Subject Matters Staffordshire figurine factories have manufactured pieces depicting animals, politicians, and even buildings, but all are not equally prized by collectors. David says that famous people are often the most valuable, whether they are royalty, politicians, actors, or even sports figures. However, in cases where there are numerous copies of one person, such as Queen Victoria, the value drops markedly. Cats and rabbits, as well as exotic animals such as elephants, zebras and tigers are usually more valuable than Staffordshire dogs because they are harder to find, David notes. The sharper a piece's molding and detailing, the more valuable it is.
Collectors also pursue pieces with rich, dark colors.
The same piece that is brightly colored is worth two or three times more than one that isn't. Inconspicuous damage to pottery has little effect on price. Very minor chips, cracks and manufacturing flaws don't effect the price very much. David says that flaws only matter when they become visually distracting. Staffordshire figurines often have damage because they are made with low-fired pottery, making them less durable.