Woodall-Duckham Memorabilia from Doulton

Enquiry

The foillowing message was received on 30th July 2010:

Dear Mr Harper,

I found details of the Woodall Duckham club via Google, and I would be most grateful for your help, either directly or via a member who may have the information I am seeking.

I edit a magazine for Royal Doulton collectors. Recently a reader has enquired about a small Doulton figurine of Mr Micawber with a W-D logo and dated 1930. I believe that this might have been made as a gift at a dinner or other function hosted by Woodall Duckham at that time. I wonder whether you, or one of your members, could confirm this and give any further information. (This photo is now at the printers, but I will be happy to send you a copy as soon as I get it back).

I know also that Woodall Duckham produced a circular plate or plaque about 8 inches in diameter for Woodall Duckham in 1929. It was in a dark brown glaze (known as Kingsware) and featured a man smoking a pipe and in the background a humourous scene featuring a tree and a ducking stool 'Wood'-all 'Duck'-ham?

I would be most interested to know if any of your members has this plaque and, if so, whether they would be prepared to let me have a photograph of this (front and back views) for my magazine and any information as to why it was commissioned.

With many thanks for your very kind attention.

Barry Hill
Editor: Collecting Doulton & Beswick

This was followed by a second message on 10th August 2010:

Hi Terry,

I do hope you won't mind my contacting you again about the plaque made by Doulton for Woodall Duckham. I have received no information from any of your members about this, but I have continued my research and now have a good photograph of the object in question. I attach this for your interest.

Firstly, it was about 15 inches in diameter - not 8 inches as I stated before. I know that it was made in 1929. What I would really like to know is who the pipe-smoking gentleman is. Was he a retiring director who was honoured by the making of this plaque? Also, what is the significance of the somewhat comical background? I get the wood and the ducking stool as a pun on the company name, but there are other unexplained elements that someone in the know might be able to explain. I would also like to know how many of these plaques were made. I don't think Doulton would have done this as a one-off. In fact I have records of two being sold at auction, one in 1988 and the one in the atached photo in 2003. There must be a few more.

In addition, I also attach a photo of a Doulton figurine of Mr Micawber with the WD logo and dated 5th March 1930. I assume that this was made as a gift for a ladies night dinner or some such function hosted by the firm. Again, any information about this would be very welcome. Doulton made a series of these miniature figures, all about 4 inches high, and there could be other Dickens characters with the same WD logo.

Doulton made a great many salt glazed stoneware items for industry as the material was very resistant to a wide range of chemicals. I have the feeling that they may have supplied items for plant installed by Woodall Duckham - hence the company ordering these more decorative items from the firm.

Finally, is there a short introduction which briefly gives information about Woodall Duckham and its activities? I knew about the firm because my sister's first job on leaving secretarial college was with Woodall Duckham in Knightsbridge, London - her boss was, if memory serves, a Mr Quick.

I do hope that you or any of your members might be able to give me some background about this, and I do apologise for taking up your time, but hope that you, too, might be interested in this aspect of WD's history.

Many thanks indeed.

Barry Hill
Editor

If anybody has any relevant information, they can contact Barry by E-mail at barryjhill@hotmail.com

Page created by Terry Harper, Website Coordinator
Last modified 16 August 2010