All posts by doultonchristopher1

Advertising, Art deco, Artists, Figure Articles, Figure inspiration

How adverts influenced Harradine’s figures for Royal Doulton.

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One of the most interesting aspects of collecting Doulton figures is the story behind them. When researching Reflections – a book which discusses this topic – many more illustrations were found than could be published.

Such examples include the many adverts and publicity shots for the once famous department store Marshall & Snellgrove, which since the 1970’s has been part of the company we here in the UK know as Debenhams.

As you can see two iconic figurines – Day Dreams and Wedding Morn are derived from this source but others include Sweeting, Estelle and a host of fashionable ladies based on fashion photographs from the mid-1930’s.

  

Artists, Displays, Doulton, Leslie Harradine, Liberty & Co, Seriesware

Doulton’s Dutch Masterpieces.

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We have looked at some popular Dutch themes already, but I love a collecting and indeed display theme so it is time to look at it a new!

  
A mixture of the popular and unusual Doulton Dutch Seriesware patterns and shapes. 

The wonder of Seriesware is that it offers something for every collector – for new collectors there are many familiar faces to collect and for the die hard collector you never quite know what will turn up! 

  
Four pin dishes illustrating the variety of seriesware that can be found! 

There was even a version of this popular theme created specially for Liberty of London with a blue sky. 

  
Two colourways of popular 1930’s Dutch figures Annette and Gretchen, and an illustration showing the popularity of all things Dutch in the early 20th Century.

Even well into the 1930’s Doulton were producing their Dutch figures such as Gretchen and Derrick and a glimpse through catalogues and adverts for major stores including Liberty of London, proves the then popularity of all things Dutch with page after page of Dutch inspired decorative items for the home.  

 

The popular pair Gretchen and Derrick.

Collectors show great invention when displaying their collections and whilst some mix seriesware and figures excellently, others rely on illustrations to emphasise the theme they are creating, such as the picture below by AK Macdonald, who inspired a small group of Leslie Harradine’s figures in the 1930’s. 

 

Perhaps you arrange your collection in a particular way? If so why not share it with us on our Doulton Collectors Club facebook page! 

Art deco, C. J. Noke, Gnomes, Seriesware

Collecting Doulton’s famous Gnomes ‘B’ seriesware.

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9″ plate D4697.

Often referred to as the Doulton version of Wedgwood’s famous Fairyland Lustreware, the Gnomes pattern illustrated is derived from drawings by the great illustrator Arthur Rackham for Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens, which also provided the inspiration for Doulton’s early figurine Pretty Lady who is based on an illustration for Wendy. The designer of this Doulton pattern is of course Charles Noke, then Art Director at Doulton’s Burslem factory.

  
Unusual rectangular plate.

Introduced c.1925 it is a perennially popular pattern that collectors clamour for when it does turn up at auction or through dealers. Although in production until c.1950 examples of it are hard to find and typically teawares are what do turn up in the form of plates and trios.

 
Early catalogue page featuring Gnomes ‘B’. 

There are five recorded scenes as listed by Louise Irvine in her book Series Ware Vol.3, although again it is scene 1 which is the most frequently found, again on plates.

  
Unusual sandwich tray. 

As with all seriesware patterns, a collection  masterly displayed makes quite a statement in the home! 

  
Rare oatmeal bowl with unusual, plain border. 

For reference, there are 3 recorded D numbers for this pattern – D4697, D4899 and D5066 and this ‘B’ pattern is not to be confused with the earlier ‘A’ pattern. Also, in the USA it is referred to as ‘Munchkins’. 

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Collecting William Savage Cooper’s nursery rhyme designs for Royal Doulton. 

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Introduced in 1903 there are around 20 different nursery rhyme designs based on illustrations by William Savage Cooper to collect and still other designs by others too. The earliest pieces of Savage Cooper’s are found on china with gold accenting, whilst later earthenware examples can be found on Doulton’s Art Deco earthenware shapes.

Typically gifts for children these pieces were no doubt broken and many today show signs of much use along the way, but their popularity ensured that they remained in production for a relatively long period to around 1939, meaning that there are examples in good condition to collect. Unusual boxed sets do turn up occasionally and I know of collectors who solely collect nursery wares and who have amassed great collections.


A catalogue page from the 1920’s. 

Displays, Fashion, Figure Articles

Collecting Doulton’s ‘Ladies of the Fan’.

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 Eugene HN1521, Fleurette HN1587 and Lisette HN1524.

Whatever you particular interest in Doulton figures you soon realise that themes do occur within collections, such as those ladies with feet popping out under the hems of skirts or those carrying parasols.

  

Teresa HN1682.

Another theme are the bevy of beauties teasing their admirers with their colourful fans.

  

Miranda HN1818 and Mariquita HN1837.

With a history stretching back over 3000 years, it is the fans of the 18th and 19th centuries that typically appear on Doulton ladies. First seen here when merchants from Asia returned with them, those appearing on Doulton ladies are the folding type – again a relatively modern adaptation of the traditional fixed type. 

  

Eleanor HN1754.

Perhaps you collect figures according to a different theme? If so why not share them on our facebook page – Doulton Collectors Club! 

Art Union, Eliza Simmance

Collecting Doulton Art Union work.

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Eliza Simmance vase for the Art Union.

The presence of ‘Art Union of London’ on Doulton ware, indicates that it was produced in a series and specially selected for members of the Art Union, whose subscription brought them access to important art wares from many sources including Doulton. 

  

Example of the Art Union stamp found on Burslem ware or else an identical mark found impressed on Lambeth items.  

Both Lambeth and Burslem produced wares for the Art Union, although examples of Burslem pieces are much harder to find. Doulton began supplying items in 1885 through to the early 1900’s (approx. 1902) and typically their most celebrated artists such as Mark Marshall and Eliza Simmance provided the original designs. Despite these items not being one off pieces, prices for these marked ‘Art Union of London’ are in line with one off pieces by these major artists.

Rare items of Burslem ware that I have seen have all been in the style of their ‘Spanishware’. Typically their decoration features Australian flora too.

One further variation is that of Doulton’s flambe – I have seen a lidded jar in flambe also carrying an Art Union backstamp.

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Collecting Doulton Marqueterie ware.

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 Marqueterie sugar bowl. 


This distinctive Lambeth ware was produced between 1886-1906, although examples are unusual due to its fragile nature. Multi-coloured clay in blue, white and brown were compressed together resulting in a marble effect clay, which would then be moulded into often intricate shapes. This particular ware bears a Doulton & Rix mark to its base,William Rix was art director at Lambeth between 1870-1897. 

  

Marqueterie backstamp.

Copperware, Doulton, Lambeth

Collecting Doulton Lambeth’s Copperware.

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 This technique, which belongs to the group of so-called Simulated wares, involved creating a simulated copper effect on a silicon body. Typically the seams, rivets and dents are recreated very realistically so that to the uneducated they appear to be copper until further inspection. 

 

Copperware was produced during two periods, 1887-1914 and 1924-6, meaning that examples do turn up but not regularly! 

 

Rare miniature versions do crop up occasionally as as with most things miniature, command a high price! 

 

Burslem, Commemoratives

Collecting Royal Doulton’s Royal Commemorative beakers.

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An advert for the 1911 Coronation beaker of King George V and Queen Mary. 

  

An actual example of the same beaker but with the King’s facsimile signature. 

Royal Doulton have a long history of marking Royal occasions by producing commemorative wares of all types but a field that offers a wide range of items is the many commemorative beakers produced for Royal Coronations. 

  

Bone china examples of King Edward VII’s coronation beaker from 1902 – front and reverse.

  

An earthenware example of the same beaker but interestingly bearing the coat of arms for Burslem, the former home of Doulton fine china in the Potteries. 

Since Victorian times each Coronation has resulted in a new commemorative beaker; the most collected of which tend to be the bone china rather than earthenware varieties, although unusual earthenware variations attract much interest too. 

  

Coronation beaker for the present Queen’s parents, King George VI and his wife Elizabeth in 1937. 

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Introducing the Doulton Collectors Club magazine!

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