Five Birds and a Rabbit

The first paperweights were introduced in 1981 at a reception at Chatsworth House. The initial collection featured five birds and a rabbit, designed by sculptor Robert Jefferson and decorated by June and Brian Branscombe.

Since then, Royal Crown Derby has expanded its range to include over 450 individual designs and 30 series collections, featuring animals like elephants, toucans, and butterflies. These paperweights are crafted from bone china and often decorated with Imari patterns, a style originating from the East that incorporates underglazed blue, overglazed red, and gilt highlights.

Each paperweight comes with a stopper, allowing it to be filled with a dense material to function as a true paperweight, though most collectors prefer to keep them as decorative pieces. The most sought-after pieces feature gold stoppers, while silver stoppers indicate seconds, though imperfections are often minimal.