Then another artist uses the smallest and most delicate of brushes, working with 18 carat gold, carefully applying each fine touch by hand and giving just the right amount of emphasis to each stroke.

The tiniest slip of the hand could result in disaster. And the lavish gold embroidery on a fan or dress, or the tiny links in a gold lockets, would fail to meet the rigorous standards of excellence demanded.

The figurine would be rejected as unworthy to bear the factory's famous backstamp.

Such individual care, hand-crafting and hand-painting, means that no two figurines could ever be alike, adding to their collectablity.

So there you are - the whole story of what happens from the time I craft my clay model until it is delivered to you to enjoy.