Royal Doulton & Millennium Collectables Ltd present Kittens MCL 23

This hand-made and hand decorated figure modelled by Shane Ridge has been specially commissioned by Millennium Collectables. After engaging a chemist to devise a formula, Dan & Charles Mason - who had been running a soap company since 1878 launched Cherry Blossom Boot Polish in 1906 at a penny a tin. The venture was so successful that, in 1913, soap production was transferred to Yalding in Kent and the Chiswick Polish Co Ltd was formed using the Burlington Lane, Chiswick factory. In 1930 the Chiswick Polish Company amalgamated with the Nugget Polish Company - followed in 1938 by the acquisition of William Wren's polish business. In 1954 Chiswick Products Ltd (as it was then known) merged into the newly formed Reckitt & Colman Holdings Ltd and, in 1972, manufacturing was moved from Chiswick to Reckitt's facility in Hull. Cherry Blossom as a brand is still going strong today - now under the ownership of Granger's International of Alfreton, Derbyshire. The super image of the kittens snoozing in the highly polished boots originates from the 1930s and, along with other cat images, was used in -the company's advertising for many years. The advertising slogan is also taken from the original advertisement.

"The Cherry Blossom Kittens" are issued in a limited, edition of 750