{"product_id":"royal-doulton-yardleys-old-english-lavender-leslie-harradine-1924","title":"Royal Doulton Yardley's Old English Lavender — Leslie Harradine, 1924","description":"\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eA museum-quality example of one of Royal Doulton's rarest and most historically significant advertising figurines — the legendary Yardley's Old English Lavender group.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eCreated by master modeller Leslie Harradine in 1924, this exceptional piece was commissioned by Yardley of London (established 1770) to commemorate their lavender products. The composition depicts three figures — a woman holding a basket of lavender with two children, one also carrying a basket — capturing the romance of 18th-century London street vendors.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eThe design is based on Francis Wheatley's celebrated 1790s series \"Cries of London,\" originally showing primrose sellers, brilliantly reinterpreted by Harradine to create what would become one of the most iconic advertising images in British commercial history. After Yardley received its first Royal Warrant in 1921, this figurine became the visual embodiment of the brand's heritage and quality.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eBy their very nature, Royal Doulton advertising wares are exceptionally scarce. These pieces were produced in extremely limited quantities for commercial display purposes, not general retail sale. Most examples were destroyed after promotional campaigns ended, making survivors extraordinarily rare.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eThis is not simply a collectible figurine — it is a significant artifact of British commercial art history, the evolution of luxury branding, and Royal Doulton's finest artistic period under Leslie Harradine's direction.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eStanding approximately 9 inches tall, this piece represents museum-grade decorative art with genuine investment value. Current market values range from $2,200-$2,800 USD, with pristine examples commanding premium prices\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHistorical Significance:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"[li_\u0026amp;]:mb-0 [li_\u0026amp;]:mt-1 [li_\u0026amp;]:gap-1 [\u0026amp;:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [\u0026amp;:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc flex flex-col gap-1 pl-8 mb-3\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eCreated during Royal Doulton's golden age of figurine production\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eOne of the earliest and most successful examples of luxury brand collaboration in ceramics\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eRepresents the peak of Leslie Harradine's artistic influence at Royal Doulton\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eDocuments the intersection of fine art, commercial design, and British cultural heritage\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKey Details:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"[li_\u0026amp;]:mb-0 [li_\u0026amp;]:mt-1 [li_\u0026amp;]:gap-1 [\u0026amp;:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [\u0026amp;:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc flex flex-col gap-1 pl-8 mb-3\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eMaker: Royal Doulton, Burslem\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eDesigner: Leslie Harradine\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eDate: 1924 (production period 1924-1938)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eMaterial: Fine bone china, hand-painted polychrome decoration\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eHeight: approximately 9 inches (23cm)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eSeries: Advertising Ware (extremely limited production)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eCondition: [your condition notes]\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eMarkings: Royal Doulton backstamp with maker's marks\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eInvestment Note:\u003c\/strong\u003e Advertising wares represent less than 1% of Royal Doulton's figurine production, making them among the most sought-after pieces by serious collectors and museums worldwide.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKeywords naturally embedded:\u003c\/strong\u003e Yardley lavender Royal Doulton, Leslie Harradine figurine, rare Royal Doulton advertising, vintage Yardley collectible, 1924 Royal Doulton, British advertising memorabilia, Cries of London figurine, investment grade Royal Doulton, museum quality porcelain, rare bone china figurine, Royal Doulton advertising ware, collectible English ceramics, William Cross Antiques\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr class=\"border-border-200 border-t-0.5 my-3 mx-1.5\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eDo you have this piece currently? This is the kind of item that could genuinely attract serious collectors and potentially justify premium pricing given its rarity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"William Cross","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":41525885960325,"sku":null,"price":680.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0310\/4050\/3941\/files\/IMG_7581.heic?v=1771694388","url":"https:\/\/william-cross.com\/products\/royal-doulton-yardleys-old-english-lavender-leslie-harradine-1924","provider":"William Cross","version":"1.0","type":"link"}