Bunnykins Royal Doulton Naughty Bunnies Plate Design 1936 Backmark 1968-1975

A VINTAGE ROYAL DOULON BUNNYKINS COLLECTORS PLATE. TITLED NAUGHTY BUNNIES IT WAS ORIGINALLY DESIGNED IN 1936 BY SISTER MARY BARBARA.MADE IN ENGLAND, WITH THE 1968-1975 BUNNYKINS PRODUCTION DATE MARK ON BACK. 
 
PLATE HAS A FUNNY SCENE OF THE BUNNIES TRYING TO HELP MAMA TO PUT UP SOME WALL PAPER. WITH SOME MICE RUNNING AROUND THINGS GO WRONG AND THE GLUE BASKET IS SPILLED. WITH A CHARMING BORDER OF BUNNIES ALONG THE EDGE.
 
SIZE: PLATE 20,3CM DIAMETER 1,5CM HIGH
 
CONDITION: IN VERY GOOD CONDITION. NO CHIPS. NO CRACKS. ARTWORK BRIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL.
 
MARKINGS:
ON PLATE DISTINGUISHABLE ROYAL DOULTON ENGLISH FINE BONE CHINA BUNNYKINS REGD TRADEMARK LOGO
THIS PARTICULAR MARK WAS USED BETWEEN 1968 AND 1975
 
BUNNYKINS:
Bunnykins refers to a specific design set produced by the Royal Doulton company. Each piece whether that be a plate, cup, money box, or bowl features rabbits (bunnies) dressed up as a human would dress.
Bunnykins was the companies successful design set produced specifically for children and little hands. Each Bunnykins scene depicts certain aspects of human life in the rabbit form. Many of the artworks were even inspired by famous or well-known people.
The Bunnykins collection first began in 1934 and is today one of the most recognized childrens dinnerware collections in the world. The Bunnykins rabbit designs were hand-drawn by Sister Mary Barbara who was a nun and so happened to be the daughter of Cuthbert Bailey, one of the companies managing directors.
On the earliest Bunnykins pieces, the artist would often sign Barbara Vernon and it is these pieces that are the most valuable to keen collectors. The patterns by Barbara were used to inspire a 1939 figurines collection that was unfortunately short-lived although revived again in 1972. While the Bunnykins are featured not only as figurines, it is these porcelain ornaments that antique and vintage collectors seek out. In total there have been over 400 Bunnykins figurines produced by the Royal Doulton company.
During the 1950s, the Doulton and Co art director at the time, Walter Hayward began producing similar graphics of those designed earlier by Sister Mary Barbara. These drawings were used to produce pieces after 1950.
From 1972 until 1974, the Royal Doulton company used the modeling talent of Albert Hallam who had previously worked designing the Beswick Beatrix Potter collection, to produce 15 Bunnykin collectible figurines. Each figurine measuring approximately 4 inches tall. From the 1980s, until the present day, Royal Doulton continues to produce Bunnykins pieces all inspired from original artworks and designs. The Bunnykins items were all produced in England up until 2005 when they began being produced in Asia. Pieces in Bunnykins tableware are still made today. Figurines have now been discontinued.
Bunnykins is not to be confused with the nursery rhyme series of Peter the Rabbit inspired by stories and illustrations created by Beatrix Potter for Wedgwood. The first Beatrix Potter pieces were made by the iconic Beswick factory in the late 1940's - and production of the figures continued at Beswick and in turn, Royal Albert for many decades. Beswick and Royal Albert Beatrix Potter are no longer in production, and have become very desirable collectable items. It is interesting to note that it was Beatrix Potter herself who first sought to have her creations lifted off the printed page and into other marketable products. Around about 1907 she modelled some clay figures and contacted Royal Doultons Lambeth factory.
 
ROYAL DOULTON:
In 1899 the Doulton studio recruited a young designer by the name of Charles Noke.
He is now regarded as the brainchild behind Royal Doulton seriesware, a range of products were standard blank pottery shapes (everything from plates to jugs, bowls to vases and teapots) could be decorated with a consistent theme.
Production continued at the Lambeth factory until 1956, after which Doulton concentrated on their activities at Burslem.
It has a 'family' of English brands, having merged with Minton in 1968, and gaining Royal Albert from the merger with AEP in 1971. And, in 2005, these historic names became part of the Waterford Wedgwood group.
It is now part of WWRD Holdings Ltd. the name being an acronym for the main components of the business: Waterford Chrystal, Wedgwood and Royal Doulton.

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