Royal Doulton Figurne Stop Press HN2683

Royal Doulton Stop Press HN2683 was modelled by Mary Nicoll, whose character figurines of working and everyday life represent some of the most quietly compelling work in the entire Royal Doulton catalogue. Where her Sea Characters and sporting figures drew on the physical drama of outdoor life, Stop Press turns the lens on something altogether more domestic and urban — and the result is one of the most warmly observed character studies she ever produced.

Standing 7½ inches tall, Stop Press depicts a businessman seated on a wooden crate at a street newspaper stand, entirely absorbed in the day's news. He is dressed for the office — dark brown overcoat, waistcoat, white collar and tie, blue trousers, and a beige hat — but his lunch break has clearly been commandeered by the headlines. A hot dog is half-eaten in hand, a satchel sits at his feet with a thermos and provisions, and the newspaper stand beside him is stocked with the day's papers. The whole scene is rendered with Nicoll's characteristic attention to the telling detail — the thermos, the half-unwrapped food, the posture of a man who has completely forgotten he was in a hurry — that makes her character figures so immediately alive.

Stop Press HN2683 was produced from 1977 to 1981, just four years, before being quietly retired. The brevity of the run is reflected in how seldom the piece appears in the secondary market in excellent condition, and the subject matter — a snapshot of mid-century urban life that feels both specific and universal — gives it an appeal well beyond the traditional Royal Doulton collector base. It is the kind of piece that makes people smile the moment they see it.

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