Royal Doulton
You meet quite a few characters when you're in the antique appraisal business. I've seen Simple Simon, Robin Hood, Johnny Appleseed, Admiral Nelson, and John Barleycorn standing on top of bookcases. I've stumbled upon Captain Hook, and the notorious British highwayman Dick Turpin, and even the devil himself, Mephistopheles(the most treasured jug of all)-safely locked away inside china cabinets, glaring through rounded wavy glass with their painted eyes.
Amazingly lifelike, Royal Doulton "character jugs" were the 1934 brainchild of Charles J. Noke, the company's art director. With the world cinched in the Great Depression, he thought to bring a few smiles back by recreating the chubby, jolly-looking, beer-filled fellows that greeted many a weary traveler warming themselves at old-time roadside inns and rathskellers. The original "Toby jugs," popularized in the 18th century by Staffordshire potter, Ralph Wood, are a series of seated characters wearing three cornered open-top hats suitable for pouring and drinking beer. A wide handle is normally attached to the back or side. The name "Toby" was probably derived from Toby Fillpot, the lead character in an 18th century drinking song. Widely reproduced, early Tobys are rare and expensive to collect.
Royal Doulton also made a line of full-body Toby jugs widely distributed in this century. Their character jugs are different in that only the head and shoulders of historical personalities are shown. Five sizes have been made: ranging from 5" to 7" large, to medium sizes, to small sizes including 1.25" tall mugs probably used as salesman samples. Production of these tiny mugs was discontinued in 1960 and they are sought-after today. The hunting down of Royal Doulton jugs is good place for an aspiring "antiquer" to learn the art of collecting. They're available, widely cataloged and documented, fully marked, difficult to reproduce because of their excellent quality, appealing, affordable, uninflated in price(meaning I think they'll go up in value in the coming years), and you can make some good "hits" if you frequent tag sales.
Most Royal Doulton character jugs found today will have a value ranging from $75 - $150. To be a successful collector, purchase excellent condition examples that appeal to you-and be stingy. Older, rarer mugs should be sought within that price range. Acquainting oneself with ever-changing Royal Doulton marks is a clue to aging jugs. Early trademarks often include the capital letter "A" next to the crown and lion, found on all post 1902 Royal Doulton pieces. Later pieces include, underneath the Royal Doulton stamp, the character name and number followed underneath by a "D" number, and lower still, a sequence of registration numbers. All you need to remember is what you already know from school days; "A" is a better mark than "D." A good pottery mark reference or Royal Doulton book will highlight these differences in detail.
The point is, with a little experience and a small traveling library you'll find it's not hard to make money as a dealer or investor in Royal Doulton character jugs and Tobys. In a short time, you'll begin to spot Royal Doulton figurines, many of which were made before 1934. These unassumming little dancers can be worth hundreds of dollars. Then, perhaps you'll stretch back in time a little further, and discover an "Art Nouveau Period" "Doulton & Company" vase that can be worth thousands of dollars. Who knows, maybe one of us will even discover some great work made by Sir Henry Doulton(1820-1897), the English inventor and potter who started tinkering with enameled glazes so long ago. In antiques, sometimes, the farther ahead we strive, the longer back we reach.
