RMS Caronia Timeline: Ephemera Folio - Caronia Silver Souvenirs Part 2

Retail Therapy Part 3

Silver Wine Taster or Tastevin

Thanks to Peter G White from Los Angeles, who has much more skill at photographing silver than I, another silver item that I'm delighted to present images of is another Harman Bros. creation, a Tastevin.

With a dimpled base, handle of entwined snakes, 1966 Sheffield hallmarks, and marked with the latest Cunard logo, this was not an item that would have been sold on board the Caronia. As with the Armada Dish below, it's likely to have been a gift direct from Cunard HQ.

These would have probably been presented to:

passengers booking suites on major cruises, or
those travel agents booking the most cruise accommodation, or
the many shipping agents around the World who looked after the “Green Goddess” whilst she visited

Tastevin presentation box
Image:
Courtesy of Jim Demoski

Caronia Tastevin

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Tastevin body

Tastevin ship markings

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The Tastevin Handle

The two serpents, holding a grape in the handle, would probably have their roots in classical mythology, coming from the times when wine was used for medicinal purposes.

For the Tastevin, this is supported by two cards within its blue presentation box. One explains its origins, the other is a Cunard compliments card.

Presentation Cards

Cunard presentation card — Cunard compliments card

The real value of these two items only comes if they are accompanied by their original presentation box, and all the associated paperwork. Note the typographic error on the description card. It should read “Gourmet Piquers De Vino De Paris.”

“Armada” Silver Wine-bottle Coaster

This item was another hallmarked solid-silver Cunard gift, offered in a red leatherette box. The manufacturer of this being Comyns of London. The card that accompanied the gift states:

THE ARMADA DISH…
Silver taken from the Armada was used to make a banquetry service for Sir C. Harris in the realm of Elizabeth I, bearing the London Hallmarks for the years 1581, 1599, 1600 and 1601.

During the Civil War (1645), the service was buried on Dartmoor in order to avoid seizure by the Parliamentary troops, as the owner of that period held a command in the Royal Forces. The service was discovered early in the 20th century when a workman put his pick through one of the dishes.

This interesting and attractive piece of silver has been faithfully reproduced from the original, even to the staggered hallmarks. Its story is a link with the common history of all the English speaking peoples.

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I have seen it claimed that these wine coasters were actually used on board the Caronia! The way to tell the difference between those items sold or given as souvenirs, and those used on board as silver-service items, is that the latter are always marked with a Cunard / Cunard White Star logo but do not carry any ship's name.

One other factor about the Armada Dish is that the shape of the base requires it to be placed on a very steady horizontal surface when in use. You would rarely find those conditions apply in a ship's dining room…

Silver-Plated Desk Calendar

This item measures 2 1/8” round on the base, with an enamelled RMS Caronia badge topped with the Cunard house flag. The tray holds the painted celluloid panels showing Day of Week, Month and Date.

There are 16 date panels, 2 Day of the Week panels and 3 Month panels, The selected day of the week sits at the back, with the month in the middle, and then the date at the front.

With the house flag pre-dating the merger with White Star line and the design clearly pre-dating when the White Star pennant in combination was dropped, this item is probably better associated with the First Caronia.

RMS Caronia Timeline

Ephemera Folio
Silver Souvenir Items (2)

The Cunard White Star Line's ‘Green Goddess’

Luxurious ocean travel aboard a world-famous British cruise liner