign|Fairylite]] and [[Unmarked Made in Japan Cup of Knowledge Plain Green|Unmarked Japanese Green Cup of Knowledge]] sets have metallic gold pin-striping around the cup and saucer rims, the [[:Category:Fairylite Foreign|Fairylite]] has a mustard-yellow pin-line around the center of the saucer. If they were an [[Aynsley Cup of Knowledge Mint Green]]|Aynsley Mint Green]] cups, that pin-line would also be gold. |
- | * The [[:Category:Tea Leaf Reading Instruction Sheets and Booklets|instruction booklet]] of the [[:Category:Fairylite Foreign|Fairylite Foreign Cup of Knowledge]] | + | * The [[:Category:Tea Leaf Reading Instruction Sheets and Booklets|instruction booklet]] of the [[:Category:B. Shackman|B. Shackman]] and [[:Category:Fairylite Foreign|Fairylite Foreign Cup of Knowledge]] sets are straight-out copies of the [[:Category:Doris|Aynsley Cup of Knowledge]] [[:Category:Tea Leaf Reading Instruction Sheets and Booklets|instruction booklet]] of their era. They can be told apart from the original because the [[:Category:B. Shackman|B. Shackman]] [[:Category:Tea Leaf Reading Instruction Sheets and Booklets|instruction booklet]] reads "Tell Your Fortune in the Tea Leaves" at bottom center of the front cover, the [[:Category:Fairylite Foreign|Fairylite Foreign]] has the words "Fairylite Foreign" printed at upper left on the front cover; and the [Unmarked Made in Japan Cup of Knowledge Plain Green|Unmarked Japanese Green Cup of Knowledge]] has its own unique [[:Category:Tea Leaf Reading Instruction Sheets and Booklets|booklet]] design. |
DIV-TLR-JFMG | DIV-TLR-JFMG |
Revision as of 21:09, 14 February 2021
Fairylite was a British importer of Asian-made novelties during the post World War Two era. They dealt in paper goods, playing cards, toys, and other small gift and game products. Depending on the nature of the merchandise, these items are either marked "Fairylite Foreign" or "Fairylite Empire Made."
Fairylite fortune telling tea cups were made in Japan for export to Great Britain during the 1950s, and the pieces were marked "Foreign," to signify non-English origin. The Cup of Knowledge made by Fairylite was an illegal knock-off or patent infringement of the original Cup of Knowledge pattern from England. Specifically, this cup is a close copy of the Aynsley Mint Green Cup of Knowledge.
Both the Fairlylite Mint Green Cup of Knowledget and the B. Shackman Plain Green Cup of Knowledge were made at the same pottery in Japan and were intended for export. They can be told apart because British law at the time required the "Foreign" backstamp under the glaze, while the United States, where B. Shackman only insisted upon a paper label, and once the label the label was washed off, there was no visible backstamp at all. Thus all of the sets marked "Fairlyite Foreign" went to Great Britain and all of those with paper labels, many of with now present as unmarked, went to the United States.
This Japanese Cup pf Knowledge was manufactured by the same (as yet unidentified) Japanese pottery that manufactured the Fairylite Foreign Cup of Knowledge Plain Green for export to England, with a copy of the Aynsley instruction booklet; The B. Shackman Cup of Knowledge, which was also accompanied by a copy of the Aynsley instruction booklet; and the Unmarked Green Japanese Cup of Knowledge that came with its own different and unique instruction booklet.
If the characteristic back stickers, box, or instruction booklet are separated from the B. Shackman Cup of Knowledge, it becomes, by default, an example of the Unmarked Green Cup of Knowledge that was made in Japan.
Here's how to tell the Fairylite set apart from others:
- Pieces are not backstamped "Fairylite Foreign" or"Aynsley"; they have only a paper sticker.. If the back stickers, box, orinstruction booklet are lost from the set it becomes, by default, an Unmarked Green Cup of Knowledge
- The colour of the B. Shackman, Fairylite, and Unmarked Japanese Green Cup of Knowledge clay body is slightly greyish, typical of Japanese ware, but unlike British bone china, which is a bright white.
- The quality of the transfers of the B. Shackman, Fairylite, and Unmarked Japanese Green Cup of Knowledge playing cards is muddier than the English originals, with a yellowish tinge inside the cards.
- Despite the attempt to closely copy a British tea cup shape, the feet of the B. Shackman, Fairylite and Unmarked Japanese Green Cup of Knowledge cups are amusingly Japanese, in a classic six-petal scallop shape.
- The handle of the B. Shackman, Fairylite and Unmarked Japanese Green Cup of Knowledge cups are a simple C-shape with an inward curl; the Aynsley cup handle is in the more elaborate Doris pattern.
- Although the B. Shackman, Fairylite and Unmarked Japanese Green Cup of Knowledge sets have metallic gold pin-striping around the cup and saucer rims, the Fairylite has a mustard-yellow pin-line around the center of the saucer. If they were an Aynsley Cup of Knowledge Mint Green|Aynsley Mint Green]] cups, that pin-line would also be gold.
- The instruction booklet of the B. Shackman and Fairylite Foreign Cup of Knowledge sets are straight-out copies of the Aynsley Cup of Knowledge instruction booklet of their era. They can be told apart from the original because the B. Shackman instruction booklet reads "Tell Your Fortune in the Tea Leaves" at bottom center of the front cover, the Fairylite Foreign has the words "Fairylite Foreign" printed at upper left on the front cover; and the [Unmarked Made in Japan Cup of Knowledge Plain Green|Unmarked Japanese Green Cup of Knowledge]] has its own unique booklet design.
DIV-TLR-JFMG
catherine yronwode
curator, historian, and docent
The Mystic Tea Room