Accession Number

983.085

Alternate Name

souvenir teacup

Description

A very small porcelain teacup, Craigdarroch Castle depicted in a black and white transfer print and circled in a repeating gilded design, the bottom printed "Wheelock made in Austria for Weiler Bros. Victoria, B.C. Vienna".

Narrative

This is one of the earliest known souvenirs of Craigdarroch Castle, made for Weiler Bros. of Victoria, B.C. and sold from their store in the Weiler Building at the corner of Broughton and Governments Streets in Victoria, B.C. while Joan Dunsmuir was living in Craigdarroch Castle. The Castle Society has in its collection has many souvenir postcards depicting Craigdarroch that were produced while Joan Dunsmuir was alive. An 1891 silver teaspoon in the museum collection (2015.016) is another early example.

History of Use

This teacup was sold as a souvenir item by Weiler Bros. during the period of Joan Dunsmuir's occupancy at Craigdarroch. Its subsequent history of use is unknown until 1977, when it was donated to Craigdarroch Castle by Rosemary Wells, a Victoria, BC antique dealer. 

Date

circa 1890 – 1908

Dimensions

5.5 cm
6 cm diameter

Material

Ceramic, porcelain

Technique

Moulded; Gilt; Transfer printed

Inscription

DUNSMUIR CASTLE, VICTORIA, B.C. and Wheelock Made in Austria for Weiler Bros. Victoria, B.C. Vienna.

Country of Origin

Austria