Dust off those figurines… if they’re Bunnykins, they can make a fortune

Bunnykins crockery and figurines have been loved by British families for generations. Millions will have fond memories of eating from plates, bowls and cups with the signature bunny rims and delicate illustrations.

But while some Bunnykins pieces made by British manufacturer Royal Doulton have little value today, some have record prices.

Next week, Potteries Auctions in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, is holding an auction including a four-inch Royal Doulton Bunnykins prototype of a rabbit witch sitting on a broomstick worth up to £800. The same sale also has a Bunnykins court jester worth £200.

At a similar auction last year, the auction house sold a prototype 1998 Bunnykins figurine of rabbits making a toast around a grandfather clock for a record price of £35,500 – a record price of £600. Leah Gibson, of Potteries Auctions, says: ‘There are can such incredible prices be paid when two bidders in the same room are desperate for one piece. This is exactly what happened at this auction – and it could happen again.”

Demand in Britain is rising, driven by nostalgia – with people fondly recalling pieces that were kept on mantelpieces or in a cupboard by their parents or grandparents, says Gibson.

“We also sell a lot of Bunnykins figures to Asian markets – in countries like South Korea and Japan – who have a penchant for British pieces, as well as collectors who even live in Australia,” she adds. “The growing international market is increasing demand to drive up prices.”

The oldest figurines tend to command the highest prices. That’s because they become increasingly rare over time as pieces break, break, or get thrown away.

Royal Doulton began making rabbit figurines in 1939, before production came to an abrupt halt the same year with the outbreak of World War II. If you own one of this first batch of six figurines – either Billy, Mary, Farmer, Mother, Freddie or Reggie – it could be worth £1,000 or more.

Production of Bunnykins figurines did not resume until 1972, but even rare later models, such as the magician and carol singer, can fetch four-figure sums. Unlike the figurines, Royal Doulton continued to manufacture Bunnykins tableware after the outbreak of the Second World War.

One of the first – a 1930s ‘Christmas Menu’ sign signed by one of the early artists Barbara Vernon (daughter of Royal Doulton’s manager) – can be sold for £150. A rare ‘Airmail’ sign from the 1940s by the same artist can cost as much as £160. Later pieces – such as a 1960s seven-inch woodland scene of rabbits – might fetch £90. Bunnykins cup and saucer sets from these eras can also take three figures if they are still in mint condition without any chips.

Alex Froggatt, head of homes and interiors at auctioneer Sworders, believes aesthetic appeal contributes to its popularity.

“Modern tastes have changed and there is certainly a shift away from decorative pieces from days gone by that were once proudly displayed,” he says. “But pieces with a timeless quality, like Bunnykins, often wouldn’t look out of place in a modern home.”

Potteries Auctions and Sworders, like other reputable auction houses, can provide free appraisals and advice to those looking to sell or buy Bunnykins. While you might expect to pay a 20 percent premium by using an auction house, the upside is that a guarantee of authenticity should be provided with every purchase. Using an online auction website carries the risk of dealing in counterfeits.