Ocean Liner China

China is among the most popular ocean liner collectibles. It is fairly readily available and can be an affordable way to begin or expand a collection--usually. Some pieces are rare and command a premium price. We strive to present the highest quality ocean liner china at a fair price. We feature china from a variety of ships and ocean lines, with Cunard our featured line.

Be sure to download our article on Caring for Your Ocean Liner China. It gives good advice on how you can keep your collectibles in the best condition and provides guidance on minor restoration steps you can take to improve an object that might be not quite perfect. But remember that for many (including museums) an important part of collecting vintage pieces is to preserve the wear and tear they show as historical artifacts.

The examples shown here are only part of our extensive inventory of ocean liner china. If you have specific collecting interests, we'd like to know. We might have pieces that will fit into your collection plan or we can very likely obtain objects you haven't been able to find.

Our objective is to build long-term relationships with our customers and to offer you the best value for your collecting investment.

Cunard China

Foley demitasse cup and saucer; Foley coffee cup, saucer, cake plate; Foley shell dishes; Grosvenor luncheon plate. Foley is synonymous for many with Cunard first class service on the Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth, but it was actually used for en suite dining service and tea service (except for the shell dishes, which were used in the first and second class dining rooms), and Grosvenor was the original supplier of the array of china for this service on the Queen Mary. The photo at far right shows the hallmark from the Grosvenor plate above it.

Above: Small and large Foley CUBE teapots; small Foley CUBE sugar and creamer set; Foley sherbet dish. The CUBE design originated in 1917 and was licensed by Foley in the 1930s. Cunard chose these designs for its first and second class service on the Queen Mary and later the Queen Elizabeth because they were easy to store and the spouts were not as likely to be damaged as traditional teapot designs. Over the years these have become popular collectibles and are seen as icons of Art Deco design. CUBE teapots, both vintage and new, are available in a variety of patterns. There are even reproductions of the Cunard Queen Mary/Queen Elizabeth patterns. These are, however, inferior to the original workmanship and, unfortunately, are not very well labeled as reproductions.

Maddock Ware

The demands of the first and second class dining room--where handling was much rougher than in the cabin service--demanded stronger tableware. And it was Maddock & Sons that delivered heavy porcelain that mimmiced the patterns of the Grosvenor and Foley China service. Above: Maddock soup and fruit bowls; Maddock oval and bread plates and Maddock egg hoop; Maddock crescent side dish; Maddock coffee cup and saucer.

Queen Elizabeth 2 Queen's Grill Royal Doulton China

Even as class distinctions waned on the high seas with the advent of one-class cruising, the QEs'2 Queen's Grill service remained a vestige of first class. Above: Royal Doulton dinner plate, salad plate, and soup bowl; Royal Doulton crescent side dish; Royal Doulton teapot, creamer, and sugar set. These items are from the 1980s or 1990s, based on the Cunard emblem that is imprinted in gold on them.

Italian Line Cup and Saucer

The Chinese-influenced designs, called the Chinois pattern, are delightful on both of the pieces below. The coffee cup is by Richard Ginori, Italy’s premier porcelain firm. It is marked as G9 on the bottom, along with the Italian Line’s (Finmare Group) stylized blue anchor. (This indicates that it is a later piece, produced after the Italian Line was privatized.) It measures 8.5 cm in diameter and 11 cm from the end of the handle to the opposite edge of the lip. The saucer is 14 cm in diameter and 5 cm tall.

Italian Line Nut Dishes

This china or porcelain nut dish in the later era blue and gold of the Italian Line has the double bands around the rim. The same color motif is used for the stylized Italian Line anchor at the top of the dish. The dish measures 17 cm wide by 9.5 cm vertically.

The nut dish to its right from earlier times was manufactured by Schonwald and is 24 cm wide by 14 cm high.

Tuscan Aquitania Pattern China

This lovely pattern, similar to the Bird of Paradise, was sold on board Cunard ships as souvenirs. The cube teapot is in very good condition. It measures 3 1/8 inches tall, 3 1/2 inches across (side to side), and 4 1/2 inches diagonally (corner to corner).
The large creamer and sugar are in excellent condition. The large creamer measures 4 1/8 inches tall, 2 3/8 inches across (side to side), and 3 1/4 inches diagonally (corner to corner). The large sugar measures 1 3/4 inches tall, 2 3/4 inches across (side to side), and 3 1/2 inches diagonally (corner to corner).
The small creamer measures 2 3/4 inches tall, 1 7/8 inches across (side to side), and 2 1/4 inches diagonally (corner to corner). The small sugar measures 1 1/2 inches tall, 2 inches across (side to side), and 2 1/2 inches diagonally (corner to corner).

Furness Bermuda Line Bird of Paradise Pieces by Royal Doulton

These delightful pieces of china are from Furness Bermuda Line, which sailed such notable ships as the Ocean Monarch and Queen of Bermuda. The pattern, registered in 1932, features colorful bird and pastel floral designs on bright white china. We understand that this pattern was designed specifically for use on the Queen of Bermuda. The ship sailed between 1933 and 1966. The teapot measures 3 1/4 inches from top to bottom, 5 1/2 inches from tip of the spout to end of the handle, and the mouth of the pot is 2 inches in diameter.

The demitasse measures 2 inches tall with a diameter of 2 1/8 inches. The saucers are 4 inches in diameter.

Lusitania Launch Plate

This commemorative plate dates to about 1906 from the launch of the Lusitania. Paired with Mauretania, Lusitania was part of the fastest team of liners across the Atlantic at the time. It was also considered one of the most luxurious ships afloat.

The ship gained lasting fame, of course, when it was torpedoed off the coast of Ireland in 1915 by a German submarine and sunk. Recent discoveries of possible munitions on board the Lusitania's wreck have led some revisionists to claim that she was a blockade runner and, therefore, valid military target. That, however, is of little comfort or use to the 1,196 people reported to have been killed in the attack.

This plate was created by Minton, one of England's most famous makers of bone china. It is 9 inches in diameter and in very good condition.

WAS $2,750.00
PRICE REDUCED! NOW $1,350

Snowflake Cup and Saucer

This is a Royal Doulton Snowflake pattern bone china cup and saucer used on the Queen Elizabeth 2. The cup is 3 1/4 inch in diameter, 2 7/8 inches high, and 4 1/4 inches from the edge of the handle to the side of the cup.

The saucer is 5 3/4 inches in diameter.

The cup is in excellent condition and the saucer is in good condition, with some wear of the gold decoration. $150.00

Cunard Officers' Ward Room Foley Demitasse

This Foley Bone China demitasse was used in one of the officers' ward rooms on board a Cunard ship. It is a brilliant white without other decoration or coloration. This set is available as cup and saucer for $125. Click on the button below to purchase a cup only for $25.

Queen Mary 2 Maiden Year Tankard

This tankard is a commemorative issue for the Queen Mary 2’s maiden voyage and was sold on board the ship. This particular tankard is number 39 of 1,000 that were made. It measures 3 1/2 inches tall and the mouth is 3 inches in diameter. It is 4 1/2 inches from the far edge of the cup to the end of the handle. In its original box and the issue number is written on the bottom in gold ink. In excellent condition. PRICE REDUCED! WAS $320.00. NOW $150.00

Queen Elizabeth 2 Royal Doulton Teapot, Creamer, and Sugar

These pieces are so elegant in their simplicity that you can picture the rich, famous, and beautiful people (people just like you, of course) taking tea from them. The tea pot is 6 1/4 inches tall with its lid and 6 inches from the end of its spout to the end of its handle. It is white and oval shaped, 2 1/4 inches wide with a broad and a narrow gold band and the Cunard Lion and World emblem. The creamer, also oval shaped is 3 1/2 inches tall and 4 1/4 from the tip of its spout to the end of its handle. The sugar bowl is 3 inches high (including its lid), 3 inches wide and 2 1/4 inches deep.

Teapot $320.00.

Creamer and sugar $285.00.

Tuscan Aquitania Pattern Creamer and Sugar

This lovely bird of paradise pattern bone china is from the 1920s and was used on board Cunard ships.

The creamer measures 3 7/8 inches high and 2 7/8 inches across
150.00

The sugar measures 1 1/2 inches high and 2 1/8 inches wide
$135.00

Copeland Cunard White Star Sugar

Copeland, provider of the original china aboard the Queen Mary, made this bone china sugar bowl. It measures 1 1/2 inches high, 2 inches wide, and 2 1/2 inches from corner to corner. The Asian-inspired floral pattern is accented by a beautiful double gold and red rim.
$172.50

Queen Mary Queen of Queens Cup and Saucer

This bone china cup and saucer were issued as commemoratives from Great Britain when the Queen Mary came to Long Beach. The cup is 3 inches tall, 3 1/3 inches in diameter, and 4 1/2 inches from the edge to the end of the handle. The saucer is 5 1/2 inches in diameter. It was made by Regency.
$48.50