Collectors are often bemused to see their cherished figures mounted on bookends, calendars and dishes! This trend began in the early 1920’s at the same time as the figure lamps were produced.

‘M’ series miniatures are perhaps most often associated with bookends and certain calendars like these below.

Occasionally very rare figures turn up mounted on bases, such as this Crinoline Lady pin tray.

Harradine’s small Dickens figures appear mounted on a variety of bases, like this selection too.

Small Doulton animals are also found mounted as many different objects but particularly desk furniture. Here is a comical fox I found mounted as a stamp tray.

And also a Sealyham begging mounted on this calendar.

As many of you know Pekingese play an important part of my life and I have managed to assemble this small group of objects all with mounted Pekingese!

Many of these objects, especially those mounted with sterling fittings would have been retailed by top jewellers of the period including Asprey and Garrards in London. Even more ‘normal’ objects such as pin trays were given sterling mounts so as to make them exclusive objects for top jewellers, such as this Shagreen pin dish (in an unusual blue) which has been given silver mounts to turn it into an an ashtray!

This is only a sample of possible objects, and we would love to hear from you if you have other items mounted with Royal Doulton on our Doulton Collectors Facebook page!