#Red rose tea box series

Here are four more from the Circus Series III: Strong man, human canonball, standing elephant, and sitting elephant. The Wade Circus Series III contained 15 pieces, including those you see here: (back) seal, tiger, male monkey (holding a hat), female monkey, bear (front) poodle, clown w/pie, ringmaster, lion. There are other tell-tale markers as well: the seal wears a bow, the bear a hat, the monkeys clothes, the poodle a skirt, for example. One of the main ways to tell circus figures from other series figures is that most of the animals are sitting on a round, decorated base–even the Ringmaster is standing on one. To see the figures contained in each series, check out Wadetopia (click “Red Rose Tea Promotions” on the left). Pet Shop Friend Series (10 figures, 2006-08).Endangered North American Animals (10 figures, 1999-2002).Animals Series II (20 figures, 1985-96).The first figurine, a Florida panther, belongs to the Endangered Species Set, while the langur, leopard, and kangaroo to the Animal Set II.Īll in all, Wade produced seven series for the American Red Rose Tea market: Pictured are an orangutan, giraffe, rhinoceros, camel, zebra, and gorilla. These six also belong to the Animal Series II, of which there are twenty total. You may have noticed that Wade produced all the Red Rose figurines in single colors, with one exception, the poodle, part of the Circus Series III that you’ll see below. Both sets feature animals from around the world. Looking at the front row, the bison is from the American Series I, while the giraffe and puppy are from those Series II. The tiger, camel, zebra, seal, and cockatiel are each part of the Animal Series II, which was issued in 1985 and continuing on through 1996. By their own estimate, Red Rose gave away over 300 million through the years in America alone(!).Įach figurine is part of a larger series for example, the bald eagle is part of the Endangered North American Animal Series III, as are the sea turtle and timber wolf behind it. Each box of tea would contain a miniature figurine nestled inside.

The pottery entered into an agreement with Red Rose tea in 1967 that continued right up until 2018. In the 1950’s Sir George Wade organized a number of local potteries into the George Wade & Sons Ltd pottery, and shortly thereafter in 1954 began producing an assortment of figurines, including tiny Wade Whimsies. Wade Ceramics has a long history of manufacturing pottery of all kinds in the Stoke-on-Trent area of England, known far and wide for pottery production.

Red rose tea box