Cup of Destiny (2001) Jane Lyle / Barnes and Noble
From Mystic Tea Room
The 2001 Cup of Destiny attributed to the occult author and cartomantic designer Jane Lyle is actually a "cover version" or copy of the 1904 Nelros Cup of Forune, which was manufactured by the Aynsley pottery in England. The set was commissioned by Barnes and Noble, is manufactured in China, and is distributed by Barnes and Noble both wholesale and retail, with subsequent retail sales through metaphysical shops internationally. The set is sold in a well-made box , with an accompanying 96 page book on tea leaf reading written by Jane Lyle.
New collectors often ask how to distinguish the Jane Lyle copy from the rare Nelros original. Here are some obvious points of difference:
- The Nelros Cup of Fortune is made of translucent white British bone china; the Jane Lyle Cup of Destiny is made of opaque greyish-white "restaurant grade" Chinese stoneware.
- The bottom of the Nelros Cup of Fortune has a red anchor; the bottom of the Jane Lyle Cup of Destiny is vacant of symbols.
- The row of symbols at the upper side of the Nelros Cup of Fortune is black; the same symbols are red in the Jane Lyle Cup of Destiny.
- The exterior of the Nelros Cup of Fortune bears a poetic inscription; the exterior of the Jane Lyle Cup of Destiny is vacant ofwording.
- The saucer well of the Nelros Cup of Fortune has black star and the monogran NR (for Nel-Ros); the saucer well of the Jane Lyle Cup of Destiny has only the black star.
- The Nelros Cup of Fortune set is backstamped on both pieces; the Jane Lyle Cup of Destiny set is not backstamped.
- The Nelros Cup of Fortune was issued with a changing variety of elaborate handle shapes over the years, only one of which was a simple C-shape; the Jane Lyle Cup of Destiny set was issued only with a simple C-shaped handle.
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catherine yronwode
curator, historian, and docent
The Mystic Tea Room
