Definition:HN Number

HN numbers are Royal Doulton’s official figurine identification system, introduced in 1913 and named for Harry Nixon, the Doulton color manager who oversaw its creation. Every Royal Doulton figurine — including all dog models — is assigned a unique HN number identifying the specific model design, size, and colorway. The system spans thousands of figures; Royal Doulton has published official listing guides that serious collectors use as their primary reference. For dog figurines, the HN series includes both standard production pieces (made for decades) and limited-run or discontinued models that command premiums. Knowing a Royal Doulton dog’s HN number is essential for accurate identification and valuation — two visually similar dogs may carry very different HN numbers with significantly different market values based on colorway or production period.