Royal Doulton Series Ware Shapes

Nothing looks better than a collection, like the five Fox hunting vases pictured below. A vase on its own is nice, two is a pair and three is a collection and as collectors are all too aware it is that third purchase that can lead to all sorts of problems.  

On page 103 and 104 of Volume one of Royal Doulton Series Ware, Louise Irvine shows 78 different Earthen Ware Vase shapes. At present we have photos of 66 shapes and about one third of these are not on Louise Irvine’s list. Going by this I believe there are around 120 vase shapes. I believe this list is just past half complete.

There are no resources that I am aware of regarding Royal Doulton Bone china shapes. I would really like to include the numbers that Doulton attributed to the shapes, but unless these numbers are written on the base there is no way of knowing them. As there are no names and in a lot of cases no shape numbers I am going to take the opportunity to give the various vases names. Here's the rule, all names given by Nicholnack will be in italic with parenthesis, any names or numbers attributed by Royal Doulton will be in bold. We will begin with shapes in numerical order where I know the shape number. I know this is a very small beginning, but at least it is a beginning.

This is the home of the various shapes of Royal Doulton’s Jugs and Pitchers. Not included in this category are creamers. Creamers live in the Tea & Coffee Ware category. Where possible we will identify the shape name and the size range that they came in and the pattern name and the production era of the example. What also must be remembered is that various series that where applied to embossed shapes often do not have shape names, such series include Famous Ships and Moorish Gateway, when I can identify shape numbers I will. Louise Irvine identifies 39 jugs, but of course there will be more than this.

This is the home of the various shapes of Royal Doulton’s Tea and Coffee Series Ware. Included in this category are teapots, creamers & sugar bowls, tea cups & saucers, coffee pots, coffee cups & saucers, hot water pots and tea caddies. What won’t be included in this category are jugs larger than creamers, (see the jugs category) and cake plates (see plate & bowl category). Where possible we will identify the shape name and the range of sizes they came in and the pattern name and the era of the example. What also must be remembered is the various series that where applied to embossed shapes often do not have shape names, such series include Famous Ships and Moorish Gateway, when I can identify shape numbers I will.