Throughout the lifespan of the Royal Doulton company thousands upon thousands of ornaments have been created, sold and loved around the world. Some of these ornaments have been inspired by the time period in which they were made. Others were inspired by scenery but amongst the most popular are those ornaments that have been inspired by famous and well loved celebrities and those inspired by literature. There is nothing like finding a vintage or antique ornament that represents your favourite book character from your childhood. In this article we have brought together some of the most popular children’s literature ornaments by the Royal Doulton company.
Ornaments from Children’s Literature by Royal Doulton – Books and Nursery Rhymes
Curly Locks
‘Curly Locks’ was produced in 1949 and was a part of the first ‘Nursery Rhymes Series’ by Royal Doulton. Designed by P. Davies, ‘Curly Locks’ is just over 4 inches tall. She wears a floral pink dress and is sitting down. She was created to represent ‘Curly Locks’ nursery rhyme which was popular during the early 1900’s.
Curly Locks is valued at approximately $500.00.
“Curly Locks, Curly Locks,
Will you be mine?
You shall not wash dishes,
Nor feed the swine,
But sit on a cushion
And sew a fine seam,
And sup upon strawberries,
Sugar, and cream.”
Wee Willie Winkie
Produced during 1949 and sold until 1953, the ‘Wee Willie Winkie’ porcelain figurine was created to represent a famous nursery rhyme. Designed by P. Davies, the young boy wears a blue night gown and holds a brown colored lamp. Just over 5 inches tall, this ornament was a part of the first ‘Nursery Rhymes Series’ by the Royal Doulton Company.
Wee Willie Winkie is valued between $50.00 and $100.00.
“Wee Willie Winkie runs through the town,
Up stairs and down stairs in his night-gown,
Tapping at the window, crying at the lock,
Are the children in their bed, for it’s past ten o’clock?”
(short version)
Old Mother Hubbard
A famous nursery rhyme represented by the Royal Doulton company as a brightly colored ornament. Produced between 1964 and 1975, the Old Mother Hubbard ornament wears a green bonnet, green clothing and a white apron with black spots. Mother Hubbard is standing bent over handing her dog his bone. This ornament stands 8 inches tall and was designed by Mary Nicoll.
Old Mother Hubbard is valued at $300.00.
“Old Mother Hubbard
Went to the cupboard,
To give the poor dog a bone:
When she came there,
The cupboard was bare,
And so the poor dog had none.”
(Short Version)
Bo Peep
Standing 5 inches tall, this elegant ornament represents the young girl from the popular nursery rhyme ‘Little Bo Peep’. Designed by Leslie Harradine, ‘Bo Peep’ wears a soft pink, flowing dress, a white bonnet and holds a shepherds crook. First released in 1937 this ornament was sold until 1995.
Bo Peep is valued at $120.00.
“Little Bo peep has lost her sheep
And doesn’t know where to find them.
Leave them alone and they’ll come home,
Bringing their tails behind them.”
(Short Version)
Pollyanna
Dressed in blue, white and tan, this ornament won over hearts with her dainty plats and yellow hat. Made in England, she is inspired by an early 1900’s book about an orphan named Pollyanna. The ‘Pollyanna’ porcelain ornament stands 6 and a half inches tall and was produced as part of the ‘Children’s Literature Series’. This piece was first produced in 1982 and was continuously made until 1985.
Pollyanna is valued at between $60.00 and $120.00.
Jill
Introduced in 1950 and produced until 1971 was a porcelain figurine that represented ‘Jill’ from the famous nursery rhyme ‘Jack and Jill’. Standing 5 and a half inches tall, Jill wears a pink and red dress, black shoes and a bonnet. Jill is a part of the first ‘Nursery Rhyme Series’ produced by the Royal Doulton company. Jill was designed by Leslie Harradine who was able to incorporate many aspects of the well known rhyme into one small figurine.
Jill is valued between $100.00 and $200.00.
Jack
A figurine by Royal Doulton inspired by the children’s nursery rhyme ‘Jack and Jill’. The Jack ornament is often bought along side the Jill ornament by keen collectors. Similar to Jill, Jack also stands 5 and a half inches tall and was designed by Leslie Harradine. Jack was first produced in 1950 and production of him ceased in 1981. Jack features a green coat, black pants and shoes and holds the ‘Pale of Water’.
Jack is valued between $30.00 and $100.00.
“Jack and Jill went up the hill
To fetch a pail of water.
Jack fell down and broke his crown,
And Jill came tumbling after.
Then up got Jack and said to Jill,
As in his arms he took her,
“Brush off that dirt for you’re not hurt,
Let’s fetch that pail of water.”
So Jack and Jill went up the hill
To fetch the pail of water,
And took it home to Mother dear,
Who thanked her son and daughter.”
Little Boy Blue
‘Little Boy Blue’ was first produced in 1950 and production of him ceased in 1973. Part of the Nursery Rhymes series, he represents the little boy within the famous ‘Little Boy Blue’ nursery rhyme. Standing 5 and a half inches tall he wears a blue top and pants and appears to be looking out into the distance. Designed by Leslie Harradine, the ‘Little Boy Blue’ ornament is a popular antique children’s gift.
Little Boy Blue is valued between $100.00 and $200.00.
“Little Boy Blue come blow your horn,
The sheep’s in the meadow the cow’s in the corn.
But where’s the boy who looks after the sheep?
He’s under a haystack fast asleep.
Will you wake him? No, not I – for if I do, he’s sure to cry.”
This Little Pig
The ‘This Little Pig’ ornament features a little boy sitting with a red blanket with his feet sticking out the end. Representing a popular nursery rhyme that involves touching five toes, this ornament was a popular gift. Produced from 1936 right up until 1995 and designed by Leslie Harradine, ‘This Little Pig’ has nostalgic value to many of it’s owners.
This Little Pig is valued between $50.00 to $100.oo.
“This little piggy went to market
This little piggy stayed home
This little piggy had roast beef
This little piggy had none
And this little piggy went
Wee, wee, wee, all the way home!”
Mary Had a Little Lamb
One of the most popular nursery rhymes in one small and intricate porcelain figurine. The ‘Mary had a Little Lamb’ ornament by Royal Doulton features a young girl with a pink flowing dress and a small lamb sitting on her lap. Designed by Peggy Davies this ornament was produced from 1949 until 1988. This ornament only sits 3 inches tall and features pinks, blues, whites, browns and greens. The ‘Mary Had a Little Lamb’ piece was a part of the first Nursery Rhymes Series.
Mary Had a Little Lamb is worth upwards of $200.00.
“Mary had a little lamb,
Its fleece was white as snow;
And everywhere that Mary went,
The lamb was sure to go.”
(Short Version)
Little Jack Horner
First produced during 1984, this ornament was a part of the first ‘Nursery Rhyme Series’ by the Royal Doulton company. Representing a well known nursery rhyme, Jack in this ornament is wearing a brown top hat, a green scarf and is eating a Christmas pie. ‘Little Jack Horner’ was designed by A. Hughes and measure 7 inches tall.
Little Jack Horner is valued at approximately $100.00.
Little Jack Horner
Sat in the corner,
Eating a Christmas pie;
He put in his thumb,
And pulled out a plum,
And said, “What a good boy am I!
Tom, Tom the Piper’s Son
An ornament designed by Amanda Hughes to represent Tom from the famous nursery rhyme ‘Tom, Tom the Piper’s Son’. Measuring 7 inches tall, Tom is holding the ‘stolen pig’ under his jacket. This is a colorful ornament feature white, yellow and pink that was first produced during 1984. Tom is a part of the second ‘Nursery Rhymes Series’ by the Royal Doulton Company.
Tom, Tom the Piper’s Son is valued between $100.00 and $200.00.
“Tom Tom the pipers son
Stole a pig and away he ran,
The pig was eat and Tom was beat
And Tom went roaring down the street.”
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