Louise Irvine, the renowned Royal Doulton expert and author
Transcription
Louise Irvine, the renowned Royal Doulton expert and author
Pascoe & Company 1871 NW North River Drive Miami, FL 33125 Call your Pascoe Sales Advisor to add these pieces to your collection. www.pascoeandcompany.com Call Toll Free United States Australia United Kingdom New Zealand South Africa 1-800-872-0195 1-800-628-359 0-808-234-3472 0-800-440-031 0-800-982-448 Flambé Variations in Character Jugs Royal Doulton collectors are fascinated by the blue and white jugs which come on to the market from time to time. They are sometimes described as Louise Irvine, the renowned Royal Doulton expert and author, highlights treasures from the Pascoe & Company Collection. ‘Blue Flambé’ which is confusing as flambé is essentially red. However, before pieces go through the flambé process they are usually painted under the glaze with cobalt blue to define some of the features. In the case of the flambé character jugs, the eyes, hair and costume details are colored blue and show through the flambé glaze after firing. The blue and white jugs represent an early stage in the flambé decorating process and they were not produced for sale in this form. They have ‘escaped’ from the Royal Doulton factory before completion and the backstamps are not numbered as required for the finished limited edition piece. Blue and white jugs are rare and very desirable so collectors can expect to pay a premium for these pieces. Wizard character jug in pre-flambé blue and white. Height: 6.25 inches. Mikado D7258 • A. Hughes-Lubeck H. 6 in. Mikado in Blue and White Samurai Warrior in Blue and White Samurai Warrior D7257 A. Hughes-Lubeck H. 6 in. Mikado in Flambé D7254 Samurai Warrior in Flambé D7255 Royal Doulton first began producing flambé character jugs in 1994. David Biggs modeled Aladdin’s Genie especially for the flambé glaze and his sketch is on the back cover. It was never produced in a colored decoration but some blue and white versions have come to light over the years. Robert Tabbenor modeled the next two flambé jugs depicting suitably exotic characters, Confucius and The Pharaoh. Some blue and white jugs of these characters have been recorded as well as a unique fully colored prototype of The Pharaoh. After a gap of ten years, flambé character jugs were revived in 2005 following a commission from Direct Ceramics. Witch & Mikado flambé jugs at blue & white stage at the Royal Doulton Factory, 2006 Witch in Blue and White Witch in Flambé D7239 Wizard in Blue and White Wizard in Flambé D7240 Two existing models, the Witch and the Wizard by Stan Taylor, were redecorated in flambé glazes and were issued in flambé limited editions of just 250. Just like the earlier flambé jugs, a few blue and white versions entered the market-place and were enthusiastically acquired by collectors. In 2006, two new Oriental models were created for flambé and colored glazes by Amanda Hughes-Lubeck. Both versions of the Mikado and the Samurai Warrior were distributed by Direct Ceramics in very small editions of 250 each. Even more elusive are the blue and white versions which have appeared on the market very occasionally. Royal Doulton Character Jug Book available from Pascoe & Company Wizard D6862 • S.J. Taylor H. 6.75 in. Witch D6893 • S.J. Taylor H. 7 in. Aladdin’s Genie original drawing by David Biggs Aladdin’s Genie D6971, Confucius D7003, The Pharaoh D7028 Height: 7-8 in. Other flambé character jugs have been considered over the years but have not gone into production. For example, Royal Doulton received a commission for a flambé version of the Snake Charmer but only prototypes were produced. Several flambé pieces, including character jugs, were in Confucius Blue & White and Flambé production during a visit to the Royal Doulton factory at their new Barlaston location in 2006 but not long afterwards the flambé department was closed. Flambé is the French word for 'flamed', and the lustrous red glaze was inspired by Chinese porcelain. Royal Doulton artists and chemists Pharaoh Blue & White and Flambé experimented for several years to reproduce the flambé glaze, which was launched at the St. Louis Exhibition of 1904 to great critical acclaim. The precise production process for flambé wares was always a closely guarded secret but essentially it was produced by firing a copper glaze in a reducing atmosphere that removes oxygen from the glaze. For the first 90 years, Royal Doulton used the decorating technique for vases, figures and animal models. Only seven character jugs went into production with the flambé glaze so collectors can easily complete the set. However, the blue and white ‘pre-flambé jugs are very challenging to find so contact Pharaoh Prototype Colorway your Pascoe Sales Advisor now for details of the models now available.