HISTORY:
Another Bunnykins from our collection, this item being much more "contemporary" in production (1976 ~ 1987) although the design dates from first release in 1950's.
Designed "post" Sister Barbara Vernon by Walter Hayward (Art Director), this design has continued for many years.
Oh yes, aren't bunnies cute (unless you are a farmer!) but many people don't realise that each piece of "Bunnykins" is like eating breakfast or drinking cocoa from a storybook!
This artwork is not just a couple of cute bunnies having trouble with their umbrella's! Imagine you are a child eating breakfast and your imagination is stimulated as you take your sips of cocoa from this mug (even though your eye's may still be half closed!)
There is so much going on and much of it can be interpreted differently by each child ...
No group of young bunnies here, this is Mum and Dad. Mum has a Blue coat on, this choice of the colour Blue is intentional and a carry over from the pre Walter Hayward days when designs by Sister Mary Bailey (Barbara Vernon) used Blue clothing for the female rabbit, a religious tribute to "Our Lady, Virgin Mary". She is managing to keep her straw hat on with the help of one "hand" holding the rim while at the same time trying to assist Father bunny who has had his Top Hat blown away. Father rabbit is actually running after the hat and the wind is very strong, look at the bent over spring flowers. In fact the wind is so strong that the mouse has had it's umbrella turned inside out, don't we all know that experience!
Hey (I hear you saying ...) a MOUSE? Yes, the mouse is a must because the use of a mouse by Walter Hayward was his way of making his designs his - like a signature.
This scene is the main artwork but look around on the other side of the mug and you will see Father rabbit battling with the wind, no Top Hat in sight and his umbrella has also blown inside out, in fact it appears that he may about to become airborne himself!
Children love these sort of "make up your own story" designs, I know ours did many moons ago! Where were they going? So that's what happens to an umbrella in the wind (the child ponders) Why are the rabbits standing upright? Where are the more traditional rabbits running around the rim going to?
ROYAL DOULTON - Child's Mug
Fine China
Semi-translucent, if you hold the mug to a bright White light you can see the light through the china material (faintly).
Bunnykins Series
Royal Doulton design ID: HW27
Name: WINDY DAY
Design created by Walter Hayward
Original design creation date: 1950's (I do not know the specific year)
Single handled Mug
White/Cream background - this is the "later" colouring where instead of being quite Creamy, the china tends towards a White but not a bright White.
Transfer ware decorated
Measures: 88mm diameter mouth and 80mm high
Weight: 250g
BACKSTAMP DETAILS:
This backstamp was used from 1967 ~ 1987 (this is the time period that we originally purchased this mug) The backstamp was also used later but our children were not "into" Bunnykins by the 1990's!
Brown tone colouring with a small amount of pink
(Large graphic depicting the Doulton Graphic being held by three Bunnies)
ENGLISH FINE BONE CHINA
"BUNNYKINS" ®
© 1936 ROYAL DOULTON
No artist mark as such but that distinctive Mouse figurine in the artwork (right side with inside out umbrella in hand) which indicates a Walter Hayward design
COSMETIC CONDITION:
USED (Barely)
Clean
NO cracks
NO flea bites
NO chips
NO marks
NO crazing (wet test applied, nothing shows up at all)
NO discolouration inside the mug
A very nice example of later Royal Doulton 'Bunnykins' - a storybook on a mug!
