Royal Doulton The Bedtime Story HN2059 figurine | Bone China | Designed by Leslie Harradine | 1950–1996

The book is open, the children are leaning in, and the mother is reading — this is a figure that was never meant to face outward.

The Bedtime Story HN2059 was designed by Leslie Harradine with a copyright date of 1949 and entered production in 1950. It remained in the Royal Doulton range until 1996 as part of the Family series — a group of multi-figure domestic compositions that departed from the single-figure format for which Harradine is best known. Among these, The Bedtime Story stands out for the clarity of its narrative and the compositional control of the grouping.

The model presents a seated mother reading aloud to two children, arranged in a triangular composition that draws the eye inward toward the open book. She wears a full-skirted pink dress with a white lace collar and a red shawl draped across her back, her brown hair neatly pinned. To her left, a young boy in a cobalt blue jacket leans forward, his arm resting across her lap as he follows the page. To her right, a young girl in a white dress patterned with small blue flowers sits on a low stool, turned fully toward the reader. The book itself is finely detailed, its open pages carrying a small floral illustration and lines of printed text — a rare instance of narrative detail being explicitly rendered.

The group is set on a modelled bench base in green with soft pink mottling, the underside finished in white bone china with a scalloped edge. The backstamp reads “Bedtime Story / Copr. 1949 / Doulton & Co. Limited,” accompanied by registered design numbers consistent with early production examples.

The piece is in mint condition, with no chips, cracks, crazing or restoration. The colours remain clean and well-defined throughout, with no fading.

Key Details

• Maker: Royal Doulton, Burslem, England
• Figure: The Bedtime Story
• HN Number: HN2059
• Designer: Leslie Harradine
• Series: Family Series
• Issued: 1950–1996
• Material: Bone china
• Height: 12.5 cm
• Weight: 385 g
• Condition: Mint — no chips, cracks, crazing or restoration

Collector Appeal

Unlike the more widely produced single-figure lady models, The Bedtime Story belongs to a smaller and more compositionally complex group within the Royal Doulton range. Multi-figure pieces require more intricate modelling, more controlled firing, and greater painting precision — factors that inherently limit their consistency and survival in top condition.

What distinguishes this model is not rarity in absolute terms, but narrative clarity and viewing engagement. It rewards closer inspection and side viewing, making it more suited to collectors who prefer sculptural composition over display-front symmetry.

In the South African market, examples in true mint condition are increasingly difficult to source, particularly with intact fine details such as the book, fingers, and facial features — all areas prone to damage. For collectors building beyond the standard Harradine lady figures, this represents a deliberate and more considered acquisition.

Three figures, one book, and a composition that turns inward — Harradine made sure the focus was never on the viewer.