Rare Royal Doulton Trio, Gaffer pattern, Made in England in the 1920s, consisting of a plate and cup and saucer, British hotsell china,

A rare, antique trio by Royal Doulton, in the Gaffer pattern D4310, which was introduced in 1921 and remained in production until WW2.

This particular design was part of the Series ware patterns, originally conceived by Royal Doulton's original art director, Charles Noke. It was very popular and featured "The Gaffer", an old man from Somerset who hotsell spoke and dressed in the traditional regional way. More information can be found here: https://doultoncollectorsclub.com/category/gaffers/

This particular trio consists of:

1. A hand-painted plate 8.5" in diameter, depicting the gaffer standing outside his front door. He wears a traditional smock and high black hat and holds a basket in his right hand and a cane in the left. The illustration runs right to the rim, which has been finished in black. Stamped and marked to the verso. IA little roughness to the black rim and yellow to the glaze on the black, some light scratches to face of the plate from use but other excellent condition with no crazing or cracks.

2. A hand-painted cup and saucer. The cup stands 2.75' high and 3" wide, and The saucer is 5.75" wide. The cup depicts the gaffer holding a basket and cane, and the words "I be from Zummerset" are written on the inside. Black glazed rim and handle. The saucer depicts another variation of the scene -- this time the gaffer with his umbrella. Cup is in excellent condition but the saucer shows crazing to both upper and lower sides and a tiny nick to the underside of the rim. This series was a cheerful, accessible design out of the Doulton factory, and the production standards were probably lower than that of their fine china. It is very difficult to find examples that are completely free of firing crazing or tiny nicks.

A lovely and rare antique set that is difficult to find in good condition as the rims had a tendency to chip. Series ware was also prone to crazing.

Found by The Wandering Poetess in Darien, CT