The redoubtable British ceramics maker Royal Doulton has long embraced popular tastes and enjoys a devoted following among aficionados of English pottery. Some are drawn to the company’s intricately decorated bone china dinner services; others are passionate collectors of Royal Doulton’s artfully hand-painted figurines, vases and bowls.
When founded by John Doulton, Martha Jones and John Watts in 1815, in the Lambeth section of suburban London, the manufacturer produced bottles and other storage containers and even sewer pipes in stoneware, a cheap but durable cousin of porcelain. Amid the Victorian era’s rising concern for hygiene, food safety and sanitation, the company flourished. During the late 1850s — having rebranded as Doulton & Watts and then Doulton and Co. — the firm was colloquially referred to as Doulton Ware. And in the late 1870s, it expanded its business into the applied arts.
The firm took over a factory in Staffordshire, in northern England — the traditional home of British ceramics manufacturing — to produce tableware. Around the same time, Doulton opened an art pottery studio in Lambeth, where vases, urns and other forms were decorated with painted scenic images, flowers or historical motifs.
Taking a cue from the venerable Meissen porcelain workshops in Germany, Doulton artisans began crafting figurines modeled on characters from literature and theater. The firm also helped popularize Toby Jugs and other “character mugs” — handled cups shaped as the heads of figures from folklore and popular culture. Doulton purchased a factory in Burslem in 1882, and King Edward VII granted the factory his Royal Warrant in 1901.
Royal Doulton china will always make an elegant yet not-too-formal appearance in a traditional table setting. Prices for dinner services vary according to size, age and condition, but generally range from $2,000 to $15,000.
Authentic Royal Doulton art pottery might be used by some as a bright decorative note; others collect the company’s figurines with the same interest and dedication as stamp and coin enthusiasts. A typical Toby Jug might fetch $50, while very rare figurines can sell for $7,000. Most of the finest Royal Doulton art pottery pieces sell for around $500.
As you will see on these pages, few decorative-arts companies are as aesthetically and stylistically diverse as Royal Doulton. The firm truly offers something for everyone.
Find Royal Doulton figurines, plates, vases and other collectibles for sale on 1stDibs.
$462Sale Price|30% Off
ROYAL DOULTON - Persian Pattern Plate - Design Number D3088 - U.K. - Circa 1920
By Royal Doulton
Located in Chatham, ON
ROYAL DOULTON (Manufacturer) - Persian D3088 (Pattern Name/Number) - Persian style transfer decorated ceramic cabinet plate in blue with hand painted highlights - featuring flowers w...
Ceramic
$875 / set
Royal Doulton Luncheon Plates, Set of 14
By Royal Doulton
Located in Pasadena, CA
This is a charming set of 14 Royal Doulton hand painted luncheon plates that date to the early 20th century. The scolloped rims of the plates are decorated with a beautiful hand-pain...
Porcelain
$9,950Sale Price / set|20% Off
Magnificent Set of 12 Orchid Presentation Plates, Ornate and Elaborately Gilded
By Royal Doulton
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
One of the prettiest sets of Antique English plates custom, from Royal Doulton. These feature their Classic shaped edge, raised gilding on the sh...
24k Gold
A set of twelve dinner plates by Royal Doulton, a renowned English ceramic mfg.
By Royal Doulton
Located in Lambertville, NJ
This set of twelve dinner plates are Royal Doulton, a renowned English ceramic and home accessories manufacturer. The mark on the back indicates they were made in England and sold th...
Ceramic
Set of 12 English Porcelain Dinner Plates, Royal Doulton, circa 1900
By Royal Doulton
Located in New York, NY
Set of 12 English porcelain dinner plates, Royal Doulton, circa 1900.
Porcelain
Antique Set of 12 Royal Doulton for J.E. Caldwell Floral and Gilt Dinner Plates
By Royal Doulton, J.E. Caldwell & Co.
Located in Toronto, ON
A beautiful set of 12 antqiue floral and gilt dishes, manufactured by Royal Doulton for J.E. Caldwell.
Porcelain
12 Antique English Cobalt Blue & Raised Gold Dinner Plates. Exquisite
By Royal Doulton
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A classic and elegant pattern by one of the greatest Gilded Age Table Top makers Royal Doulton of England. This set of 12 plates feature their Robert Allen shape with a detailed rais...
Gold, Enamel
12 Antique English Cobalt Blue & Raised Gold Dinner Plates Circa 1915
By Royal Doulton
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A classic and elegant set of dinner plates by one of our favorite Gilded Age factories of Royal Doulton, England. This set features their Robert Allen designed shape and has cartouch...
Gold, Enamel
Beautiful Set of 12 Early 20th Century English Royal Doulton Plates
By Royal Doulton
Located in Long Island City, NY
A beautiful set of 12 early 20th century English Royal Doulton plates. Finely decorated with raised gold. Stamped Royal Doulton England on th...
Porcelain
Two Art Deco Royal Doulton Mandarin Ware Flamingo Plates, Robert Allen, c. 1920
By Robert Allen, Royal Doulton
Located in London, GB
Two highly desirable, rare and hard-to-find Art Deco Mandarin Ware flamingo plates – one soup bowl, one dinner plate – made by Royal Doulton in England in the 1920s. This Hollywood...
Ceramic
Set of 12 Royal Doulton Scenic Hand-Painted Artist Signed Garden Plates W/ Gold
By Royal Doulton
Located in Great Barrington, MA
This set of 12 Royal Doulton dinner or cabinet plates is hand-painted with landscape and garden scenes in a bright vibrant palette. Each unique plate has the garden (Dingley Park, Dr...
Porcelain
Royal Doulton Old Colony Salad & Bread Plate Dinnerware Set, 12 Pieces
By Royal Doulton
Located in New York, NY
A set of 12 salad and bread plates by Royal Doulton in the Old Colony pattern. Includes 6 salad plates and 6 bread plates. Size: Salad plates, 8 inches wide; bread plates 6-1/8...
Ceramic
12 Royal Doulton Hand Painted Artist Signed Custom Made Cabinet Plates
By Royal Doulton
Located in Great Barrington, MA
This is a spectacular set of 12 Royal Doulton cabinet plates that are museum worthy. Each one is hand painted, artist signed by two of Royal Doulton's most famous artists! The center...
Porcelain
12 Royal Doulton "Powder Blue" W/ Raised Gold Dinner Plates
By Royal Doulton
Located in Great Barrington, MA
These aren't the typical set of dinner plates from Royal Doulton. This set of 12 are decorated with thick raised paste gold over a "lapis lazuli" type of decoration which distinguish...
Porcelain
$252Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 1.19 in Dm 11.03 in
Ikat Porcelain Dinner Plates, Made in Italy - Set of 6
By Bertrando Di Renzo
Located in ROCCAVIVARA CB, IT
Ikat patterns are an integral part of our colorful world, celebrating the beauty of this timeless textile technique. Inspired by its rich heritage, we’ve transformed some of our most...
Porcelain
French Faience Plate Quimper, circa 1920
By Henriot Quimper
Located in Austin, TX
French faience plate Quimper, circa 1920 Border with flowers, representing a woman with the traditional costume of Brittany.
Faience
Set of 12 English Raised Gilt Porcelain Dinner Service Plates
By Royal Worcester
Located in Lambertville, NJ
A regal set of 12 elaborately gild service plates, by Royal Worcester. The set with delicate broad gilt borders with a white porcelain background. The mark on the back from 1950.
Porcelain
$606 / item
H 0.79 in Dm 8.27 in
Vito Nesta Corteo Porcelain Dessert Plates - Set of 12, Made in Italy
By Vito Nesta
Located in ROCCAVIVARA CB, IT
Experience the grandeur of a Sultan’s triumphant entrance into a conquered city with the Corteo collection, designed by Vito Nesta in collaboration with Les Ottomans. This set of 12 ...
Porcelain
Mitterteich Eternal Dinner Plates ; Set of 12
By Mitterteich Bavaria Porcelain
Located in Malibu, CA
Mid-century Bavarian dinner plates by Mitterteich in bright white with gold rim.
Porcelain
$5,200 / set
H 1 in Dm 10.25 in
Set of 12 Royal Doulton Scenic Hand-Painted Artist Signed Garden Plates W/ Gold
By Royal Doulton
Located in Great Barrington, MA
This set of 12 Royal Doulton dinner or cabinet plates is hand-painted with landscape and garden scenes in a bright vibrant palette. Each unique plate has the garden (Dingley Park, Dr...
Porcelain
Corteo Porcelain Set of 12 Dinner Plates Made in Italy
By Vito Nesta
Located in ROCCAVIVARA CB, IT
The triunphant entrance of a Sultan into a conquered city is the theme of these collection in which all the plates are part of the same image, connected amongst them and telling one ...
Porcelain
Large Salad Serving Bowl Replacement Kingswood by Royal Doulton
Located in Neguri, Vizcaya
10" Large salad serving bowl replacement flatware & dinnerware Kingswood by Royal Doulton. Set composed of : 2 large rim soup bowls 9 1/8 in 20€ each 2 salad plates 8 in- 20€ eac...
Ceramic
$1,995 / set
H 0.94 in Dm 10.5 in
J.E. Caldwell & Co. Spode Copeland Hand Painted, Signed Set Of 10 Dinner Plates
By Copeland Spode
Located in New York, NY
Fine antique set of 10 hand painted English Spode Copeland's artist signed, M. Edge, dinner plates depicting peaches, plums, cherries, nuts, grapes, lemons and exotic fruit with shap...
Porcelain
Set of 12 Antique Lenox Green Mark Service Plates 1920's
Located in Lambertville, NJ
Elegant set of 12 gilt and sage green border service plates. The plates with a floral borders in green with gilt outline details. The plates were retailed by Philadelphians premier j...
Porcelain
$3,600 / set
H 1 in Dm 10.8 in
A Set of 12 Cobalt Blue & Raised Gilt Antique Limoges Dinner Plates Circa 1900
By William Guerin
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An attractive set of dinner or presentation plates by one of Limoges re known Gilded Age factories, William Guerin. This plate features an elaborate design of raised tooled gilding o...
Gold, Enamel
Royal Copenhagen Henriette, Five Dinner Plates
Located in København, Copenhagen
Royal Copenhagen Henriette. Five dinner plates. Model No. 444/8549. Measurements: 25.8 cm. In perfect condition. First sorting.
Porcelain
Sold
H 1.19 in Dm 7.49 in
Servizio di Piatti "Arcadia" Manifattura Royal Doulton Inghilterra XX secolo
By Royal Doulton
Located in Milano, IT
Servizio di piatti in porcellana della serie Arcadia. Il servizio è composto da 1 zuppiera, 1 salsiera, 6 piatti a servire, 25 piani, 11 fondine, 12 frutta. Totale dei pezzi 56. Marc...
Porcelain
Set of 12 Royal Doulton Vibrant Enamel Art Deco Flamingo Dinner Plates
By Royal Doulton
Located in Great Barrington, MA
Designed by the iconic Robert Allen, head of the decorating department at Royal Doulton, this is a rare pattern and a full set of 12 Flamingo dinner plates. What sets them apart is t...
Porcelain
A Set of 10 Hand Painted Antique Service Plates by Royal Doulton Circa 1915
By Royal Doulton
Located in Lambertville, NJ
An Elegant set of 10 Antique Royal Doulton service plates, by the well listed Doulton artist, Robert Albert. The scalloped edge plates with gilt edge with central hand painted floral...
Porcelain
Six Pink & Raised Gold Dinner Plates, Antique Circa 1910 & Custom Ordered
By Royal Doulton
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
The pink color on this set of 6 dinner plates is so pretty and the raised floral gilt is throughout its collar. Custom ordered and retailed by the fine Gilded Age Retailer Hardy & Ha...
Gold, Enamel
Sold
H 0.91 in W 10.24 in D 10.24 in
Service De Table Moderniste de Royal Doulton, Modèle Tango, 1935, 6 Personnes
By Royal Doulton
Located in Crespières, FR
Ce rare service de la célèbre manufacture anglaise Royal Doulton date des années 1930. Très moderniste, son dessin s’apparente aux créations de Clarice Cliff et Susie Cooper. Ce service en faïence crème au décor typiquement art déco noir et vert charme d'emblée par sa simplicité et son modernisme. Le décor noir est posé par transfert et le vert est apposé à la main au pinceau. L’estampille de Royal Doulton représente le lion, la couronne et le trèfle...
Porcelain
Twelve Heavy Gold & Green Dinner Plates, Antique English Circa 1910
By Royal Doulton
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Another beautiful set of 12 dinner plates by Royal Doulton of England. This set features the classic Robert Allen shape and beautiful raised gilding on a vibrant green collar. Double...
Gold, Enamel
Set of 13 Antique English Dinner Plates circa 1910, Raised Gilding on Pink
By Royal Doulton
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A pretty set of pink and raised gilt dinner plates, a set of 13 with one extra. This set features a collar of pink and light cream swirl pattern with finely detailed gilding in an ur...
Gold, Enamel
Opulent Set of 12 Ornate English Raised Gilded Cobalt Dinner Service Plates
By Royal Doulton, Herbert Betteley 1
Located in Lambertville, NJ
A set of regal cobalt blue and hand-painted raised gilt plates in unused condition. These plates were made by Royal Doulton with an artist signatu...
Porcelain
12 Antique English Turquoise Green Custom Ordered Dessert or Salad Plates
By Royal Doulton
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An unique set of first course, salad or dessert plates from Royal Doulton England and custom ordered through the fine Gilded Age Retailer Marshall Field, Chicago. This design feature...
Gold, Enamel
12 Antique English Raised Gilt Encrusted Salad or Dessert Plates, Circa 1910
By Royal Doulton
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A great set and classic shape from Royal Doulton custom ordered through the fine Gilded Age Retailer: Burley & Co Chicago. These plates feature a crisp white background and are also ...
Gold
Sold
H 1 in Dm 10.7 in
12 Gilt Encrusted Antique Dinner Plates, Rare 2 Color Green with, England C 1910
By Royal Doulton
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An unique two colorway pattern of light and dark green, with a profuse amount of raised tooled gilding on their collars. A nice clear center for use. The classic Robert Allen shape a...
Gold, Enamel
12 Antique English Soup Bowls, Raised Gilt Encrusted Collars and Shaped Edge
By Royal Doulton
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A great set from Royal Doulton, England Circa 1910 and custom ordered through the fine Gilded Age Retailer Marshall Fields Chicago. A go to size for soup, pasta, salads, ice cream or desserts with sauce. This set is in amazing condition and features the classic Robert Allen design...
Gold