Fortunately for Royal Crown Derby, the new money in Russia, the Middle East
and – perhaps surprisingly – Italy knows about old-fashioned aspiration. It
follows in the tradition of nouveaux riches throughout the ages, by wanting
gold and plenty of it, on patterns of maximum elaboration. Formal dining is
still the way among the rising families of Azerbaijan. The British, however,
prefer paperweights in the shape of animals. The company has been making
them for 30 years.
Mr Gibson picks up a beaver, as yet plain white. Patterns will be floated on
to it from a sheet of transfers, the panels shaped like parts of the animal,
but, because of the curves, extraordinarily difficult to make fit. Giraffes
are worse. Bubbles under the transparencies, which are made slightly smaller
than the areas they decorate so they can be stretched into place, are a
particular hazard.