Vitreous enamel mugs and washbasins were popular gifts in the early decades of the People’s Republic of China. This mug was made to reward staff who contributed to robust sales in 1953. Above the red star is the name of the company: China Department Store (Zhongguo baike gongsi 中國百貨公司). Below the star is 'Prize for the 1st quarter of 1953' (yi jiu wu san nian diyi jidu jiangpin 一九五三年 第一季度獎品). The numeral, here number 18, presumably was to prevent workers from mixing up their mugs.
