Le Sphinx

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