Teacup and Saucer, Royal China, Currier & Ives, Star of the Road & Low Water on the Mississippi, Pink & White, Vintage USA 1967

Two scenes from America's most beloved printmakers, one on each piece. The cup features "The Star of the Road" — a woman driving a horse-drawn carriage, from an 1849 Currier & Ives lithograph — rendered in pink on white ceramic with the classic swirled border.

• Maker: Royal China Company
• Pattern: Currier & Ives (discontinued 1986)
• Materials: Ceramic
• Origin: Sebring, Ohio, USA
• Era: Vintage, c. 1967
• Dimensions: Saucer 6" diameter; cup 3.5" diameter × 2" tall, holds 8 oz
• Condition: Excellent vintage — no issues noted. Hand wash recommended. Please review photos closely before purchasing, as all sales are final.

A piece of genuine Americana for a collector, a history lover, or anyone who appreciates a story behind their morning cup. Lovely for a birthday, housewarming, or holiday gift.

The saucer carries "Low Water on the Mississippi," a paddle-wheel steamship scene from 1868. The handle has the rarer added scroll design. Each piece is a small window into mid-century American life and the art that shaped how that era imagined its past.

Founded in 1934 in Sebring, Ohio, by Beatrice L. Miller, William H. Habenstreit, and John Bert Briggs, Royal China Co. overcame massive odds to become a pottery powerhouse. Denied a bank loan because she was a woman, Miss Miller persisted, and workers initially agreed to work without pay until the business took off.  By the 1940s, they were the world's largest manufacturer of Willow Ware. They followed that success with their iconic "Currier & Ives" line in 1950. At its peak in 1965, Royal was the largest pottery company in the U.S., pulling in $6 million in sales. After several ownership changes and rebuilding from a major fire, operations finally ended in 1986.

Browse our shop for more vintage Currier & Ives pieces to round out your collection.