Cook & Serve Coffee Cans: Including a Tacoma Coffee Service

oh no!!!! http://www.trademe.co.nz/a.aspx?id=641963085 - very classy looking but I will resist...
Is it Jeremey whos looking for Rorstrand but I think you my have it already? Janice

This auction has saucers in blue, green and brown/or is it black, all marked Athens which are the same colours as the bands of colour on the coffee cans.   I wasn't aware of this until now.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/pottery-glass/porcelain-pottery/crown-lynn/cups-saucers/auction-643060730.htm

Question.. just reading V.Monk book and on page 76, third column mentions the first designs were Narvik, Vision, Blue Tango and Green Bamboo.  I wonder if anyone know what Vision looks like? Curious to see

Don't think I've seen or heard of this one but my interest is peaked
can't check if it's on the database until I get home later today.

As Val Monk says that Vision was one of the Replacement patterns it should be around in plentiful amounts like Green Bamboo etc. But I haven't seen it yet, it is on the Database, but there isn't a number. Ok we need to find this pattern!!

Janice, I have a set of Rorstrand Tango cups, with a choice of red and black saucers (ie I can take my pick).
I also have the matching coffee pot, milk and creamer.
A friend just gave me a Rorstrand "Red Top" can, bringing me up to 10 Rorstrand can patterns.
I see other patterns on eBay and web stores but they tend to want 50USD with shipping on top of that for one duo.
Bearing that price in mind 25NZD for a Marianne Westman Tango on trademe is cheap!

The recent sale of Athens-marked saucers in black, yellow and blue is a good indication of how you can mix and match.
I totally missed that auction, and the Viking saucer auction was too expensive for me.
Tacoma and Bermuda look good on yellow or blue, maybe not the black.
Image looks good on yellow or black, but bear in mind the hand-painted Image came on a yellow saucer.
My favourite mix is a plain lime green can on a black saucer.
I've also had fun arranging plain coloured cans as harlequin sets on black.

So who's wanting cans? It's time for me to start getting rid of some. Offers by PM. (Or if that's not allowed I'll add my email.) The plan is to start putting them up on TM but it's such a chore (And I don't seem to be able to get all my camera components together in the same house at the same time.)

See some cans etc on Val's blog:
http://valputaruru.blogspot.co.nz/2013/09/coffee-cans-mid-century-at-its-best.html

Finally got it together to post a pic.

These are my Rorstrand cans. Same shape and size as Crown Lynn cans. The earliest date from about 1955.
Since the photo was taken I have added one other: "Red Top". There are more out there.

Back row: Kadett, blue, yellow, red, Venezia, Curtis
Front Row: Tango, Eden, Fenix, King


This is my new addition, Red Top, so-called because the bakeware etc had red lids.

Eden is my favourite pattern.
I saw an Eden duo for sale on tm for $55, which seems a lot,
but is actually in keeping with international prices.
So... what's that make this lot worth then:

Sorry! Just showing off.
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A trademe listing, one on ebay, and a blog
attribute the design of Eden to Sigrid Richter,
rather than Marianne Westman. I may be wrong.
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Rorstrand Tango Coffee Set creamer/pot/sugar

(Sorry about the fuzzy photo)

Plain coloured Cook & Serve cans on black saucers presented as a harlequin set.


Note: the two different yellows (back left and front right) are distinctly different colours.

My favourite combination:
Lime Green on Black

These are all the different saucer colours and patterns I have.

Top: Yellow (or Image), Fleurette, Blue (or Blue Tango)
Middle: Black (or Mogambo or Allegro), Brown (for Napoli)
Bottom: unknown, Mexico, Form d382



This rather sorry photo shows a saucer I have referred to elsewhere.
I don't know the name but the fern forms do show some similarity to reflections d842

As noted above by Ev, the Athens coffee can was sold with a choice of three different saucer colours:
yellow, blue or black.


The various colours of the pattern offer the same choice for Tacoma:


or Bermuda:

These are not Cook & Serve cans.
These cans, which I call "530" range, are approximately 4mm wider and 4mm higher than the C&S cans and slightly thicker material. The ring that sits in the saucer is set well in from the edge of the cup. The ceramic is white, but not vitrified china like C&S. The patterns appear to be a transfer over crisp white glaze. This range is not as sturdy as Cook & Serve. I wouldn't put them in a dishwasher. Patterns inlcude 530 "Purple Myrtle", 531 "Arthur & Martha", and d532 "Captain Sharples". These three patterns are all a bit psychedelic, a bit "Yellow Submarine".


The ring of hearts goes all the way around the can but the image is only on one side
--for the right-handed coffee drinker.


My Purple Myrtles were issued on black "Colour Glaze" saucers in a box marked "Happenings".
Note some chipping of the over-glaze transfer.

I have now found my "Captain Sharples" and you can see it here:
http://newzealandpottery.forumotion.net/t658-captain-sharples-pat-no-532#14074

These two cans and saucers are not Cook & Serve either.
They are the same size as the "530"s, above, but a different line again.
The ring at the bottom of the can is in the same position as on Cook & Serve cans.
I cannot tell whether the are under-glaze, or over-glaze transfer, or screen-print.
They sit on matching-coloured, green-stamped, Kelston Potteries saucers.





Val used a shot of one of these in her recent blog on cans:
http://valputaruru.blogspot.co.nz/2013/09/coffee-cans-mid-century-at-its-best.html

And JanPots tells me she has the same pattern in black.

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These things were being offered at a huge price at the Retro Fair!
About $50 a duo. Don't know if any sold. I only stayed an hour.
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JanPots sent me a picture of her cans:

I've just bought (well I have yet to pay for) a lovely Reflections trio from unouwanit.
It comprises a plain coloured can on a patterned Reflections saucer (+ plate, + jam dish). This is not a Cook & Serve set, but instead appears to be a match for the "530s" (above) in physical specification.

I've nicked her photo and posted it here with a purpose.


It occurs to me that if a Reflections duo can be made up in such a way, why not a "Vision" duo. There is mention in this string of Val's reference to one of the early Cook & Serve patterns, yet to be identified, going by the name "Vision".
I have a pair of Cook & Serve saucers no one has yet been able to put a name to.
So, here's my "Vision":


The names "Vision" and "Reflections" seem to go together. These patterns are similar, both comprising fern leaf (or feather) forms, drawn the same way, only in "Reflections" they cross or "reflect" each other.

Well, that's my bedtime story.

(Oh, Ev, I've squeezed in a photo of the Rorstrand Tango coffee set, sans cans, at the end of the Rorstrand pics. It's a bad photo, but it's the middle of the night and the only one I have.)

Very interesting to see a Reflections Coffee Can and the butter pat as I've never come across any before.  I have to hunt out the auction now to see what the backstamps are, because Reflections is usually on vitrified clay wares.  It won't be the 530 range I don't think.  Notice how the can has an inner base ring that should fit that saucer that has a smaller well than the usual can saucers.
Your possible Vision set is just dandy Jeremy

Edits to add:
There is no info on the auction re the backstamps. While searching I came across a few butter pats and this one looks smaller as it only fits the pattern. Is it likely to be one of those egg cup saucers?

Ev, the 530s, Purple Myrtle etc, have a reduced ring size. The dimensions uno gave me for the can are 6cm H, 7ish across.
Unouwanit will have the answers to any Qs about the Reflections.

So, do you think this saucer may turn out to be the missing Vision pattern?
I won't be holding my breath on this one.

The auction for Reflections was: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=659234732

Sorry this was my auction.

Thanks Jeremy for winning it ;-)

Backstamps are: Crown Lynn New Zealand Vitrified Ware Reflections Pat no 842 on all but the cup, which is simply imprinted with New Zealand. The coffee can had a simple round handle which differs from some of the coffee cans which are a little shaped. (if that makes sense) ?

Looking forward to sending it to a new home.

Editing to add this is the smaller butter pat than the commonly seen. I've only found this size in the reflections thus far and one in Blue to match the blue saphhire range.

Measures 8cm in diam

Unouwanit,
It looks as though you got it right, concluding they belong together, especially as you bought them together.
You are in agreement with Ducks Nuts from this point in a Reflections topic:
http://newzealandpottery.forumotion.net/t904-reflections-by-crown-lynn-new-zealand#13500
Read through to the end.

I have a spot ready and waiting for this set.

How disappointing to see the Viking cans are plain colours .....?
But then again these could be that range of plain coloured cans that Jeremy has ....?
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=663306506
It will be interesting to see the backstamps and to compare to see if the cans are the same shapes as Cook & Serve ones. Good luck Jeremy !

hehe I remember selling some of those to Mutantsniper...

I only had Yellow and Olive from memory. Nothing fancier than that.

I have one remaining set with the yellow cup I've just pulled out of the shed and offered to Jeremy, I was trying to compare it to the recent reflections one and they are so similar, shape is spot on but the rim on the base differs.

So Jeremy when you receive it would you mind taking a photo of the base to confirm that?

white cans

on form saucers

For plain coloured Cook & Serve cans see also:
http://newzealandpottery.forumotion.net/t4324-viking-plain-coloured-cook-serve-cans#15046

More additions to the collection:

Five Focus Pat No 878 cans on tango blue saucers.
Cans not marked. Saucers green Cook & Serve stamp.
I paid a huge sum for these in a trademe auction.

Reflections d842, one saucer only.
Note that although this is a 792 saucer it is not marked Cook & Serve.
Now I need a mushroom 782 can. More about my Reflections here:
http://newzealandpottery.forumotion.net/t5232-reflections-cups-and-saucers-attention-unouwanit-and-ducks-nuts

Green, one saucer only.
Green Cook & Serve backstamp.
I knew I had a green saucer somewhere. Found it in my glues bucket. I had to photograph this outside to make the colour true. It's either very dirty or lost glaze. I've tried solvents; abrasives are next. I have no idea what can should sit on this, maybe green bamboo, or something totally unexpected.

So, one new patterned duo out of the blue,  and some more cans to watch for.

Tuesday 10th
Less than a week has passed since this post, and just over since I took possession of the 792 Reflections saucer, not even dreaming that such a thing would exist, especially as Reflections was made in the 3618 shape.
Well, now I have found and bought a 782 coffee can to match the saucer. Don't hold your breathe though. It is in Auckland and I am in Whangarei. It could be weeks or a month. I have had a few disappointments with the post and couriers and do not feel like taking a chance on losing this amazing and apparently very rare find.

18/6/14. Now I know what the green saucer is for, and what a surprise: Napoli!
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Pottery-glass/auction-743549984.htm

More additions.

Earlier this week I assembled my Reflections d842 3618 duo set, 
which is pieced together from three separate sources. (I'm still thinking 743/4610 for the saucers.)

And I finally picked up my 782 can and matched it to its saucer. Just the one.
I was hoping to work out a date for this, thinking it preceded the Cook & Serve range but I'm pretty sure now after re-reading Val and studying her source material that 1963 is THE first year for all the vitrified cans. It has a vitrified star stamp on the saucer so it is not part of the Cook & Serve range.

Reflections d842 782/792 duo

Different numbered Reflections cans: 782 vs 3618
782 left, 3618 right: these differ only in foot ring and mark.

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Rorstrand Coffee Sets

I already had Rorstrand Venezia pattern cans and saucers so I couldn't resist when I saw the coffee pot, creamer and sugar on trademe for $8! No one else bid so that's what I paid. Actually it cost me more because I didn't trust it to the post and drove to Auckland to pick it up (along with the 782 Reflections). No worries: this Venezia set is worth hundreds of US dollars on the international market. They don't come up for sale as a full set often.

27/6/14 I've added a new photo here and taken one out from above.
Three Rorstrand coffee sets:

The top is my "Tango" set. This is the pattern Crown Lynn reproduced as "Vision".
Note the original red saucers. Sometimes seen on black. Later ones have a white saucer with a black ring. I suspect an earlier coffee pot and sugar bowl may have had red lids, but I'm just guessing.
The middle set, highlighted in purple, is the "new" Venezia set.
Bottom set is "Curtis". I posed my photos to look like this one, which is currently for sale in an etsy.com store for NZD530: https://www.etsy.com/listing/129414751/rorstrand-curtis-atomic-era-coffee-tea from etsy.
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13/3/16
I see this Curtis set is still for sale at etsy, however ... I don't know whether exchange rates can account for this but the price is now $984.03 NZD, up from just over 500 to nearly a grand!
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Bonus Photo: BLUE!

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24/6/14 Coloured cans.
As it is a while since I posted my different coloured cans and I now have some new ones I thought it time for an update.

dark brown, mushroom (Reflections), white (clear glaze), oyster
Cook & Serve yellow, yellow, lime green, tango blue.

White and lime green came on Form saucers as complete sets. The mushroom one is a Reflections can and belongs on a Reflections-patterned saucer. I believe some of these belong to Viking sets: brown, oyster, yellow. The two standard Cook & Serve colours, tango blue and yellow, bottom row each end, were found without saucers.

None of these coloured cans has a backstamp, however all but white and mushroom have impressed numbers which are hard to make out.

More about coloured cans in the Viking topic:
https://www.newzealandpottery.net/t4324-viking-plain-coloured-cook-serve-cans#15046
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4/7/14
Oh no: sorting through my cans today I noticed that (without even including the Oystery colour) there are actually THREE distinct shades of yellow on coffee cans!

My photo has not captured the differences so well but they are distinct to the eye.
From left: Cook & Serve Yellow, Primrose Yellow, Chrome (or Cadmium?) Yellow.
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27/6/14

AUCTION MADNESS!!

Bidding on cans on trademe has gone wild.
I participated in a couple of auctions recently that went over $150 for five sets, passed on the Fleurette as I have some and the other bidder seemed pretty intent on winning, but could not walk away from the Focus as I had none.

I was keen on the Napoli 6 set and bid but was overtaken by others: it finally sold at $210! http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=743549984

I was a bit unsure about the pairing of named cups with star-stamped saucers, and about the saucer colour, which does not pick up any of the colours on the cans. It was Ev I think who noted having had a set of Napoli on brown saucers and I feel that is correct. I have the one green saucer, noted above, but it has a Cook & Serve stamp, so I'm still wondering whether there is another pattern, maybe two, on green. I would have liked at least one such saucer as the only star stamp one I have is my Reflections. BTW a single Napoli without saucer recently sold for $45.

Earlier this year I watched a set of handpainted Blue Tango sell for a good price on the incorrect saucers (Cook & Serve stamp instead of named saucers) and now I see the same for a set of Mogambo, currently sitting on $101, and due to finish in nine hours: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Pottery-glass/auction-744343275.htm
I will be interested to see what they go for.