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Advertising, Christmas, Seriesware

Royal Doulton’s festive seriesware miniatures.

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Nothing says Christmas quite like Father Christmas and Royal Doulton were astute enough to introduce a range of miniatures featuring Santa into their Seriesware range as early as 1904.

 

You can see from this 1905 advert that Doulton’s then advertising team were suggesting these miniatures could replace the sending of Christmas cards for the diminutive sum of one shilling in old money. 

In total there were six Father Christmas scenes and a further two festive scenes of a turkey and geese that Louise Irvine in her Seriesware books has called Festive Fare. You can see an unusual turkey coal skuttle in the main picture and another angle of it below, yet the even more unusual geese I have only seen in blue and white rather than in what we might call festive colourings.


 In terms of borders the Santa pieces have either bells or holly, whereas the turkey and geese images typically have a mixture of mistletoe and holly.


These two series had short production runs; the outbreak of WWI ceased their productions.

Merry Christmas to all! 🎄

Animals

The magical world of Beatrix Potter; celebrating 150 years since the novelist’s birth.

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2016 marks 150 years since the birth of the legendary Beatrix Potter, arguably one of the most beloved children’s authors in the world. Her enchanting stories of Peter Rabbit and friends have captured children’s imaginations since Peter first appeared in 1902.


The notion of creating China figures of her characters first came from Ewart Beswick and his wife while holidaying in the Lake District – a location close to the author’s heart. The first model produced was based on Jemima Puddleduck and was swiftly followed by other models created by the Beswick artist Arthur Gredington. 

Jemima was joined by Peter Rabbit, Tom Kitten and Mrs Tittlemouse among many others! 


The production of Beatrix Potter figures and other inspired wares was not only completed by Beswick but by Royal Albert and others.


As with all collectibles, one piece is swiftly joined by another and so the popularity of Beatrix’s charming characters continues to spread throughout the world. 


My thanks to Seaway China for use of their images.

For a comprehensive selection of Beatrix Potter figures, visit 

https://www.seawaychina.com/product-category/beatrix-potter-sale/?utm_source=SyncApps&utm_campaign=9798c8471a-BXP-sale-dec2016&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f8eeb3e00f-9798c8471a-167688905&goal=0_f8eeb3e00f-9798c8471a-167688905&mc_cid=9798c8471a&mc_eid=7734b3478d

C. J. Noke, Factory, Figure Articles, Figure inspiration

‘Spook-tacular’ Royal Doulton!

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Nothing could be more appropriately named than Royal Doulton’s figures ‘A Spook’ and ‘Spooks’; the latter an adaptation of the first. 


Two modern Royal Doulton tobies reflecting the ongoing influence early figures have on today’s design studio.

A Spook, designed by Harry Tittensor, was introduced in 1916 and was available to order until 1936, with a total of 8 official colourways to choose from. The last HN1218 was introduced in 1926, exactly 10 years after his original introduction. 


A Titanian Spook by H. Tittensor.


An example of a true base to A Spook.

Interestingly a miniature version, without HN or M number has also been discovered, although when it comes to fake Royal Doulton, it is this miniature figure which crops up most! No doubt due to the ease of producing him in this small scale. 


The rare miniature Spook.

Things got a bit spookier in 1918 for the HN Collection, when Doulton’s great art director Charles Noke adapted the original single figure to bring collectors his ‘Spooks’ or ‘Double Spook’ HN88 (1918-36). Just like their individual counterpart, Spooks was also available to order until 1936 and also available in alternate colourways; in their case just three. 


Spooks HN89.

A Spook and Spooks can be found in unusual glazes including Titanian, to which they lend themselves perfectly. 


The wonderfully detailed HN372 photographed by J. Lukins and which appears in the figure ‘bible’! 

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Royal Doulton’s things that go bump in the night…..

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With Halloween just around the corner what better time to look back at Doulton’s ghoulish delights…..

Halloween or Hallowe’en is also known by many as All Hallows’ Eve, a celebration held annually on 31st October around the world. It is in effect the eve of the western Christian feast of All Hallow’s Day; a time for remembering those who have departed this world!


Witch HN4444 (2002-3).

Today Halloween has a much more party feel to it inspiring films such as Hocus Pocus and also children’s favourite pastimes such as trick-or-treating, as well as providing grown ups with the opportunity to dress up! 


Rare Kingsware Wizard vase. 

The carving out of pumpkins or as I recall turnips is something of a rite of passage for youngsters today!


Halloween Bunnykins DB132 (1993-7).

Halloween for us today is all about witches, wizards, black cats and magic….and all we have to do is pay a cursory glance back at Royal Doulton’s back catalogue to see how this ghoulish festival has inspired their design studios over the centuries! 


Witches seriesware pattern (1906-c.1928).

Of course we haven’t mentioned the handful of ghoulish character jugs produced by Doulton or the ever popular black cat Lucky or even early art wares such as the Vellum witch light bracket! The list really is extensive when you start to look! 


Witches Cauldron DB293.

Artists, Figure Articles, Figure inspiration

Royal Doulton’s tribute to Florence Nightingale. 

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We are all familiar with the story of the “Lady with the lamp” who visited the wounded soldiers in Scutari during the Crimean War – a celebrity created by the press during the Crimean war when the public needed a heroine to divert from current realities.

Florence Nightingale HN 3144 and her inspiration.

Florence came to prominence while serving as a nurse and manager during the Crimean War, where she organised the tending to of wounded soldiers. Her tremendous efforts during the Crimean War brought nursing a favourable reputation and she herself became an icon of Victorian culture, as the lady of the lamp.
The Young Miss Nightingale HN 2010 by Peggy Davies from her Period Figures in English History range. This piece reminds us that Florence was also a a young lady of rank and wealth, who spent much time on the continent.

As is typical, posthumously there has been much debate about the legacy Florence has left but in terms of nursing alone her legacy is still great with the Nightingale pledge taken by nurses and also a medal named after her.

Artists, Figure Articles, Figure inspiration

Royal Doulton’s Philippa of Hainault HN 2008

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This interpretation of the Queen of Edward III belongs to a wonderful series of Ladies from English History that were among the first of Peggy Davies’ models produced by Rpyal Doulton after WWII.

She ruled at a time when chivalry and pageantry filled the English court. Her husband and son, the Black Prince were men of war. Their captives the Kings of France and of Scotland were treated according to their rank, valour and misfortune – something that was attributed to her influence! 

That she is remembered for her gentleness and clemency is illustrated by the tale of her pleading for the lives of six citizens of Calais when the town fell. 

The Royal Doulton series of Period Figures in English History was made up of six personalities and was available for a short period (1948-53) and are all considered rare today! 

Art deco, Art nouveau, Artists, Fashion, Figure Articles, Figure inspiration

Royal Doulton’s Masquerade pair.

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The sheer variety of early figures in Royal Doulton’s HN collection illustrates the lengths that were gone to, to appeal to early collectors as the company tried to discover a popular house style.


Title page of an early figure catalogue.

Of course by the time the Masquerade pair appeared in 1924, the great Leslie Harradine had already been supplying models to the Burslem art studios for a few years. 


A burnished gold HN636 Masquerade.

During the early 20thC there was huge interest in masked and costume balls and the latter must have inspired this pairing and other Chelsea inspired figures from a bygone age in English china manufacturing. 


Masquerade (female) HN 600.


‘Kissing’ Masqueraders HN 600 in china and HN 683 in earthenware.

Interestingly the two Doulton models’ bases fit so that the couple can kiss if the owner so wishes. They appear in this 1920’s figure catalogue titled Personalities and Porcelain along with a group of other early figures. Also of interest to note is that HN683 and HN 637 the last versions of each were actually made in earthenware rather than china like the other versions.


Masquerade HN 599 & 636.

Typical of Doulton’s studios they also experimented with this pair and a handful of other figures, producing examples in burnished gold with ivory face and hand details, imitating gold/bronze and Ivory figurative sculptures from the art nouveau era. 

Advertising, Art nouveau, Artists, Burslem

Doulton’s Photographic Ware

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A chance find of a portrait plaque featuring a well known portrait of Sir Henry Doulton has inspired this piece.

Doulton’s Photographic ware is rare with examples dating between 1893-1905 approximately. 

Early plate with a photographic image of Joseph Joachim, a popular violinist.

The method of transferring a photographic image on to transfer paper for application on to a china body was developed by John Slater and examples usually carry a simple Doulton mark and also the predictable “Slater’s Patent” stamp. 

A pair of early Slater’s Patent photographic plates (subjects unknown).

Subjects range from famous stage personalities of the time to other period celebrities.

Here is a further example of an unknown gentleman but with elaborate raised pasted decoration on an almost Vellum body.

And finally the Sir Henry Doulton plaque mentioned above with additional hand tinting. A further example of this plaque is with the Doulton family.

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Royal Doulton’s famous, former Headquaters in Lambeth. 

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Built in the 1870’s in the gothic style ’A’ and ‘B’ blocks as they were known and the huge chimeney that stood next to them were a London landmark for 75 years and witnessed many of Doulton’s major accomplishments as well as playing host to many famous visitors from Royalty, to politicians, to latter day celebrities.



A floodlit view of blocks A and B from 1935 celebrating a Royal jubilee.

Doulton vacated these impressive buildings in early 1940 to the newly erected Doulton House, then just a few hundred yards along the Albert Embankment. Lying unoccupied and suffering bomb damage during WWII there was little option left than to demolish these impressive buildings in 1951.



A close up of the showroom and main offices block.

On the left is the former main office and showroom building, on the right a factory block and chimeney.



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Art deco, Artists, Figure Articles, Figure inspiration, Harry Fenton

Royal Doulton’s Newhaven Fishwife.

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The Royal Doulton figure Newhaven Fishwife HN 1480 is like so many of their period street sellers and character figures, based closely on real life. The Scottish fishwives of Newhaven had a reputation for their beauty and industry. They were hard-bargainers though, and all the fishermen of the Firth of Forth in Edinburgh, Scotland, brought their catches to Newhaven for the fishwives to sell in Edinburgh city. 
  
Just like the Doulton figure, the fishwives of Newhaven wore distinctive costumes of layers of colourfully striped petticoats with a muslin cap or other similar headdress, together with a scarf, the tassels of which you can make out in the picture and also around the neck of the figure itself. Their fish, including haddock and herring, were carried on their backs in creels, again just like the figure.  

  
The Newhaven Fishwife although introduced in the 1930s, was not a Leslie Harradine figure, but a model by Harry Fenton, more famously associated today with Doulton’s Character Jugs. She is recorded as having been produced between 1931-37, however, her scarcity reinforces the reality that many figures were made to order rather than being readily available.