Designer
|
Not known
|
Maker
|
NV Koninklijke Sphinx
|
Marks
|
Black stamp to base. The stamp reads; "Parafeu" across
the top of the star, "Le Sphinx" across the inside of the star, and
"Hollande" between the bottom of the star.
|
Material
|
Glazed slip
|
Description
|
Small lidded ramekin with stem handle. Graduated mustard coloured glaze,
lightening towards base.
Uncoloured footring with clear
gloss glaze to interior. Lid has knob handle in centre
|
Condition
|
Very Good
|
Number
|
No number
|
Production Date
|
1970s
|
Width at rim
|
66mm
|
Width at Base
|
52mm
|
Depth
|
38mm
|
Length (with handle)
|
112mm
|
Weight
|
Lid
45gm
Ramekin
75 gm
|
Volume
|
75ml
|
Acquisition
|
Salvo Stores October 2013
|
Rameking Reference Number
|
SPH 001-112
|
These tiny ramekins are known as Parafeu
Pastry Cups and were made by Royal Shpinx in Maastricht, Holland. They came in sets of six on a matching
tray. Just what a pastry cup is, I don’t
know. Maastricht is famous for its
ceramics, not just Andre Rieu. The
company was founded in 1827 when Petus Regout (1801 to 1878) changed from glass
and crystal cutting and grinding to producing ceramics. He started a glass factory in 1834 and in
1836 he was producing stoneware for the local market in competition with
imported English creamware. He used
printed English designs from Stoke on Trent, employed English workers. Most of their output was elegant tableware,
mostly like the famous blue and white Delft ware.
In 1870 his sons took over and the company
became SA Petrus Regout & Co. At its peak, they employed 7000 people. In 1925 the glass company separated and
merged with Stella to become
Kristalunie. Adolphe Regout ran
the company from 1934 until 1958.
Petrus Regout began making sanitary and hotel ware and in 1958, the
company merged with Societe Ceramique
and in 1960 became NV Koninklijke Sphinx. (In 1958 they were permitted to be called Royal Sphinx.) Societe Ceramique was started in 1851 by
Winand Clermont and Charles Chainaye and was Petrus’ main competitor. Gustavsberg, a Swedish company took over in
1997 and in 1999, Sanitek, a Finnish company took over. In 2008, the company went belly-up and
production moved to Sweden. Today they
make bathroom products, but only warehousing continued in Maastricht.
1827 to 1870 Perus Regout & Co
1870 to 1899 Petus Regout NV & Co (re-named
after his sons took over)
1899 to 1958 NV Sphinx Ceramique v/h Petrus
Regout & Co
1958 to 1960 NV Sprinx Ceramique
1960 to 1994 NV Koninklijke Sphinx
1994 to 2001 NV Koninklijke Sphinx Gustavsberg
2001 to 2012 Koninklijke Sphinx BV
2012 to Present Sphinx Maastricht BV
