Royal Worcester Figurine - "The Fair Maid of Astolat"

by Madge
(UK)

Royal Worcester Figurine - "The Fair Maid of Astolat":- Hello Peter, Thank you so much for the opportunity to talk to you online. I have been a collector for many years, this is indeed a unique thing to have and amazing it is available now online. I am trying to find one of your figurines: "The Fair Maid of Astolat" which was available in 2002. However due to unforeseen circumstances I was unable to get it then. Do you know if it is still available and how much would it cost?

Madge

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Reply by Peter Holland

Hi Madge

Many thanks for being one of the first to 'discover' this new facility online. I enjoy the interaction all this new technology can bring and look forward to lots of 'buzz' with collectors who are clever enough (like you) to find these pages.

Now onto your query:-

I understand you liking "The Fair Maid of Astolat", she is one of my personal all time favorite sculptures too. There is the romance of her getting ready for some special occasion, and preening, as ladies do, but at the same time, you sense a feeling of vulnerability, as if she is looking onto the mirror more as a 'Cinderella' character (not realizing her own beauty) than a Wicked Queen in arrogant display.

Once sold out, Compton & Woodhouse figurines can be hard to get hold of and I happen to know there are none in stock of "The Fair Maid of Astolat" at the moment.

Once in a while, Compton do a small re-issue of prior figurines, but they sell quicker than hot cakes (I want a "Fair Maid of Astolat" myself for my own private collection, by the way). Even the sculptor doesn't get preferential treatment!

There is a way you might get one though through the secondary market. If you go to my China Replacements page :-

China Replacement

Take the time to read the page until you get to the part about how to do a 'save search' on eBay. Save a couple of differently worded searches for "The Fair Maid of Astolat", and wait for eBay to email you when one comes online matching that search.

I use this facility to save various searches to tell me when any of my sculpts come online on eBay.

The last "Fair Maid of Astolat" was sold about 3 weeks ago, and before that about a couple of months prior, so they do appear from time to time. Just don't miss it for a bid. They are fetching quite hot prices, even second hand with no box or certificate, so keep alert!

Hope this helps.

Best regards,

Peter Holland