Ceramic animals
The
Bunnykins range by Royal Doulton was the brainchild of the factory
manager, Cuthbert Bailey, who used his daughter Barbara's doodles to
create a range of nursery ware in 1934. The line was mainly
tableware, although a few figures were modelled by Charles Noke in
1939. Now rare, these can fetch between £300 and £700. World War II
temporarily limited production to six characters including •Billie
Bunnykins', Mother Bunnykins', and Farmer Bunnykins'.
In
1972-73, Albert Hallam extended the range by a further 12 characters,
including 'Family Photograph' and 'Billie Bunnykins Cooling Off.
Former Beswick modeller Graham Tongue then took ewer the range, but
only 28 characters were produced by the early 1980s. Since then, at
least one new figure has been released every year, many of them
limited editions. Prices have fluctuated over the last 10 years,
peaking around 1997 before falling once more.
Seek
out appealing characters, and limited editions, especially those
commissioned by the Suffolk-based retailer UK International Ceramics,
as these have risen most in value.
A 'Sergeant Mountie' Bunnykins
figure originally sold for less than £50 but can now fetch ±150-200
or more.
Look
for the scarce and valuable prewar example.^, which do not have
the DB'
number used since 1972. Colour variations often fetch more ,too.
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SylvaC
animal figures, * although modestly priced, are no less prized by
their owners than those from more prestigious factories. The firm was
founded in 1894 and its whimsical i \ ceramic animals wereproduced
from the 1920s and marketed as fancies'.
They
were decorated in bright colours using cellulose paint. The SylvaC
name was not used until around 1932.
Shortly
afterwards, the all-over, single- colour matt glaze that typifies the
SylvaC range was created. From the mid-193()s until the 1960s the
firm's popularity grew. Towards the end of this period a new, glossy
finish known as bright glaze' was developed, and pieces started to
resemble the figures Beswick.
Despite the popularity of SylvaC, the
factory went into liquidation in 1982. Production limped on under
Longton Ceramics and Crown Winsor but finally ceased in 1989.
A
huge range of animals was produced by SylvaC, but rounded rabbits,
pointy-eared hares, and terrier dogs are the most popular. Each piece
is stamped with a mould number, but even so it is difficult to date a
piece reliably: any date related to a mould number is the date the
mould was made, not when the piece
was produced, and some moulds were used for many years.
Nor did mould
numbers run consecutively. In general, earlier pieces have a more
matt finish and a deeper colour than later ones.
Values
for SylvaC animals range from .£10
to around £-300, depending on size,
colour, and rarity. Many shapes were made in a variety of sizes
within the range 5-30cm (2-12in). Each size has
a different mould number, the larger examples being the most
valuable. Colour is important.
Most common are green and fawn (or
beige). Fink is extremely rare and sought after. Brown and blue are
also uncommon and desirable. A 21cm (SMin)-high rabbit cottonwool
dispenser in pink, in which cottonwool is pulled from a hole in the
tail, can fetch over £100. Some shapes are rare, such as the
hippopotamus (mould 1425) and the 'Joey Dog' (mould 1191). These can
often fetch up to £100.
Fakes
and reproductions are common. Avoid confusing them with period pieces
imitating SylvaC, made by firms such as Denby. Although not as sought
after as SylvaC, these have some value, usually fetching £30-50 or
less.
Pendelfin
figures were first produced as gifts for family and friends by Jeanie
Todd and Jean Walmsley Heap of Burnley. Lancashire, in
Pendelfin
production. Many of the original shapes are still made. Those that
have been withdrawn or were produced for only a short time are
usually the most valuable.
Prices
vary from about .£5—15 to around ,£800 for very rare examples.
Early models,such
as the original rabbit family from the late
1950s, are the most desirable.
Pendelfin
also produced a range of animals, which are rare today as they were
less popular and soon withdrawn. Cyril Squirrel', produced from
1963-1965, can fetch around .£300-400, while 'Mother Mouse',
produced from 1961-1966, can be worth more than .£100 (she is worth
considerably more in the rarer grey colour).
Not
all figures are so expensive, such as Lucy Pocket', produced from
1960 to 1967, and 'Maud', produced from 1967 to 1978, can fetch
around .£20-30.
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Look
out for variations,such
as figurines with thin necks, or those with
1953- They
soon went into commercial production with figures including pixies
and witches. In 1955, they produced their first rabbit figure, Father
Dungaree Rabbit', which was a success.
This led !o a family of
rabbits, and afterwards rabbits became the mainstay of
clothes
of a different colour from the standard versions. 'Uncle Soames
Rabbit', whose original clothes were drab, was redesigned with a more
colourful outfit to increase sales.
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| Ceramic animals |
'Midge
Rabbit' eating a biscuit was produced between 1956 and 1965 with
varying numbers of crumbs on her dress - the more crumbs there are,
the more she is worth. Values range from .£20 to more than £100.
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| Ceramic animals |
Special
limited editions, such as figurines produced to commemorate Pendelfin
events or sold exclusively through the official collectors' club, are
less valuable, often fetching £50 or less. They may make a good
investment for the future, but they must be in mint condition with
their box and any original paperwork.
- Keep the box and any paperwork issued with the more modern Beswick Beatrix Potter characters produced from the mid-1980s onwards, as this will help to increase value.
- Take great care when handling and moving SylvaC as it chips easily.
- Avoid early SylvaC examples decorated in cellulose paint that is beginning to flake
- Look out for Pendelfin figurines in the form of animals other than rabbits, as these are usually more valuable.
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