May 6, 2023

Thinking About…Wade Whimsies

Recently I was hit so hard with a blast of Nostalgia that it awakened some long-buried childhood memories. My siblings and I spent a lot of time when we were young at my Grandparent’s house. Their house was magical for a whole list of reasons. They let us watch Barney which was strictly forbidden at our house, My Granny would cut off the crusts of our sandwiches, and we had a playhouse as well as a treehouse. Not to mention they loved us an awful lot which made being there such a warm safe place.

Among the plethora of treasures in my Grandparent’s house were several small ceramic animal figurines. They fit in perfectly with my Star Wars action figures and Fisher-Price Play Family House, at least in the mind of a child they did. Perhaps in the cold light of adulthood, it was an odd combination. Given that my mind at the time was preoccupied with the unravelling drama unfolding in the world of my toys I didn’t give these ceramic figurines much thought. That was until I saw a posting of someone selling some “Vintage Wade Whimsies”.

Who would have thought that Princess Leia’s pet deer was a collectable? Certainly not me. Armed only with a memory and the name Wade Whimsies (that name alone is so delightful I would need to know everything about them.) I set out to learn everything I could.

Wade Ceramics

Wade Ceramics was founded back in 1810. They have their headquarters in Stoke-on-Trent. When they first started they produced ceramic items to be used in the industries in operation around them. For example, making bottles for the growing breweries in the area.

As time moved on they branched out and even made commemorative pieces for King George the V’s silver jubilee. In 1954 Wade Ceramics made their first ‘Wade Whimsies” they were miniature collectable ceramic figurines.

If you love abandoned places check out these photos of the old abandoned Wade Factory that we’re taken by user Motionless Mike. Here: 28DaysLater.Co.Uk

Red Rose Tea

Fast forward a few years to 1967. In collaboration with Wade, Figurines Red Rose tea offered a free Wade Whimsie with boxes of tea. These little figurines became hugely popular and the first run of figurines sold in the millions! I can see why! There is just something about these little animals and figurines that speak to my soul.

The Treasure Hunt

The more I learned the more I needed to go hunt down the Wade Whimsies I used to play with. Now, at this point, it’s been well over a decade since there were children in that house playing with toys. While I was armed with enthusiasm I was not armed with certainty. There was a strong chance I would not be able to find them. Judging from my memories I knew we definitely played with a deer, maybe a cat, and an owl.

Here is an idea of the journey of finding this figurine. The first one was pretty easy. Our old playhouse is filled with toys from back when my dad and when I was a child. Can you see the Owl?

The next one was a journey and there is an element of dumb luck in finding it at all. In a backroom (that I had already looked through once before) on a shelf way in the back, I found another one! Can you see it?

The Antique Mall

While visiting with my wonderful sister-in-law she took me to an Antique Mall close to her house. Now, this place is absolutely magical, to begin with, but made even more so with all the Wade Whimsies I spotted in different booths. I wish I had brought a much larger suitcase with me so I could have brought some home with me!

The Future

Here is where things really take off, I learn that you still get a Wade ceramic figurine in certain boxes of Red Rose tea. THAT’S RIGHT THEY DIDN’T STOP THIS PROMOTION IT IS STILL GOING AND YOU CAN STILL BUY TEA WITH A CUTE MINI FIGURINE INSIDE IT LIKE A BEAUTIFUL AND ADORABLE TREASURE HUNT OF TEA AND MINI FIGURINES! I have no chill about this. Absolutely. No. Chill.

NOTE: THEY DO NOT SHIP TO CANADA. *cries*

(Takes a 20-minute break to breathe and convince myself not to go to the store and buy ALL the Red Rose tea.)

Wade Whimsies are still a part of Red Rose tea! They have changed over time and are no longer hand-painted but they are no less adorable for it. Every couple of years they release a new series! The latest is this collection of world monuments.

If you can’t find a box of tea in-store that has one of these adorable figurines in it you can purchase a box online with the option to have a mystery figurine included. Check that out HERE: Red Rose Tea Original Black Tea

(Shh in case you don’t want to play figurine roulette with your tea purchase you can purchase the figurines directly from the Red Rose HERE: Red Rose Figurines. Just a heads up, in case that wasn’t magical enough, they have an option to buy a MYSTERY FIGURINE! It is only $0.32 cents more to buy the box of tea as well so that is worth considering.

END THOUGHTS

I’ve loved this little journey through my childhood memories. I am well and truly enamoured with Wade Whimsies and it is a real struggle to not start a collection. (Please note I am in no way committing to NOT starting a collection. I’m just currently still fighting the urge.) In the meantime, I’m appreciating the two figurines I was able to find at my grandfather’s house.