Tag Archives: Royal Doulton

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A trio of thieves by Royal Doulton!

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This wonderful trio of characters from the tale of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, which was adapted into the operetta achy Chin Chow and which was first performed at His Majesty’s Theatre, London in 1916 and proved a huge success running for more than 2000 performances.

With over thirteen different models by Harry Tittensor, all quite different in size, this series offers something for every collector – rarity, unique colourways and a handful of prototypes that never entered production. Those with HN numbers began appearing from 1920 onwards but their limited production had ceased by 1936, by which time these early models were simply made to order.

The three wonderful examples illustrated above of models from the series in unusual colourways are coming up at Lion and Unicorn Auctions 24 August 2025! 

Inspired by the colourful illustrations of Edmund Dulac. Dulac was born in Toulouse, France. His artistic ability showed itself early on and drawings exist from his early teens. He won the 1901 and 1903 Grand Prix for his paintings submitted to annual competitions whilst at the Ecole des Beaux Arts. A scholarship took him to Paris and the Academie Julien where he stayed for three weeks. That same year (1904) he left for London and the start of a meteoric career. Dulac’s Picture Book for the French Red Cross (1915) contains several illustration that inspired Royal Doulton figures, including several models for this series. 

Dulac’s illustration of the Forty Thieves.
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Royal Doulton Sung coming up at Lion and Unicorn Auctions.

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Charles Noke continued to experiment with glazes long after the departure of Cuthbert Bailey with whom he had perfected the Flambé glaze in the early 1900’s, along with the master potter Bernard Moore. And so in 1920 Sung was introduced, whereby painted decoration, colour and gilt are fused with the a flambé glaze.

 However, it is in the flesh that these pieces must be enjoyed to full effect as in this slide. Vases, large and small were decorated with exotic birds, pixies in woodlands, fish in seascapes along with many other subjects. 

These pieces were painted principally by Harry Nixon, Arthur Eaton and Fred Moore. Sung glazes can be found on Buddhas, as seen here in this advert from the 1920’s, a handful of suitable early figures from the HN range such as A Spook, as well as animals, in particular elephants, a favourite of Charles Noke.

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Introductions are certainly needed for this Royal Doulton prototype One of the 40 coming up at Adam Partridge Auctioneers this week!

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Although there are officially 13 different models for Tittensor‘s group representing the famed 40 thieves from Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves, there are four further diminutive models that were only produced as prototypes, this exciting find being one of them.

What makes this chap stand further out from the crowd is the wonderful Sung and lustre glaze that has been given to him, which just adds to his charm.

For further information please contact the auctioneers.

Artists, Burslem, C. J. Noke, Eastern delights, Figure Articles, Figure inspiration

Come one, come all….another wonderful early Royal Doulton figure coming up this week – A Mandarin!

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Collectors will certainly be spoilt for choice this week at Adam Partridge Auctioneers.

As part of the fabulous collection they are putting under the hammer this week is this early and rare Charles Noke Model ‘A Mandarin’ introduced in 1918.

The auctioneers write:

CHARLES J NOKE FOR ROYAL DOULTON; ‘A Mandarin’, a very rare figure, HN791, 1st version, model 189, (26-36), ‘Royal Doulton’ backstamp, ‘A Mandarin’, ‘C.J. Noke. sc.’ and ‘Potted by Doulton & Co’ handwritten in black script, impressed marks, height 25cm.

This is believed to be the only known version of HN791 and is actually the figure illustrated in Eyles (D) & Irvine (L) & Baynton (V), Royal Doulton Figures, published Richard Dennis, 2004, page 91.

The model is as inspired by an Edmund Dulac illustration in his Picture Book for the French Red Cross from 1915. Several other important figures can be traced to this book including the legendary Princess Badoura and several of the One of the Forty (Thieves) models.

Dulac’s original illustration that inspired Noke.
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Another exciting discovery coming up this week – Guy Fawkes HN 445!

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Rarely does such an impressive grouping of early Royal Doulton figures come onto the market, but Adam Partridge Auctioneers have certainly pulled it out the bag this week!

Here is the super rare HN 445 Guy Fawkes not previously illustrated. He is model 226 originally introduced in 1918 as HN 98 in the typical red cloak, this slightly later version from 1921 features a lustrous green cloak and fabulous all round painting!

Famed as we Brits know is famed for his plot to blow up Parliament on Nov 5th 1605.

This large size Harry Tittensor model was produced in three colourways; this being the last introduced in 1921 and available to order until the 1930s, although no other examples in green have turned up. He was later produced in miniature HN 3271 remodelled by Peter Gee in 1989.

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Introducing the rare ‘Shylock’ coming up this week!

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What a collection of Doulton Adam Partridge Auctioneers have coming up this week!

Included in their choice gathering of rare figures is this fabulous example of Charles J. Noke’s Shylock, that most famous of characters from Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice. in Shakespeare’s play he is outwitted by Portia in his claim for his ‘pound of flesh’. Interestingly the role was played by two theatre greats who inspired Noke and other modellers to create some of the most recognisable Doulton figures produced – Sir Henry Irving and Herbert Beerbohm.

Noke had previously modelled a similar but monumental version of Shylock as part of the Vellum figures range in the late 19th century. this HN example is 19cm.

Returning to our example in hand – you can see that the piece is marked underneath Titanian and that is because this body was used in a selection of early figures from Spook HN50 through to A Mandarin HN382. There is no particular rhyme as to why a Titanian body was used other than the suggestion that the decorating technique may produce a richer result. A further example HN 317 has been discovered and even a completely lustred one.

This wonderful example at Partridges fits the description of HN 79 with his yellow sleeves and multicoloured cloak. He was produced from 1917 until his mild was destroyed in the 1930s, although he cannot have been a popular figure at the time due to his complete scarcity today.

Art deco, Championship Dogs, Doulton animals

Collecting Royal Doulton dog heads

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As we gear up for the next Lion and Unicorn auction on Sunday, what better time to look back at this rather unusual derivative of Doulton’s famous championship dog collection also from the 1930s.

As well as seven different dog models, of which the setter, for example, was produced in a black colourway too, there is also a rare fox head model.

These animal heads are typically found – when they do turn up – mounted on wooden ovals, as illustrated in this original publicity shot from the 1930s.

The heads that appear to have been produced are a fox, a Pekingese, a cocker spaniel, an Airedale, a Sealyham, a foxhound and English setter and an Irish setter.

Lion and Unicorn Auctions have a selection of these rare heads coming up in their Horse and Hound sale 14.04.24!

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Royal Doulton’s rare Double Spook!

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Royal Doulton’s rare Double Spook!

Among the earliest of figures produced as part of the HN series sits Soooks HN 88. Not only do they represent the whimsical but also the often dark humour of the time.

Noke’s Spooks were made as a companion figure to Harry Tittensor’s A Spook HN 50 introduced in 1916. Whilst there were several colourways of the latter, only three official versions of Spooks were produced. Both models were withdrawn by 1936, although in reality any that were made later in this timeframe were likely to be one off special orders, as with all the early figures.

Returning to our star piece today, the colours are typical of other figures in the HN range from the 1920s where multiple firings achieved wonderful effects. The greens, purples, blues and reds are all reminiscent of Harradine’s deco beauties.

The example illustrated is coming up at Lion and Unicorn auctions and the model is clearly dated 1924 with a model number 211.

Series ware, Seriesware

Royal Doulton’s seriesware design “Into the Land of Dreams“.

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Of the many seriesware designs produced from the late 19th and well into the 20th centuries, Into the Land of Dreams certainly counts as being one of the rarest for collectors to build a collection.

Toilet set recently sold at Sworders in the UK.

Produced between 1919 and withdrawn by 1932 few pieces have surfaced over the years and (if one can use the term) typically, it is wash sets that do turn up.

In Louise’s Volume 3 of Royal Doulton Series Ware, she lists 6 scenes for us to watch out for. Items found have been marked with either D4114 or D4484.

Toothbrush holder featuring scenes 5&6 as listed in RD Series Ware Vol.3.

The title for the design is taken from a poem by Stoddard King, which was popularised as a song during WWI.

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Doulton’s Vellum Marguerite and Mephistopheles @Bonhams 11.08.20 lot116

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This rare double sided Vellum figure by Doulton’s Charles Noke is part of a choice selection of Doulton wares ex being offered @Bonhams on 11 August 2020.

Lot 116 is believed to have been part of the Doulton exhibit at the Chicago Exhibition of 1893, at which much acclaim was heaped on the company.

This unusual variation sees Mephistopheles decorated in a cobalt costume with raised gold dragons, no doubt a design from the Robert Allen studio.