4 Metlox Poppytrail Del Rey Cups & Saucers

METLOX POPPYTRAIL DEL REY SET OF 4 MID-CENTURY CUPS & SAUCERS, HAND-PAINTED CALIFORNIA POTTERY A crisp four-place set of mid-century California pottery cups and saucers in Metlox's hand-painted Del Rey pattern, marked DEL REY HAND PAINTED POPPYTRAIL CALIFORNIA MADE BY METLOX on the underside of each saucer. The cups are two-tone satin turquoise outside with speckled white interiors and white ribbon handles, while the saucers carry the pattern's signature loose black brushstroke arcs with alternating teal and gray teardrop accents on a speckled white ground. Textbook 1950s California modern, bright and cocktail-party casual. Sold as a lot of 8 pieces: 4 cups and 4 saucers. Description Four cups: flared conical mid-century form, satin speckled turquoise exterior, speckled off-white interior, applied white loop handle with a small button terminal; approximately 3" tall and approximately 3-1/2" in diameter across the rim per the tape-measure photos Four saucers: approximately 6" in diameter with a recessed cup well; speckled white ground with a border of hand-painted black brushstroke swags and alternating teal and gray oval teardrops All measurements are approximate - bidders should verify dimensions from the photographs Semi-matte to satin glaze throughout, with the fine dark clay speckling typical of Metlox's mid-century bodies Saucer backstamps read in black: DEL REY HAND PAINTED POPPYTRAIL PAT. PEND. CALIFORNIA MADE BY METLOX Cups are unmarked on the base, as is common for this shape Cups and saucers only - no plates, bowls, or serving pieces included Attribution note Metlox Potteries of Manhattan Beach, California operated from 1927 until 1989 and used Poppytrail as its principal dinnerware trade name (Metlox Pottery history). Del Rey was produced on Metlox's modern 4200 shape and appears in an open stock price list dated January 30, 1956 as Dinnerware Series No. 4200, sharing its form with the related Confetti, Mardi Gras, and Street Scene lines; the company's own brochure described Del Rey as "a primitive pattern boldly brush-stroked with color," paired with "two-tone turquoise hollowware" - exactly the cup treatment seen here. Reference sources catalog the Del Rey cup as shape #4200 and the saucer as #4202. The pattern is long discontinued and pieces are now sold individually through replacement services. Condition Used vintage condition, sold as-is. All eight pieces photograph clean and bright with strong turquoise color and crisp black brushwork, and no chips, cracks, or breaks were observed. Expect light utensil marks, faint surface scratching, and minor glaze scuffing from table use, plus small kiln specks, glaze pinholes, tiny unglazed stilt marks on the cup bases, and slight variation in the hand-painted decoration from piece to piece - all normal to hand-decorated California pottery of this period and not considered damage. The cup bases show a few small glaze pops and light wear rings, visible in the close-up photographs. Crazing may be present. Handles are the most vulnerable point on this shape and appear intact on all four cups, but bidders should study every photograph closely and satisfy themselves as to condition before bidding. Photos are part of the description. Notes for bidders Hand wash recommended to protect the vintage hand-painted decoration; not represented as dishwasher, microwave, or oven safe Not represented as food safe by modern standards - best used for display or light service A complete service for four in coffee or tea, and a strong match for other Metlox speckled turquoise pieces in this sale Del Rey is a scarce Metlox pattern with a following among mid-century collectors and stylists Terms Sold as-is, where-is, with no warranty expressed or implied. All sales final. Please ask any questions before bidding. Buyer is responsible for pickup or shipping arrangements per auction terms.