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First
published nearly 20 years ago, this book Royal
Doulton Figurines - The Charlton Standard Catalogue
by Jean Dale has grown into a 544 page authoritative
bible on Royal Doulton figurines. This edition
lists over 200 new issues of the world's most
collected figurines, and all 10,000 prices have
been revised to reflect the current values in
the 3 major markets of the UK, USA, and Canada.
John Doulton founded Doulton Lambeth pottery
in 1815 with John Watts. The factory was a tiny
pottery located in Lambeth near London, England.
They produced salt glazed utilitarian items
and pitchers, plain figural bottles, and stoneware
items. The company also found financial success
in the manufacture of sewage pipes in the 1840s.
From 1858 until his death, John Doulton directed
Doulton and Watts Pottery in Lambeth, England.
After John Watts retired from the company, John
Doulton began experimenting with a more decorative
pottery line. Many glazes and decorative effects
were developed including faience, impasto, silicon,
carrara, marqueterie, chine, and rouge flambe.
The factory operated in Lambeth until 1956.
In the late 19th century at the original Lambeth
location, fine artwares were decorated by artists
including Hannah Barlow, Arthur Barlow, George
Tinsworth, and J. McLennan. Henry Doulton, the
second son of John Doulton, joined the firm
in 1835 and brought with him new technological
innovations to the production of ceramics including
a steam driven potters' wheel which put the
business ahead of its competition. Production
then expanded to include hand-decorated stoneware.
In 1878, Sir Henry Doulton purchased Pinder,
Bourne and Company of Burslem. Queen Victoria
knighted Henry Doulton in 1887 for his innovations
in the ceramic art. In 1882, the company became
Doulton and Company, Ltd. In 1882, a second
factory was built in Burslem which still continues
to produce the famous figurines, jugs, and table
wares. It added porcelain production and earthenware
production to its offerings in 1884. Also in
1884, Doulton added decorated porcelain to the
other production lines. Doulton figures were
made at the Burslem plants from 1890 until 1978.
Stoneware production ceased at Lambeth in 1956.
The
book explores all of the more prominent and
popular Royal Doulton wares and figurines including
the Gibson Girl series introduced in 1901. This
series was drawn by Charles Dana Gibson. Dickensware
pieces by Royal Doulton were produced, based
on the writings of Charles Dickens, from 1911
to the early 1940s. The Robin Hood series by
Royal Doulton was introduced in 1914 based on
the famous tale of the hero and his merry men.
Works based on Shakespeare's characters resulted
in two series of production items by Royal Doulton.
Shakespeare's series #1 portrays scenes from
the plays were made from 1914 until World War
II and Shakespeare's series #2 was made from
1906 until 1974 featuring decorative characters
from the writings. The Nursery Rhymes series
were first produced in earthenware in 1930 and
later in bone china and have become a very popular
Royal Doulton line. The Bunnykins series were
produced from 1933 for children and over 150
bunnykins scenes have been designed. The most
valuable Bunnykins pieces were signed by artist
Barbara Vernon for Royal Doulton. Lots of good
information is provided in the book, such as
the fact that pieces with a limited production
run, those signed by an artist, or those pieces
marked "Potted" (indicating a pre-1939 origin)
are highly collectible and perceived to be more
valuable than other pieces of Royal Doulton.
Wares made after 1920 which were marked with
a lion (with or without a crown accompanying
the lion) over a circular Royal Doulton mark.
Any collector or dealer in Doulton figures should
not be without this book. It list descriptions,
model numbers, and reference guide values of
each figure- all in all, an invaluble and first
class reference book!
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