Royal Crown Derby Hawthorne Hedgehog fine bone china paperweight silver stopper

Royal Crown Derby "Hawthorn" mother hedgehog figurine with a second quality silver stopper. Handpainted with blue, burnt orange and 22kt gold, this adorable hedgehog features a nature theme of seeds, leaves and berries. Originally released in 2003 as part of the mother and baby series, Hawthorn is the mother to Bramble which I have listed separately. Royal Crown Derby launched its first animal paperweights in a range of five birds and a rabbit at Chatsworth House in 1981. The creatures were beautifully sculpted by Robert Jefferson of Poole pottery fame, before being hand-decorated with the firm’s signature Imari pattern and highlighted with 22 carat gold. Eye-catching and of superb quality yet affordable, Royal Crown Derby paperweights are a collectable modern classic with broad appeal. What’s more, these addictive creatures make the ideal the gift for animal lovers, those with a passion for traditional ceramics or simply for someone who appreciates a beautifully crafted object. Production has expanded to over 650 individual designs that range from small ladybirds, snails and robins to the majestic Golden Eagle. The paperweights’ stoppers serve as an indicator of the firms strict quality control. Gold stoppers indicate ‘best’, while silver stoppers are assigned to paperweights that Royal Crown Derby describe as slightly imperfect.