Comments on Hazle Ceramics and A Piece of Britain

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Eric Knowles on Hazle Ceramics	Collectors on Hazle Ceramics	Collectors on A Piece of Britain	Investment Potential

ERIC KNOWLES ON HAZLE CERAMICS
Antiques Roadshow star and ceramics expert

Hazle and Eric with painters
Eric Knowles with Hazle and her painters at Hazle Ceramics 15th Anniversary Event
From left: Carol Whaley, Hazle, Eric, Sharon Stroud, Cara Hornett, Sandra Peach and Judy Brett

Collect It! magazine August 2004
"I find Hazle Ceramics' Nation of Shopkeepers range charming and innovative. Lots of people are doing miniature buildings but these are interesting architecturally... As a collectable I can see them lasting in their charm and they will be contested for by future generations."
ITV's This Morning series Investing in Collectables September 2004
"I think Hazle Ceramics make a wonderful range of these model buildings."
Hazle Ceramics 15th Anniversary September 2005
"Having a lifelong interest in buildings these spoke to me on first sight... Unique and affordable they give a good three-dimensional effect without taking up much space."
A Month in the Life of Eric Knowles September 2005 on Eric's website
"Splendid miniature pottery shop fronts and buildings of architectural merit..."

COLLECTORS ON HAZLE CERAMICS
From members of the Hazle News mailing list

Ms MT from California
"Looking at Hazle Ceramics in our US home makes us feel we are back in London."
Mrs JE from Devon
"We have a fantastic architectural heritage and Hazle Ceramics portray this beautifully with detailed modelling and natural colours. Vistors always comment as a point of interest."
Mr CC from Florida
"The hand painted aspect, not a clone mass production, is a big plus for me. Hazle Ceramics began as a labor of love and still retains that today."
Mr MA from Hampshire
"I think Hazle Ceramics make a political statement. That is political with a small p. Small is beautiful. Traditional versus modern architecture. Individual shops versus clone towns."
Ms AS from Connecticut
"Hazle Ceramics capture what we love about England and its villages, which somehow continue to escape being overtaken by hyper-modernisation."
Mr DH from Essex
"I was attracted by the olde-worlde charm of Hazle Ceramics, bringing back memories of village shops where personal service was the key and everyone had time for a chat."
Mrs KB from Wiltshire
"I like the way Hazle Ceramics depict social history - with an almost endless list of themes."
US Tourist turned Hazle Ceramics Collector
"This isn't a souvenir - this is a piece of England!"

A PIECE OF BRITAIN
Comments received from customers

AC from St Albans in the UK
"Thank you for the Village School ceramic I received today. It was beautifully and carefully packaged. Thanks for the kind note too."
BR from New York
"Just wanted to let you know I received my plaque and couldn't be more pleased."
ST from Toronto
"Regarding receipt of my beautiful pieces... I have all three now and they are just perfect. I love my purchases and I thank you very much... I am also so happy to receive emails from you about Hazle Ceramics. They are delightful... I know you are working on documenting the entire collection and I cannot wait for that."
LP from New Zealand
"Your website is amazing! I love the additional photos and info. I've been a Hazle collector for a long time and am interested in more unusual pieces so finding your site was great for me."
BE from Arizona
"Thank you so much for advising me of the Boots ceramic and that there was only one left. I bought it before it got away. I appreciate your sending me the information so quickly."
NR from Wisconsin
"I received my second order. All arrived safely. Thank you for your help and understanding."
LE from Adelaide
"I have only just found your fantastic website. I was finding it difficult to get information and background on new pieces. Thanks for your time explaining the availability of Prezzo designs."
MD from South Carolina
"Thanks so much for additional information on The Nutshell. It is special to me since I'm an American born in Bury St. Edmunds in 1958. My father was an Air Force pilot stationed there. I visited Bury in 2000 and walked by this pub not realizing it was the smallest in England."

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INVESTMENT POTENTIAL
Some current thoughts from Marilyn

What Makes a Good Collectable?
Collectors sometimes say they would never dream of selling their Hazles. Nevertheless the idea that the ceramics may increase in value is attractive. A lot of collectables go in and out of fashion. The fact that Hazles are based on actual, heritage buildings gives them a timeless quality. Again Eric, with a life-long passion for buildings, has singled out Hazle Ceramics as being architecturally interesting. Real themes from British social history, often meticulously researched, help create the sense of a continuing tradition. The huge range of subjects offer a broad appeal and intricate hand painted details will always be enchanting. And the quantities produced of most pieces are vastly fewer than for any other collectable. A 2008 article in Collect it magazine said that collectables with craftsmanship, classic design and nostalgia were probably the most sound investments - and Hazle Ceramics deliver on all three counts. So, all in all, they have a lot going for them.

Future Bets?
Occasionally I am asked which pieces could be the best bets for the future. In the past ceramics with the pre-1993 front signature of Hazle Boyles have done well. With two otherwise identical pieces, the full signature is likely to fetch more than one with a front signed Hazle. However the modelling and painting of the original pieces is generally less refined. It may also be worth bearing in mind that with fewer models and themes in the early days, full signature versions for the more popular pieces such as the Florist and Teashop were often made in relatively high numbers - as are the same pieces with a Hazle front signature.

London Liberty
So far the highest "secondary market" value was £1100 in September 2002 for The George Inn on London Liberty, the rarest model (first issued at £20-£25!). With the cooling of the whole collectables market, secondary prices have dropped back and the Liberty Florist fetched £350 at Hazle's Auction in January 2005. It might have gone for more without so many other pieces to choose from! Only cast between 1990-91 within the Hazle Boyles signature era, the ceramic was commissioned by Liberty's giftware buyer who moved on before it was ready. Unfortunately new buyers always want to make their mark with new stock. So that was that.

Hazle then released Liberty onto the general market - about 100 according to my records. At the time some reportedly didn't like the way the shape tapers. There was no problem with that at the 15th Anniversary for the Liberty Art Nouveau LP8, left. Painted on newly-discovered original bisques, they were hot property even at £250 each! Ironically models that were less popular and therefore made in fewer numbers are often more sought after later. That happened to the London Indian (restaurant), in production from 1994-1997. There are only around 600 of these in total with at least five colourways.

Limited Paintings
The idea of painters designing their own Limited Paintings really took off at the 10th Anniversary in 2000 when there was a real scramble for the eight LP30s. A few more LPs came up between then and 2003, when highly detailed, short-runs became more available. A 10th Anniversary piece sold in November 2008 for £325 and I can't help wondering if more LPs will increase in value such as the gorgeous Home & Colonial, Magic Carpet, Old Father Time and Blacks Ironmonger at the Cyber Signings - and then the incredible outpouring at the 15th Anniversary.

One of my current favourites on this site is Burlington Arcade - the ideal model, lots of authentic detail and at least four colourways across the LP30. A few were painted as Burlington Bertie, with different merchandise in the main windows. The Royal Theatre model adapts wonderfully as a chapel for Carols by Candlelight LP30 which is also on its third colourway.

Doing research for the Tintin Shop was surprisingly fascinating. His "boy scout" character was blessed by The Pope in 1929 and Tintin in Tibet got the Dalai Lama's Light of Life award in 2006. Interesting credentials! With enough enthusiasm to sustain Tintin Shops in the real world, when Tintin collectors become aware of this it could be a good one. The Reclamation Centre makes ingenious use of the petrol pumps that actually are collectable in real life! It is the only non-garage special on this model.

Hazle is only painting a few Phantom of the Opera because of possible copyright concerns. A Clean Sweep LP30 is on the perfect model - and this unusual theme will never be painted again. People adore the artefacts outside on Village Antiques. This first Village Collection ceramic was launched at the 15th Anniversary in 2005 and has Art Nouveau antiques coinciding with an event theme. In its second colourway, the Limited Mould 250 ends soon. This piece epitomises the very nature of Hazle Ceramics... Rummage around to find almost anything - from any period!

Conclusion
Several of the diverse factors that may affect future prices of models and paintings are noted above. Eric Knowles said Hazle Ceramics will be contested for by future generations. With over 30 years experience in antiques and a special interest in ceramics, if anyone knows it is surely him. Some people feel it is only a matter of time before the secondary market for collectables picks up again and that now could be a good time to buy. As far as my personal collection is concerned, I am one of them! Eventual publication of the Hazle Guide with approximate numbers of every known ceramic may help prices find their own level.