Kathleen HN3609, Royal Doulton Figurine

Royal Doulton Kathleen HN3609 was modelled by Nada Pedley, one of the most prolific and admired figures sculptors Royal Doulton employed in the final decades of the twentieth century. Pedley had a particular gift for the Vanity Fair Ladies series — a collection conceived around the women of British high society in the nineteenth century — and Kathleen is among her most refined contributions to it. The series demanded a specific sensibility: softness of palette, elegance of pose, and a romantic evocation of an era defined by its feminine ideal, and Pedley delivered all three with characteristic assurance.

Standing approximately 8½ inches tall, Kathleen is presented in a flowing gown rendered in the soft, muted tones that distinguish the Vanity Fair Ladies from the brighter palette of the Pretty Ladies collection. Her pose is graceful and composed, the bearing of a woman entirely at ease in the drawing rooms and garden parties of Victorian high society. The painting is delicate and precise — Royal Doulton's decorators treated the Vanity Fair Ladies as showcase pieces, and the quality of finish on Kathleen reflects that commitment.

Kathleen HN3609 was produced from 1994 to 2000, a six-year run now well behind us and with no prospect of reissue following Royal Doulton's discontinuation of its entire figurine programme in 2021. The Vanity Fair Ladies as a series occupy a distinct and loyal collector following — buyers who appreciate the period elegance and restrained colour palette that sets them apart from other Royal Doulton ranges — and Kathleen, as one of the more sought-after names in the series, is consistently in demand.

This figurine is offered in excellent condition and is packed with care using double-box technique with professional-grade materials. We ship worldwide.