You will give two hoots for this amazing antique

Trends come and go in antiques and collecting, but some classic brands never seem to go out of fashion.

One of the earliest English ceramics manufacturers, Royal Crown Derby, is celebrating an incredible 270 years gracing tables and mantelpieces worldwide.

Long praised for its delicate eggshell porcelain and fine-bone china, this elite pottery company is known for producing fabulously ornamental floral inspired designs. For an impressive centrepiece or formal dinner service, there’s nothing quite like it.

Crown Derby began a major expansion in the 1880s, when director Richard Lunn attracted some of the region’s finest modellers, decorators, gilders and designers to the company.

Skilled artisans depicted classic motifs such as birds, flowers, fruit and nuts with fine polished brush strokes, raised paste gilding and jewelling.

Their delightful English traditional and French-inspired patterns caught the attention of wealthy patrons, and just ten years later, Queen Victoria’s warrant sealed their rise to the Royal Crown Derby Porcelain Company.

Items from this period are enjoying increasing value on the market at the moment, more so than the early figures. A 19th century vase, hand-painted with elaborate gilding and decoration, in good condition could be valued at around £3,000-£4,000, particularly if the artist is identifiable.

After the turn of the century, Royal Crown Derby wares expanded to include decorative art ware; pieces like vases, trinket boxes and canapé dishes, often sporting intricate patterns in deep cobalt, emerald and ruby with subtle gilded touches.

Bringing us up to date, the anthropomorphic animal paperweights launched in the 1980s remain popular collectables.

The range includes some 488 different birds, animals and mythical creatures, with models regularly ‘retired’ and replaced, ensuring rarity and interest keeps prices robust.

These beautiful creatures are splendid examples of delicate workmanship and decoration. The Winter Owl and Old Imari Honey Bear are gilded in 22 carat gold, and priced £75 each.