Rare Royal Doulton figures continue to hold a genuine allure for buyers, with a diverse range of collectible pieces that regularly achieve high prices at auction. Examples from the 1920s and 30s in particular attract significant interest; their quality, rarity and age being significant factors.
There’s also the association with royal endorsement to be considered, too. Our July 2024 Fine Art auction included a number of fabulous, rare Royal Doulton figures, and the attention they drew proved their everlasting popularity.
St George on Horseback
This Flambe/Sung model of St George on horseback by Stanley Thorogood was a showstopper in our July Fine Art auction. Dated circa 1930, it is the same design as the figure produced as HN2067, though highly likely a trial version produced in experimental Flambe glazes.
A side-by-side comparison between the bases of the trial version (left) and the production version (right).
As well as differences in decoration, it features a hollow base, unlike the solid base present on the production version.
The St George on Horseback HN2067 figure in its usual production colourway.
HN2067 is itself an uncommon figure – one previously sold at Christie’s for £650 – but this very rare Royal Doulton figure found itself fiercely contested up to a hammer price of £7,500!
A Mandarin
A rare Royal Doulton earthenware figure with an impressed date for 1924, ‘A Mandarin’ HN611‘ was probably inspired by the popular West End musical Chu Chin Chow, which ran from 1916-1921.
The only other example of this figure to have passed through our doors, showing one of the many other colourways this rare Royal Doulton figure has been produced in.
Though produced in a variety of different colourways, only one other example has passed through our doors, highlighting its rarity. This lovely piece achieved a hammer price of £2,300.
The Carpet Seller
Ordinarily produced in predominantly blue and green hues, The Carpet Seller HN1464 was introduced in 1929 and ceased production in 1969. This early prototype, however, features an alternate colourway, decorated with warm orange and red colours, along with much more intricate patterning.
An example of the production version. Flambe versions of this figure have also been produced.
The rare Royal Doulton piece, dated 1928, generated plenty of interest and was hotly contested up to a hammer price of £2,100.
A Spook
This early figure of A Spook has the unusual feature of being contemporarily mounted on a circular ash dish made of onyx. Issued between 1916 and 1936, HN50 was modelled by Harry Tittensor, whose signature is featured on the base of this rare Royal Doulton figure.
A more conventional version of Spook, this time sporting a green cap.
Customarily decorated with a titanian glazed tunic and either a red, black or green cap, HN50 has also been produced in various other colourways, but this example’s mounting on an ash dish appears to be unique. It fetched a hammer price of £2,000 in our July Fine Art auction.
The Jester
Another iconic figure, The Jester has been produced in a multitude of rare colourways (though notably across various HN numbers), and this prototype piece is an excellent example. A particularly successful and long-running model, The Jester was produced between 1949 and 1997, and as such has found its way into many people’s collections.
A small set of examples of other versions of the ubiquitous The Jester, showcasing the diverse range of colours it has been produced in: pictured are HN2016 (left); HN71 (centre) & HN45 (right).
The value of a Jester can therefore vary wildly depending on its age and whether or not it is a particularly unique version. As in the case of this rare Royal Doulton prototype piece, marked as not for resale, it was enthusiastically bid well past its estimate to achieve a hammer price of £1,100.
Do you have rare Royal Doulton figures that you’re looking to sell?
We hold free valuation days every Tuesday at our Silverdale saleroom, where our friendly team of experts is on hand to value your items and help you consign them to auction. To book an appointment, use our online booking form here.
Alternatively, you can email us at enquiries@potteriesauctions.com or call us on 01782 638100. We can even value your items via WhatsApp: simply send some clear pictures of your items via the app to 07864 667940.