US Navy Wardroom China Coffee Cup Lamberton Sterling 1964

U.S. Navy wardroom china coffee cup.

The stamp “Lamberton Sterling China Made in USA P4” points to a piece made by the Lamberton Works, originally part of the Trenton Potteries Company in New Jersey.

3.75" diameter x 2.75" H

About Lamberton Sterling China:

• Lamberton Works (Trenton, NJ) produced high-quality institutional and hotel china starting in the late 1800s.

• After 1952, the Sterling China Company (East Liverpool, Ohio) acquired rights to produce the “Lamberton” line, continuing it as a durable vitrified institutional ware for railroads, hotels, and the U.S. military.

• Pieces marked “Lamberton Sterling China” are from this post-1952 era.

The Code P4:

• Lamberton/Sterling used letter–number codes to indicate date of manufacture.

• P = 1960s decade, and 4 = 1964.

Details:

• The emblem printed on the cup is the U.S. Navy officer’s wardroom insignia, often featuring an eagle, shield, and anchor motif.

• It has a gold rim and a blue trim line, matching the design of Navy wardroom dinnerware.

• These cups were used specifically in the wardroom, the officer’s dining area on Navy ships, not in the enlisted mess.

Purpose:

• Used for serving coffee or tea to officers.

• Part of a full wardroom china set, which included plates, saucers, bowls, and cups.

• These pieces reflected naval tradition, formality, and hierarchy—officers dined with finer tableware than enlisted sailors.