Great Western Railway Hotel Silverplate Coffee Set

Considered the Golden Age of rail travel, the 1920s to the early 1950s was a time when railroads were seen as the height of luxury. Before the 1900s, travel in general was often associated with wealth but the turn of the century ushered in the proliferation of rail lines criss-crossing Europe and the United States, widening the opportunity for travel to the ever-growing middle class.

In Britain, many of the large railway companies also operated hotels at major railroad stations. The first such hotels opened in 1893 in London and Birmingham and by 1913 there were a whopping 93 railway hotels across the country. From the Charing Cross Hotel and Great Western Royal Hotel in London, to the Queen's Hotel in Birmingham and the Midland Hotel in Manchester, these railway hotels provided weary travelers with comfortable lodging near all the major railway stations.

Found at auction in England, this stately 3-piece Great Western Railway Hotel Silverplate Coffee Set was produced by esteemed artisans at two of England's great silversmiths - Walker & Hall and Mappin & Webb. Created for exclusive use by the Great Western Railway Hotels during the 1930s, its ample coffeepot, open sugar and milk jug are all side stamped with the GWR's Art-Deco era logo inside its classic roundel. Boasting sleek silhouettes and an easy, practical charm it's easy to envision the set hard at work in a busy dining room or lounge. With its lofty finial, ample handle and generous capacity, the pot would have been briskly employed to ensure guests remained happy and caffeinated, while the shapely open sugar and milk jug with their vivacious handles remained faithfully stationed at table.

Weighty, fashionable and of the very best quality, this gorgeous set still captures the lively energy and refined hospitality of a bustling railroad hotel. Sure to make a bold impression for every occasion, it stands ready to serve your most discriminating guests in style for decades to come.

Strictly one-of-a-kind and subject to prior sale. In very good vintage condition with wear as shown in alternative images. Pot measures 8.25"H x 8" at widest point. Sugar measures 3"H x 5" at widest point. Milk jug measures 4"H x 5" at widest point.