Royal Doulton | Sir Winston Churchill | HN3057 | Men of History Series | Porcelain Figure | 1985–2009

To model a man of this stature in ceramic is an act of either great confidence or great audacity — and Adrian Hughes, on this evidence, had reason for both.

Royal Doulton's Men of History series represented a deliberate expansion of the HN figure range beyond its traditional subject matter of ladies, character types and literary figures, into the territory of documentary portraiture. The series produced ceramic studies of figures whose lives had shaped the twentieth century, and Sir Winston Churchill — statesman, orator, war leader and Nobel laureate — was among the most naturally fitting of subjects. HN3057 was modelled by Adrian Hughes and introduced in 1985, remaining in production until 2009. It depicts Churchill not in military uniform or the black suit of his wartime public image, but in the white suit he favoured in his later years — a choice that gives the figure an unexpected informality and captures a lesser-seen but well-documented aspect of the man's personal style. The figure was produced in fine bone china at Royal Doulton's Burslem works and carries the "First Quality, Hand Made and Hand Decorated in England" designation.

The figure depicts Churchill standing, dressed in a white suit with a white hat, black bow tie and a rosette at the lapel. A cigar is held between the lips. The right hand rests on a walking cane. A name plaque on the left lapel reads "Sir Winston Churchill" in gilt lettering on a white oval ground. The modelling of the face is confident and characterful, capturing the familiar set of Churchill's expression with considerable fidelity. The white glaze of the suit is clean and even throughout, with the flesh tones, hat, cane and lapel details all painted with the precision expected of a first quality Royal Doulton production.

There are no chips, cracks, crazing or restoration. The figure is in mint condition throughout, with all painted and gilt decoration fully intact.

Key Details

• Maker: Royal Doulton
• Series: Men of History
• Figure Name: Sir Winston Churchill
• HN Number: HN3057
• Modeller: Adrian Hughes
• Material: Fine bone china
• Production Period: 1985–2009
• Designation: First Quality, Hand Made and Hand Decorated in England
• Condition: Mint

Churchill once remarked that history would be kind to him, as he intended to write it — he said nothing about what ceramic modellers might do with him, but this one he would likely have approved.