A rare Wedgwood mug commemorating the coronation of King George VI has sold at auction for £13,500, after spending two decades gathering dust in a loft. This 87-year-old souvenir cup, designed by British artist Eric Ravilious, was created to celebrate the coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in 1937.
The design, which features celebratory fireworks and the royal coat of arms, was originally adapted from an earlier version meant for King Edward VIII before his abdication. The mug is considered unique due to its distinctive yellow and green detailing and had remained undisturbed since the late 1990s.
Initially estimated at just £800, the mug was sold at Gildings Auctioneers to a private buyer for over 16 times its guide price. Gildings director Will Gilding expressed excitement at the result, noting that while the mug is highly collectible, it remains a mundane household item. He highlighted its rarity, stating that no other examples of this specific colorway could be found.
The mug was part of a collection of five Ravilious-designed coronation mugs. Other mugs in more common colorways sold for significantly lower prices, with the highest being £2,700.
Eric Ravilious, born in 1903, was a notable painter and designer, known for his modernist interpretations of English landscapes. He served as an official war artist during World War II before tragically losing his life in action in 1942. Gilding remarked on the mug's remarkable value, attributing it to both its rarity and the artist’s legacy.