This Royal Doulton flambé penguin, Model No. 85, was produced between 1913 and 1946 and is one of the earliest animal studies in the flambé series. Standing 4¼ inches tall, the piece is finished in the deep red flambé glaze that became a hallmark of Doulton’s experimental kiln work during the early 20th century. Modelled by an unknown artist, this simple, upright pose appears in two early varieties (HN104 and HN134) and remains one of the harder small flambé animals to find in clean condition. The rich glaze pooling at the base and the precise transition from dark head to red body reflect the firing techniques that made Doulton’s flambé pieces both technically challenging and highly collectible. A fine example of early Royal Doulton flambé craftsmanship.