Suffragettes Struggle Did Not Stop Even For a `Cuppa' in Women's Fight for Equality

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Bonhams
next sale of Fine British Porcelain on March 8 includes a rare
tea service of Suffragette interest dating from 1905, decorated
with the badge of the Women’s Social and Political Union.

This tangible link with the Suffragettes and the gentle pastime
of teadrinking is estimated to sell for £1,500 to £2,000.
The Art Noveau style tea set has six cups and saucers, small
plates, a teapot and a cake plate and is printed in green and
washed-in in purple, with the symbol of a trumpeting angel under
the banner ‘Freedom’ and the initials WSPU. The rims are also
picked out in green and bears the printed mark for H.M. Williamson
and Sons of Longton. Estimate £1,500-2,000.

The WSPU (Women’s Social and Political Union) was established
in 1903 by Emmeline, Christabel and Sylvia Pankhurst. Disillusioned
with the stance of the NUWSS (National Union of Women’s Suffrage
Societies) the Pankhursts instead founded a more militant party,
believing in ‘Deeds not words’. Members of the WSPU, known as
‘Suffragettes’, were encouraged to dress in purple, green and
white, the colours of the Union.

Mrs Pethick-Lawrence, co-editor of the weekly newspaper ‘Votes
for Women’, explained the symbolism of the colours. "Purple
as everyone knows is the royal colour. It stands for the royal
blood that flows in the veins of every suffragette, the instinct
of freedom and dignity… white stands for purity in private
and public life… green is the colour of hope and the emblem
of spring." Sylvia Pankhurst was a gifted artist and used
the colours to design banners and also memorabilia. It is possible
she designed the insignia used on this teaset.

For more details visit the Bonhams
web site.