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An Authentic Piece of Titanic-Era Maritime History: White Star Line First-Class Individual Sugar Bowl (1915) by Elkington & Co.
Up for sale is a remarkable, deeply evocative artifact from the golden, tragic era of transatlantic travel:
an authentic First-Class Open Sugar Bowl manufactured exclusively for the White Star Line by the premier silversmiths Elkington & Co.
Measuring a compact 5" x 3" x 1.75", this heavy, miniature oval trough was designed to sit elegantly on the crisp white linen tables of a First-Class Dining Saloon, holding sugar cubes for wealthy passengers enjoying their morning coffee or after-dinner tea.
🚢 The Pattern & The Tragically Famous Fleet
This piece bears the coveted factory pattern number 28013. This exact pattern layout—characterized by its distinct reeded rim and clean, stately geometry—was commissioned by the White Star Line in 1911 specifically to outfit their Olympic-class trio: the RMS Olympic, the RMS Titanic, and the HMHS Britannic.
Stamped with Elkington's date code "D" in a circle for 1915, this sugar bowl rolled off the production line in Birmingham, England, during the height of World War I. While the Titanic lay at the bottom of the Atlantic and the Britannic was being rushed into service as a hospital ship, this very bowl was manufactured to sustain the fleet's active wartime operations. Because White Star routinely rotated its tableware inventory between active ships, this bowl likely served passengers and military officers alike aboard flagships like the RMS Olympic or the RMS Adriatic throughout the late 1910s and the glamorous 1920s.
⚖️ The Canceled Stamp: A Lifetime of Service Explained
The most captivating feature of this antique is the official factory cancellation mark struck directly through the "WHITE STAR LINE" name on the base.
Rather than a modern replica or a shipwreck salvage piece, this sugar bowl tells a complete story of survival. When a luxury liner was retired or inventory was updated, the White Star Line legally decommissioned their hardware. Fleet managers used heavy mechanical dies to intentionally stamp vertical obliteration lines over the company name. This defacement was proof that the item was officially sold or gifted out of service—saving it from the scrap heap and allowing it to survive intact for over a century. It is the ultimate guarantee of operational authenticity.
🔍 Full Hallmark Blueprint on the Base:
• A: Elkington’s stamp for prime quality electroplating.
• 28013: The official First-Class Dining Saloon pattern code.
• E & Co Shield: The legendary Elkington & Co. maker's mark.
• Rd 580407: The British design registration number from 1911.
• [D] in a Cartouche: The definitive date letter code for 1915.
• Canceled WHITE STAR LINE Text: The historic, struck-through fleet inventory mark.
💎 Condition Report
Offered in beautiful, as-found antique condition. It features a heavy, authentic dark tarnish with an exquisite multi-colored "rainbow" oxidation film. There are light surface scratches and minor thinning of the silver plate along the interior base, exactly what you want to see from a century of commercial use and polishing at sea. No there is structural tent along the bottom rim and a slight tent in the silver circle part . No cracks, or repairs. Please study the high-resolution photos carefully as they serve as the definitive visual guide.
Don't miss the chance to own a tangible, tabletop-sized piece of the White Star Line legacy—a true conversation starter that fits perfectly in any cabinet or display case.
📦 Shipping & Handling
Will be wrapped securely in collector-grade packaging and shipped fully insured with tracking. Combined shipping is available for multiple purchases. Please message me with any questions before buying.
