Rabbits, cats, dogs, and cartoon characters were frequently used at nursery meals between  the wars, , they all featured on every Child's favourite crockery.  Once the child had eaten all their vegetables, they were rewarded with a  recognisable face, or a scene.  There ere also china night lights, bookends, money boxes, ornaments and toilet sets, and their lovely designs ensure that they are still popular today.

Educational plates decorated with worthy advice and nursery rhymes was popular in the 19th century, but by the early 20th century, children's china had taken on its modern form, popular children's characters were featured and the emphasis was on fun.  A tea set featuring characters from Alice in wonderland, which Royal Doulton first produced in 1906, was still obtainable in the early 1930s.  Although this and Royal Doulton other lines did well, they were over taken when, in 1934, the Bunnykins design was introduced and became popular and over took them all.

The artist behind Bunnykins was Sister Mary Barbara, a nun who taught history ay a convent school.  She was the daughter of  Cuthbert Bailey,  General Manager of Royal Doulton at Burslem.  On the look out  for new designs for  children, he remembered his daughters doodles of playful rabbits, and by 1939 there were over 60 Bunnykins designs.

These original Bunnykins characters are still used, essentially unaltered, today.  Other major potteries making children's ware at this time were Wedgwood and Shelly, and smaller makers abound  Shelly used Mabel Lucie Attwell's designs and Susie Cooper drew characters for at least one Wedgwood line.

It should be noted that even the best behaved child had momentary lapses in table manners, so complete sets of children's china are rare.  Examine individual pieces to make sure there are no chips , cracks or scratches and that the transfer printing has not been rubbed or marked.  The makers mark should also be clearly visible.  Earlier pieces with hand enamelling over the glaze tend to chip very easily.

Most people who collect children's china either specialise in the work of a specific designer or factory, one type of piece such as teapots or nightlights, or a theme such as scenes of children at play.   The most collectable factories are the most famous ones like Shelly, Royal Doulton, and Wedgwood., but prices for these pieces can get rather high. Royal Doulton examples for instance are much sought after by collectors, in America.  On the other hand, SylvaC pottery can still be bough for a few pounds.

Famous designer names such as, Eric Ravilious , Mabel Lucie Attwell's and Leslie Harradine , are sure to push up prices, Clarice cliff, known for her art deco pottery for adults, also designed children's tea ware, and these are just as collectable as her other works.

Teapots are always popular but undamaged ones are elusive.  A Bunnykins teapot in the shape of a rabbit, if it is in very good condition is one of the most expensive pieces of kids china available.  The Bunnykins series, is still being added to today and is one of the most popular among collectors.  Barbara  Vernon's drawings were adapted for transfer printing by Hubert Light. 

He also introduced the chain of rabbits chasing one another round the rim and the back stamp of three bunnies in red jackets below the Doulton mark.  Pieces from the 1930s can be recognised by their facsimile Barbara Vernon signature in blue.

Although children's china prices are increasing, few pieces are known to have been faked on a large scale,  good forgeries, however can be virtually indistinguishable from the originals and the best advice is to beware of suspiciously low prices for rare items, and to check with an expert or buy from a reputable dealer.

For children who didn't have a real pet, there were plenty of china animals for company, although not made strictly for children, SylvaC  ware made By Shaw and Copestake and first introduced in the late 1930s found its way into many young hearts.  The cocky little dogs sat on many a bookcase or dressing table, looking inquiringly at lifelike pussy cats and stylised bunnies. 

These earthenware pieces were glazed in either pale green, buff blue or yellow.