The Bunnykins story began in 1934 when Barbara Vernon's bunny drawings caught the attention of her father, Cuthbert Bailey, the General Manager of Royal Doulton's factory in Stoke-on-Tent in England. A young nun and a teacher at an English convent school, Vernon had created the sketches for her children. Her designs were first adapted for production on a range of nurseryware. In 1939 the first six Bunnykins figures appeared, their production soon ceasing with the outbreak of the Second World War.

Bunnykins figures were revived in 1972 by Albert Hallam, a modeller at the John Beswick company which has just joined the Royal Doulton group. Much smaller than the original figures, the fifteen Bunnykins modelled in the 1970s by Hallam and another designer, Alan Maslankovski, drew exclusively on subjects found on nurseryware. In 1982 however, an entirely new family of Bunnykins was created by Harry Sales, Design Manager of the Beswick studios. The new characters were inspired by contemporary events and people and their popularity grew rapidly. By the end of the 1980s, Bunnykins had became widely recognised as popular collectables for adults as well as desirable gifts for children. Royal Doulton has released about 250 different Bunnykins figures in countries all over the world, with Australia being one of the most important markets.

Their release coinciding with the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, 'Bunnykins games' were designed by Sydney's Romanda Groom, Product Manager at Royal Doulton Australia. Groom's five Bunnykins play sports chosen to represent five continents: soccer for Europe, basketball for America, running for Africa, swimming for Australia and gymnastics for Asia. Acquired in the year 2000, 'Bunnykins games' joined the Museum's extensive collection of earlier Bynnykins figures, Beatrix Potter and other popular characters bequeathed to the Museum in 1993 by Ian Walmsley.

The bunnykin figurine were designed by Romanda Groom in 1995. The figurines were modelled by Shane Ridge, Royal Doulton, England. The figurines were made by Royal Doulton, Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, England, 1999-2000. The collection was a limited edition of 2,500.

Romanda Groom was born in Sydney in 1966. She has been employed by Royal Doulton since June 1992. Romanda also worked with Royal Doulton in Stoke-on-Trent from July 1999 to July 2000. She is currently the Royal Doulton Product Manager in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Romanda Groom explains the design process: "To create each figure, I made a rough sketch of the stance and movement of each piece, and then employed a professional artist to flesh out all the details under my direction, including the colours of the clothes. These coloured sketches were then sent to Royal Doulton UK where the Bunnykins modeller, Shane Ridge, then translated these drawings into 3-dimensional clay models. Photos were taken of the clay models and sent to me for approval. The decorating phase then proceeded and once again photos were taken and sent to me for approval. I was more than happy with the final result. I think the final product was even better and more adorable than the concept I had only just imagined 18 months prior."

The figurines were presented to the Museum on 24 October 2000 by Jane Varley, the Marketing Manager of Royal Doulton Australia in the presence of Valerie Baynton, Head of Press and Public Relations at Royal Doulton, England, and Louise Irvine, English freelance writer and lecturer with a special interest in ceramic history. .

Figurines (5) and packaging, wooden stand, limited edition card and mail oder form, 'Bunnykins Games Collection', earthenware / wood / cardboard, designed by Romanda Groom, Australia, modelled by Shane Ridge, made by Royal Doulton, England 1995-2000

Consists of a group of five earthenware figurines representing five fawn-coloured rabbits known as Bunnykins. Each bunnykin is positioned on a circular slightly convex base and depicted playing one of the Olympic sports of soccer, swimming, running, gymnastics and basketball. Each Bunnykin is dressed in an appropriate athletic outfit painted in enamels. The figurines are part of the Bunnykins Games Collection. The figurines come complete with a wooden plinth on which to display the 'Bunnykins Games Collection'. A small laminated limited edition card and a mail order form are also included.

Designed: Groom, Romanda; ; 1995

Made: Ridge, Shane; Stoke-on-Trent, England; 1999 - 2000

Made: Doulton and Company; Stoke-on-Trent, England; 1999 - 2000

see parts

2001/4/1

1995