Porcelain ‘Thumbs Up’ figurine with Leeds coat of arms

This charming porcelain figurine represents a type of souvenir known as ‘Thumbs Up’ or ‘Fums Up’ dolls, popular in England during the Edwardian era and early 20th century. These small figurines were sold as good luck charms and mementos at seaside resorts and tourist destinations throughout Britain. The Leeds coat of arms featured on this piece indicates it was produced as a souvenir specifically for visitors to Leeds, Yorkshire, making it a tangible piece of local tourism history.

These whimsical figurines appeal to collectors of British crested china, souvenir ware enthusiasts, and those interested in social history and tourism memorabilia. The cheerful design and regional heraldic crest make them particularly attractive to collectors focusing on Yorkshire heritage or early 20th-century popular culture. Such pieces are valued for their nostalgic charm, historical significance as examples of mass-produced tourist souvenirs, and their representation of leisure travel during the Edwardian and inter-war periods.