Royal Crown Derby Sheep bone china figurine. 1st quality gold stopper. 1991-1996

This is a lovely vintage first quality Royal Crown Derby figurine in the form of a sheep. Only produced from 1991-1996. The figure is a sheep at rest, it is decorated with blue and gold swirls and tightly curled golden horns. It is 9.75cm tall and features the signature gold stopper. 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 450 individual designs that range from 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.