A special team works closely with an army of highly-skilled workers, including mouldmakers, casters, hand-painters, decorators and gilders. From my finished model, a perfect master mould is made to prepare the figurine for production. Casts are created in the mould with-bone china slip (liquid clay).

When these are firm enough to handle the individual parts are taken from the moulds and the figurine is assembles by hand by one of the skilled artisans.

It is at this point that any intricate hand-made floral decorations are added. The figurine is then ready for the first of four firings in the kiln - the biscuit fire. The dull clay colour is transformed to a dazzling white by the heat and then a smooth coat of glaze is applied, giving a sparkling finish.

Once through a rigorous inspection, the figurine moves into the painting room, where the scent of oil of cloves - an ingredient - fills the air. From the rich selection of colours, the painters mix exactly the right shades that will bring this particular figurine to life.