Wade Whimsies and Figurines

Wade Ceramics has had a chequered history. Founded in 1810 in Stoke-on-Trent, it was called George Wade & Son. Other members of the Wade family formed their own small pottery companies and eventually, in the 20th century, they were all united under the ownership of Colonel George A Wade.

Under his direction, the companies acquired other potteries including one in Portadown, Northern Ireland. It wasn't until 1958 that the companies were amalgamated into one group, Wade, Heath & Co Ltd. In 1989, the group was bought by Beaufort Plc and its link with the Wade family came to an end although it is still run as a separate group under the name Wade Ceramics Ltd.

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During most of their history, the companies in the Wade group had concentrated on industrial ceramics until the 1920s and 30s when Wade produced its first decorative figures. They were:

Van Hallen Figurines - 1927 to late 1930s
Art Deco and classic figurines decorated after the first firing with a 'Scintillate' finish, a cellulose spray paint. The company claimed it was the equivalent of the fine finish of a motor car. Time has shown the finish was not so good and has yellowed and cracked on many figurines. Examples still with an uncracked or yellowed finish are highly prized by collectors. During the 1930s, these figurines were also made with underglaze decoration. A few of these pieces were reissued during the 1950s.

Asprey & Co Decanter - Early 1930s
Made for the jewellers, Asprey & Co, this Scotch whisky decanter is in the form of a Scotsman.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs - 1938

Copyright Unloveable used under a Creative Commons Licence.

After World War II, the Wade factory started producing cute figurines called Wade Whimsies to keep the Portadown factory busy after it lost contracts for porcelain electrical insulators.

Between 1954 and 1959 Whimsies were sold in boxed sets and many sets were given away free with Red Rose Tea in Canada and the USA. It wasn't until 1971 that individual figures were on sale and this continued until 1984.

1953 - 1959 - Whimsies
These were finely modelled and detailed animal figures and were finished and painted on slow moving production lines. During these years, the company produced ten different sets of Whimsies, sold in boxes of five.

1960s
Wade produced Whimsies just as 'free gifts' given away with other products, most notably Red Rose Tea in North America.

1971 - 1984 - Whimsies
Some of these were made using old moulds so there are variations in size and colour. During this period they produced 12 different sets totaling 60 individual animals. Sets from different years were sold in different coloured boxes, for example, in 1971 the boxes were dark blue and the following year they were red. Always keep the box and preserve it in good condition.

1948 - 1958 - Nursery Rhyme Figures
For the first four years, these figures were made for export only. Early versions have handmade flowers on the base but were discontinued after 1952.

1952 - late 1950s - The Quack-Quack Family
Four figures to accompany nurseryware dishes made by Wade.

Late 1950s - early 1960s - Wee Willie Winkie Wall Plaque
A set of four wall plaques showing scenes from the nursery rhyme.

1955 - 1960 - Novelty Animal Figures
Five comic animal figures - no backstamp but had a paper label.

1956 - 1958 - Snippets
These look like cut-outs from children's books and were made in porcelain.

1956 - 1959 - Minikins
Smaller, lower priced figures of animals produced after the success of Whimsies.

1956 - 1959 - Drum Box Series
Five animal figures each sold in a box resembling a drum.

1956 - 1959 - Disney Hat Box Series
Presented individually in a round box, these figurines were based on Disney cartoon characters.

I bought this figure of 'Tramp' from the movie Lady and the Tramp when I was a child as a gift for my mother from my pocket money.

1958 - 1959 - The Alphabet Train
As its name suggests, this was a model of a railway engine and carriages with letters of the alphabet on the sides and either letters or numbers on the roofs. Some sets have, instead, scenes of London on the sides.

1958 - 1960 - The Noddy Set
Four figures from Enid Blyton's classic children's books: Noddy, Big Ears, Miss Fluffy Cat and Mr Plod.

1959 - Mabel Lucie Attwell Characters
This set consists of just two characters: Sam and Sarah.

Kittens from the
Wade Pets Series

1959 - 1965 - TV Pets
Ten figures in the series based on characters from the TV series.

1961 - 1965 - Disneys
Larger versions of the Hatbox series of figures.

1962 - Hanna-Barbera Cartoon Characters

Early to mid 1960s - Robertson's Gollies
This is a set of eight figures with each Golly playing a different instrument. Collectors should be aware that a cheaper version was made elsewhere but the Wade figures have a white porcelain base.

Late 1960s - ICI Man
A promotional figurine produced for a drug company.

Mid 1970s - Bisto Kids
A salt and pepper shaker set in the form of the Bisto Kids used in that company's advertising.

1976 - 1980 - Aquarium Set
Six figures produced for King British Aquarium Accessories.

1989 - 1990 - Sherwood Forest Series
Three figures, Robin Hood, Maid Marian and Friar Tuck, produced for the company POS-NER Associates of Canada. There were 5000 copies made of each figure.

1990 - 1991 - Nursery Favourites
A set of five figurines made from the same moulds as the earlier Nursery Rhymes series. The year is stamped on the bottom to avoid confusion with the original ones.

Wade Salt & Pepper Shakers for Tetleys Tea
featuring Sid and Gaffer

1990 - 1992 - Tetley Tea Salt and Pepper Shakers
The two characters, Brew Gaffer and Sydney, were made for Tetley as a special promotion lasting about 15 months.

1990 - 1992 - My Fair Ladies Set
There were two sets made. Both sets had four designs but decorated in two colours so giving eight figures to each set.

1991 - 1992 - Sophisticated Ladies
A set of four hand decorated figures although examples have been found that are unpainted or with an all-white glaze.

1992 - My Fair Ladies Liquor Set
Hebrides Scotch Whisky bought figurines from the My Fair Ladies Sets in the form of whisky containers.