The familiar image of the jovial jester with dangling bells and colorful, mismatching patterns had a profound influence on some of the leading designers in the early days at the Doulton Studio. Charles J. Noke, the original Art Director at Doulton, was fascinated by the subject matter and legend has it that the first piece he modeled for Doulton was that of a jester. Nokes first HN jester Jack Point HN85 was modeled after the central character in Gilbert and Sullivans opera The Yeoman of the Guard, first performed in 1888. In the opera, Jack Point is a strolling jester with a broken heart. The story ends tragically with the Jack Point collapsing, apparently dead, after he is abandoned by his beloved, Elsie Maynard. Charles Noke may have been interested in the many sides of this professional clown, but he was equally aware that the outer appearance of a jester was supposed to provoke laughter and jollity. All the quality and artistry for which Royal Doulton is renowned went into the making of these Jester figures. These impressive, colorful characters represent the pinnacle of achievement for the famous artists who created them and the many collectors who admire them.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION