In 1845, a bright new star appeared on the Liverpool shipping scene. Like a phoenix, the White Star Line grew out of the ashes of a bankrupt sailing ship line to become the fastest-growing and most famous of all shipping companies. With the discovery of gold in Australia, the White Star Line's initial routes brought fortune seekers Down Under from England.

From those early years, it wasn't long before the White Star Line ships, flying a now-iconic red swallow-tailed flag with a white star, were found at ports around the globe. Their first transatlantic steamships set a new standard for travel, a standard that was to remain as long as the company existed. Operating between Europe, the USA and Canada, as well as New Zealand, South Africa and Australia, the White Star Line may not have had the fastest ships, but theirs were the biggest and most luxurious in the world.

From the Oceanic of 1871 to the Georgic of 1932, there were many ground-breaking White Star Line ships. The company's most famous are undoubtedly the Olympic, the Britannic and the ill-fated Titanic, but the other seventy or so ships of the line also helped White Star become the most famous shipping line of all time.

In 1934, White Star would merge with its main competitor Cunard and its last liner, the Britannic, was scrapped in 1960. The White Star Line leaves behind a historic legacy of famous liners which are still appreciated to this day. 

Acquired at auction in London, we are thrilled to present this magnificent antique silverplate tea pot once used aboard the great ships of the White Star Line. With a classic silhouette that is refined and timeless, this exceptional pot speaks to the lavish service aboard the White Star Line ships with a decorative engraved pattern encircling both the top and bottom border of the pot. Likewise, the lid is dressed with detailed engravings and a classic twisted rope border.

Like all the bespoke serving pieces used aboard the great White Star Line ships, the tea pot is side-stamped with the shipping company's iconic house flag logo. This pot is doubly blessed, with the house flag stamped clearly into both sides. Produced by England's renowned Elkington silversmiths, the pot is date code stamped with its year of manufacture: 1871 - the same year that the White Star Line launched its trans-Atlantic passenger service between Liverpool and New York.

With a storied provenance that resonates across the centuries, this gleaming memento used aboard the great White Star Line ships carries with it the luxurious spirit of the Golden Age of Travel and is sure to take pride of place in your collection.

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Strictly one-of-a-kind and subject to prior sale. In good antique condition with scratches to the otherwise clean interior and a small discreet spot of silver loss on the spout as shown in the alternate image. 5"H x 10.25".

Learn More about Hotel Silver

Once found in Grand Hotels, chic cafés, elegant restaurants as well as luxury steamships and the dining cars of the great locomotives, vintage hotel silver beautifully evokes the Golden Age of Travel. Enduringly crafted using sturdy nickel silver as its base metal and coated with a thick plating of pure, gleaming silver, vintage hotel silver is unmistakeable for its simple, classic lines and its pleasing heft. Often crested with the name of the establishment, the pieces bear the gentle, lovely patina often referred to as a “butler’s finish”.

Produced by the great silversmiths here in the United States, as well as those in Britain and on the Continent, most hotel silver dates from the 1920s to the 1940s. Prized for its perfect blend of form and function, hotel silver was made to withstand the rigors of daily use. Highly collectible, vintage hotel silver is a wonderful addition to any home.

Evoking the days of elegant travel, there are many new ways that hotel silver can be enjoyed. A milk pitcher or sugar basin makes an elegant vase for flowers or fresh herbs on the kitchen counter. A collection of oval platters adds sparkle and depth in a hutch when not being called into service for a buffet or dinner party. A toast rack becomes the perfect way to display photographs, hold fingertip towels in a powder room or organize mail in the office. Mix and match cutlery brings a relaxed sophistication and elegance to any tablescape. Whatever the piece, vintage hotel silver is sure to stir memories not only of your own travels, but of exotic destinations and ports of call from parts unknown.