Coalport Figurines - A Fine History

And Price Guide

Colours, glinting jewel-like on Coalport figurines - glazed, high fired, vitrified bone porcelain - this was the heritage left to us by John Rose, the original mastermind of Coalport.

Coalport figures have a distinguished reputation going back to a time before records began in the 1750's when the Caughley works was run by Squire Brown of Caughley Hall.

At first they didn't make bone china porcelain, they made decorative earthenwares.

So what makes Coalport so special?

John Rose, was the catalyst to the drive for quality which remained sound for over 200 years.

Around 2007 the parent company Wedgwood went into decline and started to outsource their wares to the cheaper modern makers of the Far East.

Like sheep following the herd, they followed other leading English bone china makers towards meaningless mediocrity. Finally, the once great parent company declared 'Coalport'? Who are they. We don't need that brand.

The Coalport Name

Rose named the company after a small docking bay on the banks of the river Severn.

I wouldn't want you to think I am on a hobby horse, but I think English made figurines are under-appreciated. For two decades I worked closely with their staff, who held the John Rose legacy very close to their hearts.

Not the management, you understand, who I consider to be lesser mortals, they didn't appear to give a damn about their heritage, just their next bonus.


But it amazed me how one man's willpower can be carried like a freight train through successive generations (Bruff and Bott, A. N. Garrett etc) - like something tangible you can taste.

Words To Remember Coalport By

Here are some words that came to me. I can't recall if I heard them elsewhere, or the words are mine.

For me it sums up what a beautiful porcelain figurine can do for us. Do not underestimate it.

Nice words which say a lot in a succinct way and explain the appeal of these figurines.

Coalport Figurines Price Guide

The following two links will take you through to your local eBay where you can see a range of bid prices for the figurines of Coalport.

Always start your 'hunting' here.

You can enhance your figurine collection by checking out my latest collections:-

If you want to be able to reserve one of Peter's new figurines pre-launch (advised as they sell out fast).... click here

Would that I could make figurines with a Coalport label again, but the management began to make my sculptures out in the Far East, but instead of labelling them correctly, omitted to put the country of origin, effectively implying that, because of my name, these items were English bone china.

They certainly were not English bone china, so I stopped working with the brand from that moment on.