ANTIQUE AYNSLEY 'THE NELROS CUP OF FORTUNE" 1905 DIVIATION CUP DUO

Orign: England.
Circa: 1905- 1910.
Maker: Aynsley
Misc: Rd #442928.
Low C Handle version.
Materials: Bone China
Original or Reproduction: Original

The Nelros Cup of fortune was developed by Mrs Neville Ross of London, England where the design was first patented in 1904. Aynsley approximately a year later in 1905 acquired a licence to the patent.
In the peak of their popularity during the late 19th century in the West, tasseography or tea leaf reading was widely used in parlor trick games & even at ones home. The Nelros Cup of Fortune features a large red anchor in the middle of the teacup and a nautical symbol with a red letter 'R' within a star the center of the saucer, all inwhich accompany an aray of divided symbols such as the Zodiac and astrological symbols. The cup exterior reads "Would'st I Learn Thy Future With Thy Tea and This Magic Cup Will Show I Thee". Both teacup and saucer have smooth rounded edges and the cup has a low D shaped handle. There are a few versions of Nelros's design. The other versions you can find these cups varying in details such as, a high D (Doris) handle as well as a low D (Doris) handle, and lastly the Letters Patent cup version consists of a high handle with a red stripe on top. Another key difference between these cups is the other versions have scalloped edges on each pieces rims and do not necessarily have the same makers markings on the base.

While this is an original antique, I can't stress to people enough about repro's and how sellers knowingly mislead and rip off potential customers ( I have seen it time and time again with this cup) FYI "The cup of destiny" is the modern day reproduction of the Nelros Cup, made in 2000 Jane Lyle.

[ See my page for more info on the Letters Patent Nelros Cup]