Royal Doulton Lord of the Rings Figures

Royal Doulton Gandalf Figurine
1979 to 1981
$30
7 inches
HN# 2911
Known as Mithrandir to the Elves, Gandalf was one of five Istari (wizards) sent to Middle-Earth early in the Second Age to combat the growing power of Sauron. These Istari were charged with accomplishing this, not by equal force of power in direct conflict with Sauron, but rather through the guidance and counseling of the free peoples. It was a testimony to the wisdom, and fidelity to cause, of Gandalf that most people of Rohan, Gondor, the Shire, and elsewhere, thought of him as nothing more than a wandering meddler. Nowhere is this better seen than in Wormtongue's words to Gandalf in The Two Towers, referring to the wizard as "Lathspell" and "Stormcrow", Wormtongue really had no idea of the true nature of Gandalf. It was not until the return of Gandalf the White to Orthanc, when Gandalf broke the Staff of Saruman and replaced him as head of his order, that Wormtongue could even guess at the true power of the Grey Wanderer.

Royal Doulton Frodo Baggins Figurine
1979
11cm
HN# 2912
Born in Buckland, the only son of Drogo and Primula Baggins, Frodo was twelve when his parents were both killed in a boating accident on the Brandywine River. Adopted at this point by Bilbo Baggins of Hobbiton, young Frodo would move into Bagshot Row, Bag End. For many years the two Hobbits lived comfortably in peace. It was not until the approach of Bilbo's Eleventy-first Birthday (and Frodo's Fortieth) that any inkling of trouble would be deduced about the nature of Bilbo's Ring. It fell upon young Frodo Baggins of the Shire to deal with the threat. In an effort to leave the Shire without raising suspicions, Frodo, along with Sam Gamgee, Merry Brandybuck, Pippin Took, and Fatty Bolger, would all help to move the Baggins' residence to Crickhollow. From Crickhollow Frodo planned to leave the Shire for Bree, and then further onto Rivendell.

Royal Doulton Bilbo Baggins Figurine
1979 to 1981
HN# 2914
Hardly the standard issue Hobbit of the Shire, Bilbo Baggins was actually fond of adventures....or so he thought. So when a strange wizard named Gandalf knocked on his door one day, the Halfling was unaware of it, but he had been chosen to fill the position of burglar for a band of even stranger dwarves. After relieving him of all his seed-cake and ale, the dwarves made clear their plans to retake the kingdom of Erebor, under the Lonely Mountain, from the dragon Smaug. Trying to pretend that he didn't understand, the Hobbit simply wanted them to go away. Waking the next day to an empty Hobbit-hole, the young Bilbo Baggins was relieved, but only for a moment. So begins the tale of Bilbo Baggins and the thirteen Dwarves, otherwise known as "There and Back Again".

Royal Doulton Gollum Figurine
1979 to 1981
HN# 2913
Born with the name Smeagol, Gollum was once a member of a community of Hobbit-related folk, known as Stoors, living on the edge of the Anduin River. He was a fisherman. It was a fateful day when his fishing expedition led him to the recovery of the One Ring. The Rings influence on Smeagol was instant, taking to petty thefts and other acts of mischief, he was shunned by his community soon after finding it. It was at this time that Smeagol, now becoming the creature Gollum, made his way under the Misty Mountains. There he ate fish from his deep pool, and the occasional Goblin (Orc) who strayed too deep under the mountains. It was not until the Orcs, under the rule of The Great Goblin, captured the thirteen dwarves, Gandalf, and Bilbo, that Gollum would even consider leaving his dark world....but only because Gollum could guess what that curious little creature had in it's pockets.

Royal Doulton Galadriel Figurine
1979 to 1981
HN# 2915
Queen of Lothlorien, and mightiest of the Eldar still left in Middle-Earth, Galadriel ironically kept the Golden Wood hidden from the Eye of Sauron by the power of Nenya. Sister to Finrod, Galadriel and the members of her House of Noldor (High Elves) will ignore the orders of the Valar and make the passage to Middle-Earth in order to make war on Morgoth in the First Age. Morgoth had stolen the light of the Two Trees, before poisoning them, and encapsulated the light into three jewels...the Silmarils. With their trees dead, the High-Elves of the House of Noldor sought the jewels in their stead. Forbidden by the Valar to cross over the seas to contest Morgoth, Galadriel and the other members of her line were forbidden return to the Undying West. It was not until the end of the Third Age and the destruction of Sauron that Galadriel will eventually be allowed to return. She sailed from the Grey Havens with Cirdan the Shipwright, Elrond, and others.

Royal Doulton Aragorn Figurine
1979 to 1981
HN# 2916
Known only as Strider to many people, including the people of Bree, Aragorn was actually the last heir in line for the throne of Elendil. Raised as an orphan in Rivendell, under an alias in order to hide his true lineage from the spies of Sauron, Aragorn would become a seemingly anonymous Captain of the Dunedain Rangers of the North. In this position, he and his fellow Rangers would work to combat the growing evils of Middle-Earth. Not until the outbreak of the War of the Ring did Aragorn allow his true identity to be widely revealed. It was perhaps ironic that, being raised in Rivendell by Elrond, that Aragorn would actually meet Arwen for the first time in Lothlorien. Following the events of the War of the Ring, now crowned King Elessar, Aragorn would rebuild the long lost North-Kingdom of his ancestors. For those only familiar with the movie, this is the kingdom of which Weathertop was once a small outpost.

Royal Doulton Legolas Figurine
1979 to 1981
HN# 2917
In the Third Age a darkness began to grow in the southern end of Mirkwood at a fortress known as Dol Guldur. So while the evil in Dol Guldur turned the forest of Mirkwood dark, the kingdom of the wood-elves in the North stayed strong and steadfast. It was here that Aragorn would bring the creature Gollum, for safe keeping, under the watchful eyes of King Thranduil and his people. Eventually, because of the compassion of the wood-elves, Gollum would escape. It fell upon King Thranduil's son, Legolas, to dispatch the news to Rivendell. Presumably Legolas was to find Aragorn in Rivendell, more so than Elrond, but his arrival was fatefully timed for the start of the Council of Elrond. Present at the meeting, Legolas became appointed to represent the race of Elves within The Fellowship of the Ring. Golden haired and keen-eyed this Royal Doulton Legolas is a fair representation of the wood-elf in the animated movie version.

Royal Doulton Boromir Figurine
1979 to 1981
HN# 2918
While there are many tragic tales within Lord of the Rings, only a few are more tragic than the tale of Boromir. Eldest son of Denethor, Steward of Gondor, and brother of Faramir, Boromir was a mighty Captain of the Armies of Gondor and of direct Numenorean lineage. Boromir and his brother are having puzzling dreams about a weapon of Sauron's devising, and the only clue in the dream leads Boromir to Rivendell and the House of Elrond. Once there, Boromir is appointed to be one of the representatives of Men within the company known as The Fellowship of the Ring. Always seeking the defense of Gondor from the attacks of Mordor, Boromir falsely believes that the One Ring could be a tool to strengthen Gondor and he wishes to wield it himself. He tries to take it by force from Frodo Baggins in a moment of weakness, upon Amon Hen. After a brave stand against a company of Uruk-Hai, Boromirs body is laid to rest in one of the companies canoes, and sent over the Falls of Rauros, the mighty Horn of Gondor split in two.

Royal Doulton Barliman Butterbur Figurine
1979 to 1981
HN# 2919
As the sole proprietor of the Prancing Pony Inn, in the village of Bree, remembering things is no easy task for Barliman Butterbur. There is so much to do, and so little time to do it. Bob and Nob are always somewhere else when you need them here, and there are so many strange folk coming in and out. It is no wonder that one thing drives out another in his mind. Make no mistake, he means well, he's just very busy. So when Barliman Butterbur forgets to deliver a message to the Shire on behalf of Gandalf...well, one must forgive him...or turn his ale sour for decades, whichever.

Royal Doulton Tom Bombadil Figurine
1979 to 1981
HN# 2921
Known by many names to the different peoples of Middle-Earth, Tom Bombadil is easily the most enigmatic character in Middle-Earth. Oldest of all living creatures; "Tom was here before the rivers and the trees; Tom remembers the first raindrop and the first acorn". With his wife Goldberry, Tom Bombadil spends the Second and Third Ages living on the outskirts of The Old Forest, just outside the Shire. It was lucky for the Hobbits that Ole Tom Bombadil was there once Old Man Willow got hold of them, and let us not forget the incident on the Barrow-Downs. For Sam Gamgee's part...he is grateful to Tom for Bill the Pony.

Royal Doulton Gimli Figurine
1979 to 1981
HN# 2922
Gimli, Son of Gloin, is an esteemed Dwarf of Erebor. Having accompanied his father to the Council of Elrond in Rivendell, he is subsequently enlisted as a member of the Fellowship of the Ring. His abilities with an axe are handy in a tight spot. Having become fast friends with Legolas of Mirkwood, Gimli will travel Middle-Earth with his elf-friend for a while following the war, each fulfilling a promise made to the other. Gimli will visit Fangorn Forest and Legolas will look upon the beauty of the Glittering Caves of Aglarond. At this journeys end, Gimli will become King of the Glittering Caves of Aglarond. After many, many years, Gimli is invited by Legolas to sail to the Undying Lands and live amongst the Elves, Gimli accepts, and they depart Middle-Earth in the Fourth Age.

Royal Doulton Sam Gamgee Figurine
1979 to 1981
HN# 2925
If only his Old Gaffer could see him now...Mayor of Hobbiton indeed! A mighty lofty place for a simple gardener of the Shire. Much to the credit of Galadriel's gift to Sam Gamgee upon the departure of the Fellowship from Lothlorien, the Shire is once again green because of Sam Gamgee's labors. Saruman had done much damage in his petty pursuits for power over the people. Once the Battle of Bywater had finished both Saruman and Wormtongue, Sam Gamgee began sprinkling his gift, one grain at a time, over the fields and farmlands. Elected Mayor seven times, Sam Gamgee would grow old with Rosie Cotten at his side. Toward the end of his life, Sam would eventually make the trip to the Grey Havens and depart Middle-Earth as the last ringbearer.