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Description: This lot is part of a collection of rare and antique Beatrix Potter items including books, figurines, puzzles and other pieces, that we are selling during this auction. Review the rest of the catalog to see additional Beatrix Potter items. This particular lot includes the following Beswick figurine from the Beatrix Potter character series:

Character Name: Mr. Benjamin Bunny
Description: Figurine stands upright and wears a golden yellow vest, a dark purple-brown coat and a neck scarf decorated in red and white. Left hand holds a pipe to his face and right arm rests behind his back.
Height: 4.25"
Condition: This piece is in excellent condition, the colors remain bright and unfaded, there are no visible chips or cracks. We have inspected this piece under black light and it is free of any repairs or other restorative work.

This figurine bears a backstamp which indicates the character's name, the Beswick - England mark and a copyright note from Warne and Company.

Beswick was a family-run business that began in 1894 and the label was not retired until 2002. The company was founded by James Wright Beswick with his sons John and Gilbert, and John's son, John Ewart. The business ran from the Gold Street Works as 'J. W. Beswick' until about 1918, and the firm gradually expanded its activities after WWI, in fancy pottery for the home and overseas markets. J. W. Beswick died in 1921 and his son in 1936. The Company then became a limited company named John Beswick, Ltd. with the Managing Director, John Ewart Beswick and his Sales Director Gilbert Beswick introducing new pieces to the line. In 1940, extensive reconstructions were necessary for the growth of the business and major modernization to the working conditions. Therefore, by 1945, the adjoining factory was acquired, which made it possible to convert the Gold Street factory to accommodate offices, potting and firing. The new premises provided the decorating, finished products, packing and dispatch. Arthur Gredington was appointed modeller for animals of all kinds and is well known for this superb work of accurate and realistic animals. James Hayward also contributed to the high quality pieces from 1934 as Decorating Manager, then as Art Director from 1957, he designed almost 3,000 decorations, patterns and glazing. Albert Hallam contributed enormous skills when he joined Beswick at the age of 14 as apprentice mold-maker and became head of mold-making and a modeller, creating butterflies, horses, dogs and cats modelled after Arthur Gredington's retirement, including the Norwegian Fjord Horse. Beswick wares were extremely popular in England and abroad, being among the finest ceramics available, they achieved remarkable success with highly specialized lines including life-like models, grave and gay moods, equestrian figures, dogs modelled from famous prize-winners, birds in great variety, wild and domestic animals, fish, tobyjugs, saladware and cottage ware, and of course, the Beatrix Potter collection. In 1969, Beswick was sold to Royal Doulton, who continued to produce new models but reduced the number of colorways and withdrew many pieces. Shipping cost (within the U.S.) for this lot will be: $6.50