Rare Vintage Paragon Signs & Omens Fortune Telling Teacup and Saucer

This extraordinary vintage Paragon "Signs & Omens" fortune-telling teacup and saucer is one of the most highly sought-after pieces in the world of antique English bone china — and this rare pastel buttercup yellow variation is among the most coveted of all.

Crafted circa 1935 during the Art Deco period, at the height of Western fascination with tasseography — the ancient art of tea leaf reading — this remarkable set was produced by Paragon China Co. of Longton, Staffordshire, England, under Royal Warrant by appointment to Her Majesty The Queen Mother.

The interior of the cup is a collector's delight: wrapped around the rim in blue script is the enchanting inscription, "When Telling Fortunes In Your Tea Many Curious Things You'll See." Below, the white interior is scattered with numbered red transfer symbols — a horseshoe, skull, butterfly, question mark, scales, dice, drum, and more — each representing a different life omen to be interpreted when the tea leaves settle. The reading follows a time-honored method: after drinking, the cup is swirled and inverted onto the saucer. Symbols near the rim speak to the present, those on the sides to the near future, and those at the base to what lies further ahead. Symbols nearest the handle reflect what is closest to the heart.

The exterior is finished in a soft, luminous pastel buttercup yellow with elegant gold trim on the rim, foot, and handle. The saucer mirrors the yellow glaze beautifully.

A true factory-matched set: both the cup and saucer bear the identical 1935 British Patent Registration number (Regd. No. 800151) and the same hand-painted pattern code (A266/2 N) — a rare and desirable find for serious collectors.

Marked, "Paragon, By Appointment, Fine China, Made in England, Reg'd." Carefully inspected — no chips, cracks, or crazing found. Gold trim is intact. Excellent vintage condition.