Among the more unusual novelty figures occasionally encountered by collectors is the charming and slightly comic “Mrs Bun” figure, a piece often attributed to the designs of the British illustrator John Hassall. Although not widely documented in standard ceramics references, the figure appears periodically in auction catalogues and dealer stock, where it has become a minor curiosity among collectors of early twentieth century novelty pottery. This feature includes a Mrs Bun price guide.
John Hassall was best known for his lively advertising posters and children’s illustrations, produced in a distinctive style that combined bold outlines with expressive, humorous characters. His most famous work remains the celebrated “Jolly Fisherman” poster created for the seaside resort of Skegness in 1908. Hassall’s ability to create memorable cartoon-like figures made his work particularly suited to advertising and character merchandising during the Edwardian and inter-war years.
The Mrs Bun figure appears to translate this playful illustrated style into three-dimensional form. Typically modelled in bisque pottery, the figure depicts a cheerful, rounded Edwardian woman dressed in period clothing, often wearing a bonnet and apron. The exaggerated facial expression and slightly caricatured form echo the comic character tradition common in illustration and advertising of the period.
Some examples are believed to have been produced by the Staffordshire pottery firm Carlton Ware, although attribution is sometimes based more on stylistic comparison and auction references than firmly documented factory records. Pieces are generally modest in size and were probably produced as novelty ornaments rather than serious art pottery.
For collectors today, Mrs Bun represents an intriguing crossover between illustration, advertising art and novelty ceramics. Surviving examples appear irregularly at auction, often attracting interest from collectors of Carlton Ware, character figures and early twentieth century ephemera. As a result, values can vary considerably depending on condition, rarity and the presence of clear factory marks.
While never produced in large numbers, the Mrs Bun figure remains a delightful reminder of the period when popular illustrated characters sometimes made the leap from the printed page to the ceramic mantelpiece.
Estimate Mrs Bun in fine or better condition £30-£40.
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