Jennie Harbour’s influence on Royal Doulton’s HN collection is relatively unknown. Certainly her name does not readily crop up in their company records, which detail when they bought many ‘sole rights for reproduction in china’ images from greetings card manufacturers and even artists directly. However, Harbour I have yet to find reference to….

Nevertheless her influence can be seen throughout the 1930s and Leslie Harradine clearly drew inspiration for many of his classic figures from her work including Miss Fortune, Lady Clare, Modena, Annabella etc….

Here we have a very early and rare figure Lady and Blackamoor together with the Harbour picture that inspired the group. Like a handful of bell-shaped figures from the time the model has been adapted as a powder bowl for a lady’s dressing table. Although unattributed here, these powder bowls were typically produced for Dubarry.

It will interest collectors to know that the head on the group illustrated was also remodelled for this bowl. Here is her original head from an early group photograph. The model number also differs model 267 being the original one piece group and the powder bowl model 273. Also note the differing position of the fan and hands.

This wonderfully early figure is coming up @ Lion and Unicorn auctions 21 April 2024. Visit http://www.lionandunicorn.com for further information!