Emma HN5426, Royal Doulton Figurine

Emma (HN5426) was designed by Neil Faulkner and issued by Royal Doulton in 2011 as the Figure of the Year, standing 8.75 inches tall. Her release marked the 20th anniversary of the Figure of the Year programme, a milestone that gave the 2011 edition particular significance within the series — Emma was the twentieth figure to bear the honour that began with Amy (HN3316) in 1991.

Faulkner dressed Emma in a deep lilac summer gown, richly adorned with clusters of floral detail around the hem that give way to a gold border — a layering of colour and ornament that is characteristic of his most accomplished Pretty Ladies work. A matching wide-brimmed hat and parasol complete the composition, lending the figure a light, warm-weather elegance that captures the garden party spirit the series does so well. The palette is both bold and refined, the deep plum tones anchored by the gold trim and lifted by the softness of the floral accents.

As the 20th anniversary Figure of the Year, Emma carries a collectibility that goes beyond the single-year production window common to the entire FOY series. Collectors who follow the programme closely recognise the milestone editions, and 2011 is one of them. Now well over a decade retired, Emma no longer appears in active dealer stock in any meaningful volume.