This week myself and the team have been busy cataloguing the final entries for our Christmas Fine Art and Collectables sale. We never know what treasures we will discover on our home visits and deliveries from customers downsizing or clearing a relative’s property. Recently we were asked to collect around twenty five large boxes of ceramics  from a lady in Doncaster. It’s always exciting to unpack consignments like these as we never know what we might find. Inside there was a vast collection of Coalport figurines and other Collectables relating to the animated film “The Snowman” perfect for a Christmas auction.

The history of snowman figurines dates back to medieval times with the earliest illustration found in a 1380 Book of Hours manuscript. People likely made them for centuries before that as an easy way to create art. The tradition grew in the Victorian era, with snowmen becoming cheerful holiday characters.

Our Coalport Collectables were inspired by Raymond Briggs classic book and film the “Snowman”. The book was created in 1978 as a wordless picture book. Raymond was inspired by a snowy day in London, and his work was a contrast to his previous wordier books. The author said he was inspired by the magical stillness of waking up to a world covered in the heaviest snow he had ever seen. The story tells us of a young boy who builds a snowman that comes to life at the stroke of midnight and magical adventure begins.

The book which has sold over 5.5 million copies was adapted into an animated film that first aired in 1982, and it has been broadcast on Channel 4 every Christmas since.

Coalport along with Royal Doulton produced a range of items including large and complex limited edition figure groups, plates, mugs, trinket boxes, gift sets all promoting the beloved characters in the story. Coalport was founded in 1795 and became part of the Wedgwood group in 1967 although the firm continued to trade using both names.