Charles Nokes, very first true character jug derivatives were the ashtrays of 1936, which were basically miniature size character jugs with trays added. Their success meant the range grew to include larger ashbowls as well as tobacco jars. Very minor changes were required to suit the character jugs for their new purpose. The musical jug derivative for instance, required that the based be extended to accomodate the Thorens Swiss movement, which played the appropriate tune. However, Harry Fenton’s creativity must have been stretched to its limit when it came to incorporating the Sairey Gamp, Tony Weller and Old Charley characters into teapots and the matching sugar bowls that followed. This range went out of production when the second world war broke out and the range was only revisited again in the late 1950’s when a range of 14 table lighters in the form of character jug personalities was launched in 1958, these are fairly rare items today.
The majority of post-ware derivatives produced by Royal Doulton have been liquor containers made to order for various bottlers and distillers, including, William Grant, Jim Beam and many more. In 1988 the Royal Doulton International Collectors Club commissioned The Old Salt Teapot, especially for members and this led to the introduction of several new character teapots of The Old Balloon Seller, Falstaff, etc. These were only in the range for a short time and have therefore become hard to find and sought after by collectors today.
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Royal Doulton Guide 