Wade Whimsies were first produced in 1954 by George Wade & Son Ltd. in Stoke-on-Trent, England.
They became a household name in North America after being included as "premiums" in Red Rose Tea boxes starting in 1967.
The original 1954 set featured animal figurines, but the line expanded to include nursery rhymes, circus characters, and more.
Collectors prize "discontinued" sets and rare glaze variations.
Digging deeper into the vault….
While everyone knows the cute little critters from their morning tea, there is so much more to the story of these tiny porcelain treasures. If you're looking for vintage Wade Whimsies or just love the thrill of online collectible auctions, here are a few extra nuggets of "funky" knowledge:
- The Ridged Base Mystery: Ever notice those tiny parallel ridges on the bottom of some figurines? That wasn't just a design choice: it’s a key way to date your collection! Later Whimsies often feature this texturing, while the earliest 1950s retail versions usually have a smooth base.
- A "Peeling" Disaster: Before the Whimsies we know and love, Wade tried making Art Deco figurines with a "cellulose" finish. It looked great at first, but over time, the finish turned yellow and literally peeled off. Because of this "fail," the line was scrapped, making those rare surviving pieces a holy grail for some collectors.
- The Great Porcelain Pause: During World War II, British restrictions meant Wade couldn't make anything decorative. For years, they were only allowed to produce plain, white, undecorated tableware. It wasn't until 1952 that the "fun" was allowed back into the kilns!
- A Massive Scale: It’s estimated that over 300 million Wade figurines have been given away in Red Rose Tea boxes in the U.S. alone since 1983. That is a whole lot of porcelain tea parties!
Whether you’re hunting for the elusive "Noah's Ark" series or just love the classic nursery rhyme characters, these little guys always bring a smile to our faces.
Team Funky
Enjoy our auctions here: https://funkyjunkauctions.hibid.com/auctions
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