London Teacup

An image of a white teacup with a blue and gold border on the top edge and on the saucer. Inside the cup and around the edge of the saucer is pink roses with vines. It is on a wooden table with hair and makeup items in the background.
London Teacup from the Eldon House collection

Country of Origin: France 
Year: ca. 1886-1894 
Materials: Porcelain and paint  

Tea was an important drink in the Harris household. Teatime was an opportunity to socialize with family and friends, and during their 125 years at Eldon House, the Harris Family collected an assortment of tea items.  

This cup comes from the Limoges Company. Limoges was based in France, producing china items since the 1730s. During the 20th century, the company expanded and had distributors in England and in North America. This teacup has a stamp on the bottom that says Ch. Ahrenfeldt Limoges for London Crockery Co. London, Canada. Ch. Ahrenfeldt refers to Charles Ahrendelft, an exporter with Limoges. He established exports with between France and North America in the 1860s opened a factory that decorated for Limoges.  

This item is interesting because it is the only teacup in our collection to be stamped, London, Canada and one of the only items from the London Crockery Company, which was established in 1886.  

We acknowledge that we are on the traditional lands of the Anishinaabek, Haudenosaunee, Lūnaapéewak and Attawandaron. We honour and respect the history, languages and culture of the diverse Indigenous people who call this territory home.

We acknowledge all the treaties that are specific to this area: the Two Row Wampum Belt Treaty of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy/Silver Covenant Chain; the Beaver Hunting Grounds of the Haudenosaunee NANFAN Treaty of 1701; the McKee Treaty of 1790, the London Township Treaty of 1796, the Huron Tract Treaty of 1827, with the Anishinaabeg, and the Dish with One Spoon Covenant Wampum of the Anishnaabek and Haudenosaunee.

The three Indigenous Nations that are neighbours to London are the Chippewas of the Thames First Nation; Oneida Nation of the Thames; and the Munsee-Delaware Nation who all continue to live as sovereign Nations with individual and unique languages, cultures, and customs.