Not currently on display at the V&A

Bovril Prevents That Sinking Feeling

Poster
ca.1920 (issued)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The advertising agency S. H. Benson Ltd (1893-1971) introduced a new concept of total campaign management. Bovril Ltd was their founding account, and the early Bovril campaigns were outstandingly ambitious and successful. Slogans such as ‘Bovril Prevents that Sinking Feeling’, ‘Alas! My Poor Brother’ (see E.147-1973) and ‘Wherever did I put that Bovril?’ became conversational catch phrases. Humour played a large part in the campaigns. Figures like the pyjama-clad man (here floating on his jar of Bovril) established themselves with a public willing to be amused.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleBovril Prevents That Sinking Feeling
Materials and techniques
Colour lithograph print on paper
Brief description
'Bovril Prevents That Sinking Feeling'. Colour lithograph poster advertising Bovril meat extract, featuring a man in pjyamas, using a large jar of Bovril to keep afloat on the sea. Design by Herbert H. Harris. Produced by S H Benson Ltd.. Great Britain. ca.1920.
Physical description
'Bovril Prevents That Sinking Feeling'. Colour lithograph poster advertising Bovril meat extract. The design features a man wearing blue and white striped pyjamas, floating in the middle of the sea on a large jar of Bovril. Text in yellow along top and bottom of sheet. Signed.
Dimensions
  • Height: 201.6cm
  • Width: 152.2cm
Dimensions taken from: Summary Catalogue of British Posters to 1988 in the Victoria & Albert Museum in the Department of Design, Prints & Drawing. Emmett Publishing, 1990. 129 p. ISBN: 1 869934 12 1
Marks and inscriptions
Signed.
Credit line
Given by Ogilvy Benson & Mather Ltd
Production
This is a smaller version of E.39-1973.
Subjects depicted
Summary
The advertising agency S. H. Benson Ltd (1893-1971) introduced a new concept of total campaign management. Bovril Ltd was their founding account, and the early Bovril campaigns were outstandingly ambitious and successful. Slogans such as ‘Bovril Prevents that Sinking Feeling’, ‘Alas! My Poor Brother’ (see E.147-1973) and ‘Wherever did I put that Bovril?’ became conversational catch phrases. Humour played a large part in the campaigns. Figures like the pyjama-clad man (here floating on his jar of Bovril) established themselves with a public willing to be amused.
Associated objects
Bibliographic reference
Summary Catalogue of British Posters to 1988 in the Victoria & Albert Museum in the Department of Design, Prints & Drawing. Emmett Publishing, 1990. 129 p. ISBN: 1 869934 12 1
Other number
17/C6 - V&A microfiche
Collection
Accession number
E.20-1973

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Record createdJune 30, 2009
Record URL
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