Royal Doulton | Character Kitten — On Hind Legs | Bone China Animal Study | HN 2582 | England, 1970

A kitten on its hind legs is in a state of pure attention — everything that was going to happen next has not happened yet.

Royal Doulton's animal studies have been produced continuously since the early twentieth century, occupying a distinct place within the factory's output alongside its figure range. The Character Kitten series — designed by Peggy Davies and issued from 1941 to 1985 — comprises six studies of a single kitten in varied poses, each capturing a moment of recognisable feline behaviour with restraint and accuracy.

Model HN 2582, the kitten on its hind legs, is among the most animated of the series — a study of alertness and movement, the figure caught mid-reaction with one foreleg raised and the head turned toward an unseen point of focus. It is one of the more visually engaging models in the group, lending itself particularly well to display.

The figure is modelled in the round on a small unglazed oval base. The colouring is a tortoiseshell palette of warm ginger-brown, black and white, applied in naturalistic brushwork that follows the contours of the body. The eyes are well-defined in yellow-green, giving the piece its focal point. The tail curves behind the figure and the raised foreleg extends outward, reinforcing the sense of suspended movement. The glaze is even and of good clarity throughout.

The base carries the green printed Royal Doulton Bone China mark with “Made in England” and “England”, together with the model number HN 2582 and date code ‘70.

There are no chips or cracks. The piece is in excellent condition with no condition issues present.

• Maker: Royal Doulton
• Series: Character Kitten
• Title: On Hind Legs
• Model Number: HN 2582
• Designer: Peggy Davies
• Material: Bone china
• Period: 1970
• Production Run: 1941–1985
• Country of Origin: England
• Marks: Green printed Royal Doulton Bone China mark; “Made in England”; “England”; HN 2582; date code ‘70
• Condition: Excellent — no chips or cracks

Collector Appeal

One of the more dynamic poses in the Character Kitten series, HN 2582 captures a moment of movement rather than rest, making it particularly appealing for display. Complete examples in this condition, with clear markings and no damage, remain consistently desirable among Royal Doulton animal collectors.

It is a small thing — small enough to hold in one hand — and it has been holding its pose, mid-spring, for fifty-five years.