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and Arthur Gredington that created the Beswick golden age, which are best known and valued. Of the 400-odd animal models produced
lasted until the 1990s, long after all three had left the Company. by Gredington during his tenure until his retirement, about 190 were
This included expanding the Company’s line of animal figurines, equestrian models.
introducing the Beswick stable of horses, and creating collectible The Beswick horse has the longest production period in the
figurines based on beloved storybook and Disney characters. Company’s stable of animal figurines, the vast majority modeled by
Gredington. The Company’s first realistic horse model was of Derby
winner, Bois Rousse, modeled by Arthur Gredington. The Company
was then off to the races! From 1939 to 1989, Beswick produced 150
different horses, including Arthur Gredington’s range of 190 Rearing
Horsemen, which is one of the largest collections (and most popular
amongst collectors) ever produced by the Company. You can read more
about the 190 Rearing Horsemen here: www.antiques-info.co.uk
Although Gredington’s horses are coveted by collectors, his
reproductions of champion stock were
particularly admired and collected in
the farming community. Realism and
accuracy were key to their appeal: as
the desirable characteristics of
Hereford cattle changed over time so
did Gredington’s models of the breed.
Some were in production for many
A selection of Beswick Beatrix Potter collectibles years. Lesser-known breeds, such as a
Galloway (right), had shorter runs and
With no heirs, John Ewart Beswick and Gilbert Beswick sold their consequently rank high on the most-wanted list.
shares in the publicly-traded company to Doulton & Co. Ltd, a year In 1947, John Ewart’s wife Lucy suggested bringing to life the illus-
after Arthur Gredington retired in 1968. trations in the Beatrix Potter books. The following year, John had
Doulton & Co. continued to produce the Company’s popular and secured the right to reproduce a range of 10 Beatrix Potter earthenware
collectible animal figurines under the Beswick maker’s mark, although characters, the first of which was Jemima Puddle-Duck, designed by
the range was reduced and only a few Gredington. From this base, Beswick
new models entered production. In began producing a vast array of other
1989, the Beswick mark was dropped in cartoon and storybook figures and char-
mp favor of the Royal Doulton Royal Albert acter animals, and in 1952 began man-
DA backstamp. This is a helpful clue to ufacturing a range of Disney characters,
quickly dating a Beswick object. including Snow White, Mickey Mouse,
Royal Doulton ceased production of and Bambi.
all Beswick products at the end of 2002, When Gredington retired in 1968,
and in 2003 the Gold Street works were Albert Hallan, who started work at
sold off to property developers, followed Beswick at the age of 14 as an appren-
by the Beswick name and product tice mold maker under Gredington,
design rights in 2004. assumed the position of chief modeler.
Today, the John Beswick name is Hallan was the firm’s leading modeler
owned by Dartington Crystal, which and mold maker in the 1950s. Graham
continues to produce animal figurines; Tongue then took on the role and
they also produce vases and giftware introduced even more Beswick horse
under the John Beswick name. The models, continuing to do so even after
Snowman and the Snowdog figures are Royal Doulton assumed control of the
just some of the nursery figures still Company in 1969. His “Spirited
being produced. Beswick Figurine 1546 HM Queen Elizabeth II Mounted with Beswick Horses” collection is extremely col-
Horses Rare Duke Of Edinburgh On Alamein Trooping the Color 1957 lectible today.

Arthur Gredington, Master Modeler
Arthur Gredington’s highly-stylized designs, realism, and modeling Categorizing and Valuing
skills helped define Beswick’s golden age, which is what makes Beswick Animals
Gredington Era figurines so desirable among collectors. Beswick animals are traditionally
Arthur Gredington joined the company in 1939, having just divided into a half dozen categories:
finished studying at the Royal College for three years after winning a Birds (covering a wide range from comic
national scholarship to attend. He possessed superb drawing skills and models to wall plaques to the precise real-
a special affinity for animal subjects, able to capture the spirit and ism of the Peter Scott Wildfowl collec-
nature of an animal in a quick sketch and translate that into pottery. tion); Cats and Dogs (many of the cham-
That skillset fit in perfectly with John and Gilbert’s plans to expand the pion breeds modeled by Gredington were
Company’s line of animal figurines. in production for four decades); Farm
Although Gredington can be credited with creating hundreds of dif- Animals (the most popular collecting
ferent models area); Fish (sophisticated models that
Extremely rare Beswick England Greyhound/ Whippet of animals have proved vulnerable to damage);
vintage dog figurine. Modeled after Champion across the Horses (there are over 150 different mod-
Winged Foot Marksman Of Allways (Model animal king- els and many color variations from rock-
1786A), Designed by Arthur Gredington, dom—from
issued ing horse grey to Palamino), and Wild
in 1961 dogs and cats Animals (a vast range from the comical to
to birds and the naturalistic).
farm animals—it is perhaps
because of his Beswick horses Beswick Highway Man on Rearing Horse
that both he and the Company 2210, matt finish, sold for $500 in 2014

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