Milwaukee Road "Traveler" RR China Individual Egg Cup - USA SHIPPING INCLUDED!

Collectibles : Railroadiana : Dining Car Items : China : Chicago Milwaukee Road St. Paul & Pacific : Cmstp&P : Milwaukee Road

 

Here is an exquisite little single pedestal china eggcup from the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad ("Milwaukee Road") in the well loved Traveler pattern. It is in absolutely wonderful condition with no damage; there are only the tiniest surface marks which are not noticeable unless you tilt it in bright light and look for them.

This little gem is only 2-3/8 inches tall. It has no markings anywhere, but this design was an "exclusive" pattern -- Syracuse China was contracted to produce and sell the design only to the CMStP&PRR and no one else. Consequently, although many indeed were railroad backstamped, non-railroad marked Traveler china is absolutely authentic.

"Traveler" china was used on the Milwaukee Road streamliner trains between 1937 and 1969. It is instantly recognizable: the base china is white, with a strong pink airbrushed design of Canada geese winging high above pine trees and a mountain in the background.

BACKGROUND: As the story goes, a Syracuse China senior salesman had traveled to Chicago to present several pattern designs to RR officials -- who rejected them all. After the unsuccessful meeting, as he walked back to his hotel, he passed by an art gallery where a painting of Canada geese was on display in the window. Inspired that the geese could become a unique symbol suggesting that the new trains could be swift over long distances, the salesman again approached the railroad officials, who liked the new idea. Using the fast flying geese as their inspiration, the china artists in Syracuse then created the Traveler pattern.

Egg cups are harder to find and missing from many railway china collections. Don't let this one get away!

Item ID: 2008-00237