Crested china searchlight : First World War

China souvenir in the shape of a First World War search light. Oone side of the base of the souvenir is printed 'Model of British Searchlight / THE ZEPPELIN FINDER'. The other side bears the coat of arms for Southend on Sea, in Essex, England. The bottom of the searchlight bears a maker's mark for Carlton China, Stoke on Trent. There is gilding around the base, on the end of the searchlight and on some of the raised features. The 'light' itself is rimmed with black and has horizontal black lines across the 'light' surface.

Crested china collecting became a craze in the Victorian period when tourists bought small ivory coloured porcelain ornaments decorated with the coats of arms of the towns they visited to take home as a souvenir. Before the First World War companies (the most famous and the original being Goss crested china) made collectibles such as vases, plates and other crockery, houses, public buildings, cars and replicas of visitor attractions. During the war the range of souvenirs was expanded to include military caps, equipment and vehicles. During the war Zeppelins and other air ships were used by Germany for long range bombing attacks over Britain and France.