Page 15 - Alan Blakeman Collection catalogue

Purchased around 1977 or 78 at Hartshead Moor M62 motorway services from Phil Brown. Phil believes from memory he asked for £100 but I knocked him down to £80. That was more than two weeks teaching
salary for me at the time.
22. HARDIA SHOP WINDOW ADVERTISING FIGURE.
12.9ins. Naturalistically painted ceramic figure of young boy in school uniform leapfrogging over a tree
stump, base plinth stylishly splashed with grass/ earth colours. Raised letters to front say Clothes a
fellow/ can ROMP in! Below the company name
in script Hardia and CLOTHING FOR BOYS. Base impressed JOHN HARDIA & Co Ltd/ BARONIA WORKS/ NANTWICH. An exceptional and very rare survivor. No damages. Believed one of only two
recorded. 10/10. NR. £2,000-3,000+ ,
The old Baronia Works still stands at Nantwich - now luxury town flats. There used to be a large sign in script lettering, as on the front of the figure plinth, which I, in earnest, tried to save - to re-install at Elsecar, but it was not to be!
Daughter Rebecca has attended more UK SummerNationals than anyone else, apart from her dod! Often against her will. When I asked her to pick out just one special item from my collection she chose this Hardia figure - rather poignantly as it is
an item emanating from Nantwich - so much a
part of my early adult life.