One of the most famous Kiwi icons of the twentieth century is the New Zealand Railways cup and saucer, manufactured by Crown Lynn Potteries of Auckland. The white Railways cup has the N.Z.R. logo and a crown painted on it in blue glaze. The saucer is emblazoned with the same motif.

David Jenkin, the head of the Crown Lynn design department, copied the design for the swans from overseas, and from the late 1940s, swans were produced in various sizes and finishes. By the middle of the 1970s the demand for swan vases had been significantly reduced. Swans represented an old fashioned style and were rejected by young New Zealanders looking for new ideas in interior design. However the swans are undergoing a revival.