Retired Royal Crown Figurine

Founded in 1750 by Andrew Planche and William Duesbury in Derby, England, the Royal Crown Derby Porcelain Company is one of the oldest original English manufacturers of fine bone china. Dating to the Georgian era, it has operated for more than 265 years. 

In 1761, the company, then called Derby Porcelain, created its first commemorative piece for the coronation of King George III. In 1775, King George III recognized the uniqueness and high quality of Derby Porcelain, giving the company the honor of using a crown on its back stamp. Queen Victoria gave further honors to the porcelain manufacturer in 1890, when she awarded the company a royal warrant and bestowed upon it the title of “The Royal Crown Derby Porcelain Company.” 

In the years following the first royal appointment, the company employed some of its finest artistic creators, such as watercolor landscape painter Zachariah Boreman; flower painters William Billingsley, William Pegg and Walter Withers; and figure painters Richard Askew and James Banford. The company produced the most sought-after collectible pieces in its history under the direction of William Duesbury II. He died at 34 and his full vision for the company went unrealized; it subsequently entered a period of decline.

In 1811, Robert Bloor revived the company by employing excellent painters and producing exquisite serving pieces that featured the Japanese Imari style of bold colors and lavish details. The popular design continues to be produced today. Modern pieces such as the paperweight collection also remain in demand more than 40 years after their introduction.

Under the creative control of different partners over time, the company has had three main locations. Its current base of operations is in Derby, where it continues to produce fine ceramics and decorative collectibles.

On 1stDibs, find a selection of Royal Crown Derby Porcelain Company bowls and baskets, dinner plates, centerpieces and more.

In the late 19th and early 20th century, France developed an enduring passion for Japanese aesthetics and craftsmanship. Not only did this interpretation of Japanese culture — which became known as Japonisme — infuse fresh energy into French art and design, but it also radically transformed how Europeans, and subsequently the world, would come to understand visual culture. 

Until 1853, Japan had been closely guarded against foreign visitors for over two centuries. However, American Commodore Matthew C. Perry sailed into Japan that year and initiated the first of its treaties with the United States and Europe, thereby opening its borders and giving the West its first-ever look at Japanese design. 

For the next few decades, taken with Japonisme, sophisticated collectors in Paris, New York and elsewhere gorged themselves on lacquered screens, celadon ceramics and netsuke ornaments, along with artworks depicting various aspects of Japanese life. The East Asian country’s influence on Europe, particularly France, contributed to one of the most creatively prosperous periods in history, leaving an imprint on the Impressionist, Art Nouveau and Art Deco movements, and inspiring artists like Edgar Degas, Mary Cassatt, Vincent van Gogh as well as luxury houses such as Louis Vuitton and Hermès. Japonisme emerged at the time when the ornate Renaissance Revival style was the most prominent mode of decorating in Europe, and Japanese aesthetics seemed strikingly modern and elegant in comparison. 

In addition to everyday practical objects from Japan, such as vases, tableware and decorative boxes, Japanese art, especially Japanese woodblock prints by masters of the ukiyo-e school, caught the eye of many artists — particularly those in the Art Nouveau poster community in 1880s Paris. The luscious organic colors associated with traditional Japanese design, motifs like cherry blossoms and carp and the vivid patterns found in woodblock prints, silks and more were adopted and appropriated by painters as well as ceramicists and those working in other fields of the decorative arts. Today, demand for Japanese lacquerware — furniture, trays, writing boxes, screens, incense burners — from the Edo period (1615–1868) and the late 19th century continues to be very strong among collectors.

Find a collection of antique Japonisme furniture and decorative objects on 1stDibs.

While any heavy object can be used to hold loose papers, there’s nothing as ornate yet perfectly functional as a paperweight. Antique, new and vintage paperweights can unobtrusively enhance the ambience of a room or act as a colorful conversation starter. On a desk or writing table, it can contribute a subtle sense of style.

Glass paperweights emerged in Europe in the mid-19th century. Early paperweight artisans like Venetian glassmaker Pietro Bigaglia often crafted them with a design on the inside. By the early 1900s, paperweight objects became even more popular through innovative iterations by artists like Louis Comfort Tiffany.

As the paperweight became both a luxury and utilitarian object, creators used a variety of materials to set their wares apart. Today, in addition to the classic glass versions, paperweights are made of metal, wood, ceramic and stone.

A vast selection of paperweights as well as a whole range of other desk accessories can be found on 1stDibs — browse by type, price, period, material or style, from Art Deco and Hollywood Regency to metal and glass. Reflecting their widespread appeal, paperweights are available in a diverse array from across the globe, including Italy, France and North America, as well as examples by leading designers and brands such as Fratelli Toso, William Guillon and René Lalique. Whether an office or a study needs a touch of something vintage or a mid-century modern twist, there are paperweights to suit every taste.