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Royal Crown in the Twentieth Century Includes our latest Price Guide by Roland Head

o understand and put into context things Japanese and Chinese. Many English TRoyal Crown Derby’s twentieth capitalised on this trend by developing 1 century output, it is necessary to look a little ranges of designs that imitated Oriental styles further back in the Company’s history. or depicted Oriental scenes. Derby took the Founded in 1748, Derby became one of the former approach, developing its Imari patterns, leading potteries in Britain, producing which were inspired by the work of potters models and figures of the highest from Arita, in . Imari was the name of the quality and employing some of the finest Japanese port from which these wares were painters and modellers in Europe. Royal exported. Derby’s first Imari wares were Crown Derby’s history is actually a tale of produced in 1770 and when the Osmaston three factories that are only loosely Road factory opened in 1877, the first known connected. Porcelain manufacture in Derby pattern book contained Imari patterns, too. began in 1748, when André Planche arrived Despite the wide range of other Cheshire Cat paperweight. Eastbourne in the town and began to make fine patterns and produced by the Rooms, Sussex. Mar 02. HP: £1,950. porcelain figurines. A few years later, a Company, the , red and gold Imari ‘look’ is ABP: £2,293. London merchant, , the hallmark of Royal Crown Derby for became a partner in the business and collectors of its twentieth century wares. Planche rapidly faded into the background, Throughout the twentieth century, Royal 2 becoming, it is thought, a modeller at the Crown Derby continued to produce Imari- Chelsea Works in London. patterned tableware, along with other tradi- tionally-styled tableware and various ranges of Royal Crown Derby paperweights, Under Duesbury, the Derby Works grew and models. It’s worth noting however, that a Mandarin Duck and King Charles prospered and in 1775 gained its first Royal significant change in production techniques Spaniel. (boxed) (2) Potteries Warrant from George III, resulting in the occurred during the 1960s and 1970s. Until Specialist , Stoke on Trent. Company being renamed Crown Derby and 1962, when Royal Crown Derby was acquired May 09. HP: £65. ABP: £76. incorporating a crown into its backstamps. This by Allied English Potteries (from whom it incarnation of the business lasted until 1848, gained independence in 2000), Imari wares, 3 when failing management and cash flow along with many other wares, were hand problems resulted in the closure of the works. painted. The need for greater cost efficiencies Derby’s second incarnation took the form of drove Derby to develop more mechanical the King Street factory, which operated from production methods. Lithograph (transfer 1849-1935. It was staffed by many of the ) technology seemed to offer a solution Pair of Royal Crown Derby - workers from the old Nottingham Road factory and considerable effort was devoted to devel- weights, the ‘Dragon of Good and continued to produce wares of much the oping this method of production. The result Fortune’ and the ‘Dragon of same type and quality as its predecessor. was that by the late 1970s, Imari patterns were Happiness’, limited edition, both Crucially, however, the owners of the King being applied using time and money-saving numbered 1157, decorated in Imari Street works didn’t own the Crown Derby lithograph technology with, the factory palette, gold seal, boxed. Gorringes, Lewes. Feb 09. HP: £130. name. In 1877, the third and final factory in claimed, no apparent loss of quality or ABP: £152. Osmaston Road was established by the owners complexity. Collectors of these wares, however, of the Crown Derby name. In 1935, they will want to note the change and may prefer to purchased and absorbed the King Street factory, collect hand-painted examples from the first too, thus consolidating the Royal Crown Derby half of the twentieth century. brand. Today, production continues at the The development of advanced lithographing 4 Osmaston Road factory. skills also made possible the success of one of Royal Crown Derby’s other twentieth century Derby in the Twentieth Century ranges - the paperweight range. First intro- Royal Crown Derby’s eighteenth and duced in 1981, the paperweights proved highly nineteenth century output was characterised successful for the factory, which was looking principally by two groups of wares; models and for a new collectable range. figures, and fine tableware aimed at the These paperweights were a clever combi- top end of the market. The Company’s nation of old and new. The original shapes twentieth century output has been guided by were sculpted by then freelance designer Pair of Royal Crown Derby 1128 Imari candlesticks, XLV, gold banded, this successful formula, which remains Robert Jefferson, who had previously done 27cm high. (2) Richard Winterton unchanged today. The eighteenth and much work for Poole (including its Auctioneers, Lichfield. Oct 09. HP: nineteenth centuries saw a great for all Delphis range). Taking his inspiration from £500. ABP: £588.

ANTIQUES INFO - May/June 10 Ceramics eighteenth century Derby animal models, he sculpted a range of somewhat stylised yet naturalistic animal shapes. Approved 5 9 by the factory, Derby’s own designers then began to plan patterns for the animals. Cleverly, they managed to combine Imari designs with shapes and patterns appropriate to each animal, creating a look that is unmistakably Royal Crown Royal Crown Derby twenty nine piece Derby yet complementary to the animal. part Imari tea set, pattern 9345, to The paperweight range remains in production today and Royal Crown Derby Imari ‘Curators include /cover and a jug, with a many dozens of shapes have been introduced and withdrawn Collection’ coffee set, 1988/1991: pair of comports, pattern 8704 and coffee pot, cream jug, covered sugar another and small dish. over the 29 years of its production. Despite its modernity, it is Gorringes, Lewes. Dec 08. HP: £850. a significant part of the story of Royal Crown Derby in the bowl and six coffee /saucers. Richard Winterton Auctioneers, ABP: £999. twentieth century. By the year 2000, paperweight production Lichfield. Oct 09. HP: £180. accounted for 39% of the factory’s activity. ABP: £211.

A Look at the Market 6 The success of the paperweight collection gave rise to inflated secondary market prices. Needless to say, these have 10 subsided and today’s prices are more sensible. An extreme example of this manifests itself in the Cheshire Cat 1, sold in March 2002 for an amazing £2,294 including buyer’s Royal Crown trinket Set of six Royal Crown Derby box and cover, dated 1904, heart premium. This model was introduced in 1996 as a limited porcelain coffee cans and saucers, form painted with beached yachts edition of 500 with a price of £85! More recently, I have dated 1924/28, painted and gilded and figures within a gilt border, seen one of these with an auction estimate of £500-£800. with Imari panels, 4.5in wide. on a yellow ground with gadrooned At more ordinary levels, the current secondary market for Hartleys, Ilkley. Mar 09. HP: £200. rim, initialled WD, printed burnt paperweights seems a little saturated. Take a look at 2, two ABP: £235. orange and inscribed 1010/7255, 3in wide, 1.75in high. Hartleys, Ilkley. models from the mid-late 1990s that cost about £135 when Sep 09. HP: £200. ABP: £235. new and sold for an inclusive price of £76 in May 2009. It’s a similar story with 3, the Dragon of Happiness alone cost £175 new in a limited edition of 1,500. If you’re looking for something usable, then reasonable value can be had from post-1980 Imari tableware. This pair of 1982 candlesticks 4, sold in October 2009 for £500 hammer. 7 At the time of writing, the Royal Crown Derby factory website 11 lists a similar candelabra for £1,277. Similarly, the 1988 Curators Collection six-person coffee set 5 looks excellent Royal Crown Derby porcelain trinket box and cover, dated 1904, of heart value at just £212 including buyer’s premium - assuming form painted with yachts at sea condition is good, it would be impossible to buy anything of Royal Crown Derby porcelain part within a gilt scroll border on a this quality new for this kind of money. tea service, most dated 1903: eleven blue ground with gadrooned rim, Pre-WWII Imari tableware doesn’t seem to fare much better cups and saucers, and twelve tea initialled WD, painted in burnt either - consider 6, 7 and 8 although 9, in a different pattern, plates, painted in iron red, blue and orange and inscribed 1027/7255, 3in seems to have been more desirable at a hammer price of £850. gold with floral Imari panels, red wide, 1.75in high. Hartleys, Ilkley. printed mark. Hartleys, Ilkley. Jun Sep 09. HP: £210. ABP: £247. Moving away from tableware and the near-ubiquitous Imari 09. HP: £230. ABP: £270. palette, 10 and 11 are matched and in the traditional Derby style, as is 12. 8 It’s hard to say how much of Royal Crown Derby’s twentieth century output will ever achieve the status of its earlier wares, particularly those dating pre-1848 from the original factory. 12 One potential problem is the increased volume of modern production and the profusion of second quality pieces - there is so much twentieth century Imari tableware on the market, for example, that only immaculate large sets and unusual shapes Royal Crown Derby porcelain fruit are ever likely to become scarce, especially as the factory dish, dated 1921, of oval form with Pair of Royal Crown Derby porcelain continues to produce essentially identical items to this day. acorn moulded handles, painted with figures, dated 1932, Spanish dancer playing a tambourine and her male Pre-1960s hand-painted items may also gain an advantage over Imari panels, pierced feet, 9.25in wide, a similar sweetmeat dish with companion, orange, yellow and black later lithographed pieces. It’s a similar story with paperweights pierced handles and foot, and a costumes, marked in iron red, 7.5in - success has meant an increase in volume and it’s hard to circular dish. (3) Hartleys, Ilkley. Jun high. Hartleys, Ilkley. Sep 09. HP: avoid finding these if you look for them. The secondary market 09. HP: £130. ABP: £152. £220. ABP: £258. does offer good value, however, when compared with new items - although only buy recent items if condition is as new. Notwithstanding these comments, Royal Crown Derby has succeeded at one essential challenge - it has survived and prospered into the twenty-first century, unlike so many of its competitors.

ANTIQUES INFO - May/June 10 Ceramics Selection of Royal Crown Derby from our Database at 28 34 www.antiques-info.co.uk

Four Royal Crown Derby 18 seated ‘Royal Cat’ ornaments. 13 Royal Crown Derby fruit Henry Adams, Chichester. Oct 06. HP: £360. ABP: £423. Royal Crown Derby matched basket, typical Imari Pattern 23 dinner/tea service, pattern with gilt tracery, carrying Royal Crown Derby Mansion 1128, ‘Old Imari’: 2 comports, handles, approx 12 x 9in, House dwarf, hat inscribed dinner plates, soup plates, circular footed base. Pair of Royal Crown Derby ‘Theatre Royal Haymarket’, dessert plates, side plates, Kent Auction Galleries, porcelain candlesticks, sconce 17.5cm high. Charterhouse tea cups, saucers and 4 other Folkestone. May 09. HP: with frilled rim, tapering Auctioneers, Sherborne. Nov £575. ABP: £676. 08. HP: £320. ABP: £376. pieces, some faults. (75) stem, domed foot, painted & 29 Gorringes, Lewes. Sep 09. gilded with Imari style panels, 35 HP: £1,800. ABP: £2,117. dated 1897, 6in high. Hartleys, Ilkley. Feb 07. HP: £400. ABP: £470. 19 Royal Crown Derby Royal Cats figure, Pearly King, 19.5cm high. Charterhouse Auctioneers, Sherborne. Nov Pair of Royal Crown Derby 08. HP: £340. ABP: £399. 14 pedestal with covers, 24 Royal Crown Derby Mansion twin-handled, painted with 30 Royal Crown Derby octa- House dwarf, hat inscribed Pair of Royal Crown Derby flowers, signed A. Gregory, gonal bowl, c1965, pattern ‘Auction of Elegant House- Old Imari Repton vases, gilded white ground, date- 1128, 11in dia. Great Western hold Furniture’, 16.5cm high. 2002, pattern No 1128, 35cm code 1905, 8.25in, covers Auctions, Glasgow. Nov 08. Charterhouse, Sherborne. Nov high, both boxed. Halls Fine repaired. Gorringes, Lewes. HP: £400. ABP: £470. 08. HP: £320. ABP: £376. Art, Shrewsbury. Apr 08. HP: Sep 07. HP: £500. ABP: £588. £1,450. ABP: £1,705. 20 15 Royal Crown Derby paper- weight, The Mullberry Hall Indian Elephant, certificate. 36 (boxed) Potteries Specialist Auctions, Stoke on Trent. May 25 Set of 6 Royal Crown Derby Royal Crown Derby porce- 09. HP: £340. ABP: £399. Royal Crown Derby porce- paperweights, Endangered lain tea service, 13 settings lain goblet, dated 1902, Species Collection, certifi- in Imari pattern: tea cups, Royal Crown Derby paper- scroll moulded pedestal and cates. Louis Taylor, Stoke. Mar saucers, tea plates, bread weight, Sherwood Stag foot painted with pink roses 06. HP: £1,200. ABP: £1,411. and butter plates, milk jug & commissioned by Connaught within blue floral bands on a sugar basin, pattern No.1128, House, certificate. (boxed) 31 cream ground, printed mark printed marks in iron red. Potteries Specialist Auctions, in burnt orange, inscribed (43) Hartleys, Ilkley. Sep 09. Stoke on Trent. May 09. HP: Modern Royal Crown Derby 1330/7030 in puce, 5in high. HP: £500. ABP: £588. £400. ABP: £470. Old Imari twin handled Hartleys, Ilkley. Sep 09. HP: centrepiece, pattern 1128, £320. ABP: £376. 11.25in. Gorringes, Lewes. Dec 09. HP: £340. ABP: £399. 37 16 21 32 Pair of Royal Crown Derby Royal Crown Derby porce- Imari pattern tazza, typical lain lidded , gilded bud 26 decoration, acorn handles, finial, scroll foliate loop Royal Crown Derby plaque scroll base, 4.5in. Gorringes, handles, painted with floral painted by Albert Gregory, Royal Crown Derby porce- Lewes. Sep 09. HP: £480. panels by C Gresley, beaded/ early 20thC, study of lain dessert set, pattern No. ABP: £564. gilded border, green ground, flowers, A.G monogram, Royal Crown Derby paper- 8700, date code for 1912 to 10.5in high, dated 1905. contemporary gilt scroll weight, Savannah Leopard base. Louis Taylor, Stoke on Hartleys, Ilkley. Feb 07. HP: 22 frame, 10 x 13cm. Richard from the Endangered Species Trent. Mar 06. HP: £300. £1,100. ABP: £1,293. Winterton, Lichfield. Aug 09. Limited Edition, boxed, certi- ABP: £352. HP: £400. ABP: £470. ficate. Potteries Specialist Auctions, Stoke on Trent. Aug 38 07. HP: £320. ABP: £376.

27 33 Large Victorian Royal Crown 17 Derby vase, two-handled, Cased Edwardian Royal gilded with wild dogs and Crown Derby set of six coffee Royal Crown Derby and scrolls against an iron-red cups/saucers, decorated in Royal Crown Derby vase, cover, gilt-scroll handles, ground, domed cover, all typical Imari palette, floral two-handled, painted with a painted with flowers, signed handles reticulated, date- baskets and scrolling foliate, Royal Crown Derby National Japan pattern, 6299, cover C. Harris, yellow ground, date code 1887, 11.75in. hallmarked silver can holders, Dogs figure, Pekinese, 12.5cm with gilt finial, date-code code 1903, pattern 7423, 8.5in. Gorringes, Lewes. Jul 06. import mark 1909, pattern high. Charterhouse, 1905, 8.5in. Gorringes, Gorringes, Lewes. Sep 07. HP: £400. ABP: £470. No. 3788. Gorringes, Lewes. Sherborne. Nov 08. HP: Lewes. Sep 07. HP: £300. HP: £1,100. ABP: £1,293. Feb 09. HP: £380. ABP: £446. £320. ABP: £376. ABP: £352.

ANTIQUES INFO - May/June 10 Ceramics

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49 39 Royal Crown Derby paper- Royal Crown Derby Royal weight, Golden Pheasant, Royal Crown Derby Imari Antoinette tea set: teapot and certificate. Potteries Specialist pattern shallow footed bowl, cover, a milk jug, sugar bowl, Royal Crown Derby service: Auctions, Stoke on Trent. May Royal Crown Derby paper- 12.5in dia. Great Western five cups, five saucers and 4 teacups/saucers, 2 coffee 09. HP: £250. ABP: £294. weight, Sinclairs Appleby Auctions, Glasgow. Nov 08. four plates. Charterhouse cups/saucers, 4 side plates, 2 Mare, certificate. (boxed) HP: £210. ABP: £247. Auctioneers, Sherborne. Nov pudding bowls, 2 soup bowls, 55 Potteries Specialist Auctions, 08. HP: £300. ABP: £352. 2 medium plates, 2 dinner 61 Stoke on Trent. May 09. HP: plates, milk, jug & sugar £270. ABP: £317. 40 bowl. Great Western Auctions, Glasgow. Jan 07. HP: £255. ABP: £299. Royal Crown Derby paper- weight, White Rhino from the Endangered Species Series, Royal Crown Derby paper- certificate. (boxed) Potteries weight, Savannah Leopard 45 Royal Crown Derby Specialist Auctions, Stoke. May from the Endangered Species Set of six Royal Crown with certificate. (boxed) Collectors’ Guild Deer 50 09. HP: £250. ABP: £294. Derby plates painted with Potteries Specialist Auctions, paperweight, 15cm high. Imari panels, dated 1887, 9in Set of 6 Royal Crown Derby Charterhouse, Sherborne. Nov Stoke on Trent. May 09. HP: wide. Hartleys, Ilkley. Aug porcelain coffee cups and six £210. ABP: £247. 08. HP: £300. ABP: £352. 06. HP: £260. ABP: £305. matching saucers, enamelled in blue/orange/green and gilt 62 The prices quoted are actual with ‘Imari’ pattern (pattern Hammer Prices (HP) No. 1128 - date code for followed by the Approximate 1931), leather cloth covered 56 Buyer’s Price (ABP) which fitted case. Canterbury 41 includes an average buyer’s Royal Crown Derby porce- Royal Crown Derby set of six premium of 15% + VAT. Auction Galleries, Kent. Apr lain dressing table set, oval Pair of Royal Crown Derby coffee cups and saucers, 06. HP: £250. ABP: £294. form: three lidded boxes, pin tapering octagonal form, No. Chocolate pots c1905, sugar 51 tray, ring tree, on tray, all bowl etc. Orpington 2451, retailer Alfred Arthur painted in Imari panels, Richard Pearce & Co, Ludgate 46 Salerooms, Kent. Jul 07. HP: dated 1897, 12.75in wide. (6) £210. ABP: £247. Hill, London. Dee, Atkinson Hartleys, Ilkley. Dec 07. HP: & Harrison, Driffield. Apr £240. ABP: £282. 07. HP: £280. ABP: £329. 57

42 Royal Crown Derby porce- 63 lain on stand, acorn Royal Crown Derby dressing finial, similar moulded side table set: pin tray, pair of handles painted with foliate candlesticks, pair of pots, ring Imari panels, 8.75in wide. holder (def) and tray. Marks Hartleys, Ilkley. Dec 06. HP: for 1910 and 1912. Great Royal Crown Derby Dish, Royal Crown Derby Imari Royal Crown Derby Old £260. ABP: £305. Western Auctions, Glasgow. oval form, scrolled handles, pattern matched coffee/tea Imari jar/cover, 18.5cm high. Sep 06. HP: £250. ABP: £294. painted with Imari panels, service: teapot/cover, sugar Charterhouse, Sherborne. Nov 47 dated 1916, 9in wide, a bowl/cover, milk jug, hot 08. HP: £240. ABP: £282. squared dish, and a milk jug. water jug, matching coffee 58 (3) Hartleys, Ilkley. Aug 06. can/saucer, set of five coffee HP: £210. ABP: £247. cans/saucers and a square dish. Locke & , Leamington Spa. Nov 08. 52 HP: £280. ABP: £329. Royal Crown Derby Old Royal Crown Derby paper- 64 Imari teapot and cover, oval weight, large elephant, on Royal Crown Derby paper- form, 18cm high. Charterhouse base. (silver stopper) weight, Mythical Unicorn, Auctioneers, Sherborne. Nov Royal Crown Derby Potteries Specialist Auctions, limited edition, certificate. 08. HP: £250. ABP: £294. pheasant, naturalistic base Stoke on Trent. May 09. HP: (boxed) Potteries Specialist 43 applied with holly, 27cm high. £260. ABP: £305. 53 Auctions, Stoke on Trent. May Charterhouse, Sherborne. Nov 09. HP: £230. ABP: £270. Royal Crown Derby 48 08. HP: £200. ABP: £235. porcelain two handled 59 goblet, dated 1905, waisted cylindrical form on scroll moulded pedestal, circular 65 foot, painted in style with large stylised trees Royal Crown Derby paper- Royal Crown Derby paper- in landscape, Imari palette, Royal Crown Derby paper- weight, Sinclairs Shire Horse, weight White Rhino from the Royal Crown Derby paper- printed mark in burnt orange, weight, Deer Collectors certificate. (boxed) Potteries Endangered Species Limited weight, Grecian Bull inscribed 1330/7292 in puce, Guild Piece. (boxed) Specialist Auctions, Stoke on Edition, boxed, certificate. commissioned by Connaught 5in high. Hartleys, Ilkley. Sep Potteries Specialist Auctions, Trent. May 09. HP: £250. Potteries Specialist Auctions, House, certificate. Potteries 09. HP: £280. ABP: £329. Stoke on Trent. May 09. HP: ABP: £294. Stoke on Trent. Aug 07. HP: Specialist Auctions, Stoke. May £260. ABP: £305. £210. ABP: £247. 09. HP: £200. ABP: £235.

ANTIQUES INFO - May/June 10