Royal Doulton Blue Children pottery is rare and sought after

Blue Children? No, not some new kind of genetically modified offspring but a collectable that I had seen before but never paid much attention to or even heard it termed as such.

See a slideshow of Blue Children patterns here.

Fact is, not a lot is known about this particularly distinctive brand of Royal Doulton pottery, but faced with a collection of five pieces of the stuff ranged attractively prior to their auction, it's hard to ignore.

So, ever keen to expand my knowledge, I spoke to the owner who had decided to start to thin out his collection in an upcoming sale.

He told me the five pieces represented the less important 25 per cent of what he owned.

If anyone could tell me about Blue Children, it was him.

But he couldn't, but he did hand me a copy of Doulton expert Louise Irvine's book on the pottery manufacturer's so-called "Series Ware" (published by Richard Dennis, 1986).

Oddly listed under "Games and Pastimes", Page 51 gives a list of 24 scenes or titles of Blue Children patterns, the names of which are self-explanatory: Two girls sheltering under umbrella; Two girls draping daisy chains round a dog's neck; Girl with doll talking to a frog and so on.

Interestingly, it seemed like the collector had discovered another, previously not listed, pattern: "Girl in landscape with plate and teaset". But the handwritten addition was followed by a question mark, so the jury is still out on that one.

But that explains why his was attracted to it enough to amass such a huge collection. He has two daughters, now grown up and with children of their own, and that's why. Plus his wife really likes it.

Why was he selling? No doubt to buy more, better examples.

According to Louise Irvine, the Blue Children series was introduced By Royal Doulton in the 1890s and discontinued by 1930.

The relatively short production run means supplies are limited, which is always an ingredient of a sought-after collectable.

The variety of shapes to which the patterns were applied is large, is another plus.

They include plates for display racks; oval and round wall plaques; the Gower umbrella stand; Aubrey toilet set; Sheriton toilet set; Carlton fern pot; Bamboo flower pot; jugs in the Breda, Chatsworth; Arno and Corinth shapes; Ball teapot; jardiniere and pedestal and various vases.

Additionaly, McVitie and Price adopted the pattern for a biscuit jar advertising their product, as did Royal Doulton for another biscuit jar, the Regent shape, both of which must have been popular with children, at least judging by my own two who seem addicted to chocolate digestives.

Louise Irvine goes on to add that although mostly printed, the scenes had additional background detail painted by hand.

Occasionally the artists responsible signed their work although this practice seems to have ceased by 1902.

Recorded signatures are J. Boulton, M. Brown, P. Curnock, C. Jackson, F. Jones, Kelsall, A. E, Simpson and "Yomans" (sic).

And there you have it. That seems to be the extent of knowledge about Blue Children series ware, although if any reader knows more, both my new collector friend and I would love to hear it.

The picture shows a jardinière decorated with three children watching Tinkerbell. It's worth £150-200