Designer:Valerie Annand
Height:10″ (25.2cm)
Issued:2006-present in a limited edition of 500
Series:Butterfly Ladies, Prestige
These stunning limited edition Royal Doulton figurines were inspired by a classic 1920s Leslie Harradine piece, The Butterfly, which was one of a series taking theatrical and fancy dress costumes as their theme. Sculptor Valerie Annand said, “I took Harradine’s Butterfly as a starting point but I wanted to develop a completely new look, although maintaining a 1930s feel. To get the illustrative approach typical of the era I created slightly elongated, stylized figures and emphasized the flowing lines. It was vital to get the faces right so I studied contemporary expressions, hairstyles, and make-up. The figures had to convey movement – to suggest the rapid yet elegant wing strokes of butterflies and the idea of dancing ladies. The drapes of the costumes, the angle of the hands and feet, and the tilt of the ladies’ heads were key here. I watched butterflies in the garden and loved the way they basked in the sunshine. So, in The Peacock, I chose a more languid pose as if she were absorbing all the warmth of the sun. For the other figures my poses reflect the dancing, fluttering movements of butterflies.”
The decoration for Butterfly Ladies was developed by Ceramic Artist Tom Mason who researched butterfly species and interpreted motifs and colors found on their wings. On each of the figures, Tom selected the colors of the hats and shoes to harmonize with those used on the costumes. “But”, he says, “I chose pale bodices for all the costumes whilst using bold tones on the wings, and this helps to emphasize the movement and butterfly feel.” “I enjoyed working with the bold colors and motifs characterizing The Peacock. The striking eyespots on the Peacock butterfly are repeated on the figurine and, on the standard version, I have used the typical colors of the species.”
Spread your wings in style. Drawing on the rich pedigree of Leslie Harradine’s 1925 vintage series, The Butterfly Women, these new Prestige figures bring a touch of Art Deco panache. Designed by Valerie Annand and hand made in England.
Royal Doulton’s limited edition Prestige figures exemplify the highest quality, craftsmanship, and artistry in figure making. More than just collectables, Prestige figures are genuine works of art that can take months to create and decorate in detail. Each piece is handmade to order by the Royal Doulton artisans in England. Each limited edition is individually numbered and comes with a certificate of authenticity, and the moulds are broken once an edition is fully produced.
