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Picnic

Bowl
1940 - 1953 (manufactured)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Bunnykins is one of Royal Doulton’s most famous lines of children’s table ware and figurines. It was used by the Royal Princesses Elisabeth and Margaret, which helped with its popularity. It is often gifted to a child as a christening present.

The Bunnykins range was introduced in 1934, the characters were created by Sister Mary Barbara (born Barbara Vernon Bailey), a young nun who taught English at a convent school. Barbara’s father worked at Doulton and was instrumental in the development of this series; he appears as a character in some of the scenes.

The scenes are of Mr and Mrs Bunnykins and other rabbits dressed as little people, set in rural England, each scene shows everyday events, such as having breakfast, getting married, taking picnics.

Barbara worked with Royal Doulton up until Word War II producing sixty-six scenes. When production restarted after the war, Walter Hayward took over the artwork, he adapted some of Barbara’s earlier work and went on to create his own scenes. Babrara’s name appears on the table ware till the mid 1950s.

Bunnykins is still produced today and the earlier pieces are now highly collectable.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Titles
  • Picnic (manufacturer's title)
  • Style one, version two with trees (manufacturer's title)
Materials and techniques
Brief description
Child's bowl, 'Bunnykins' range by Royal Doulton, made in Staffordshire between 1940 and 1953
Physical description
Ceramic bowl, decorated using lithographic print transfers. The surround on the bowl is decorated with small brown leaping bunnies. In the centre is a picture of a bunny family have a picnic in a woodland setting. The manufacturer mark is stamped underneath the bowl.
Dimensions
  • Diameter: 19cm
  • Height: 4.2cm
Production typeMass produced
Credit line
Given by Daphne Pearce
Summary
Bunnykins is one of Royal Doulton’s most famous lines of children’s table ware and figurines. It was used by the Royal Princesses Elisabeth and Margaret, which helped with its popularity. It is often gifted to a child as a christening present.

The Bunnykins range was introduced in 1934, the characters were created by Sister Mary Barbara (born Barbara Vernon Bailey), a young nun who taught English at a convent school. Barbara’s father worked at Doulton and was instrumental in the development of this series; he appears as a character in some of the scenes.

The scenes are of Mr and Mrs Bunnykins and other rabbits dressed as little people, set in rural England, each scene shows everyday events, such as having breakfast, getting married, taking picnics.

Barbara worked with Royal Doulton up until Word War II producing sixty-six scenes. When production restarted after the war, Walter Hayward took over the artwork, he adapted some of Barbara’s earlier work and went on to create his own scenes. Babrara’s name appears on the table ware till the mid 1950s.

Bunnykins is still produced today and the earlier pieces are now highly collectable.
Collection
Accession number
B.517-2012

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Record createdMay 10, 2013
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