A damaged figurine from the hit BBC show Keeping Up Appearances has sold for a staggering £1,300 at auction, far exceeding its estimated value of just £100. The Coalport porcelain piece, which depicts Hyacinth Bucket (insisting it be pronounced 'Bouquet'), left bidders astonished when it went under the hammer at Hansons Auctioneers in Derby.
Auction Surprise
The limited-edition ornament, part of Coalport's Ladies of Fashion collection, shows a Victorian lady receiving tea from a maid. It was among 2,000 pieces produced for Coalport's 250th anniversary in 2000. Despite damage to a flower and a peach tree that had separated from the base, collectors competed fiercely for the item.
Charles Hanson, owner of Hansons Auctioneers, commented: 'It is a good reminder that some pieces, especially limited-edition figures like this one, can prove hugely popular at auction. If you own such a piece, perhaps inherited, you should think carefully before sending it off to the charity shop or throwing it away, because you could be sitting on an auction windfall.'
Coalport's Legacy
While many Coalport figures sell for between £20 and £80, large limited-edition groups like this are considerably scarcer. Coalport traces its origins to the golden era of English ceramics in the mid-18th century, when the Severn Valley emerged as a pottery powerhouse. By the 1750s, neighbouring manufactories at Caughley and Worcester were already creating fine blue-and-white pieces that influenced the area's aesthetic.
In 1795, businessman John Rose established Coalport in Shropshire, combining innovation with elaborate design. By the 19th century, it had secured royal patronage and international recognition, celebrated for refined bone china, hand-decorated florals, gilding, and graceful figurines.
Resurgence of Vintage Figurines
Traditionally regarded as the domain of sentimental collectors, vintage figurines may now be experiencing a fashionable resurgence. The Hyacinth Bucket figurine's sale highlights the potential value of such items, especially those with a cultural connection.
Devotees of Keeping Up Appearances will remember snobbish Hyacinth Bucket famously demanding that her surname be pronounced 'Bouquet', and raging that nobody recognised the worth of her Coalport china. This auction result proves that, in some cases, her obsession was not misplaced.
