Topic: Potter & Moore “Ooloo” figural glass perfume bottle, RD 748794, Sept 1929

[agincourt17]

A black opaque glass perfume bottle in the shape of the cartoon cat character “Oolo” (created by George E. Studdy in January 1929 as a replacement for his famous ‘Sketch’  cartoon dog “Bonzo”) – see
http://www.bonzo.me.uk/olo.htm

Ooloo’s head acts as a cap and screws onto the body. The black glass has cold-painted  detailing in coloured enamels. The underside of the body is marked POTTER & MOORE | LONDON & MITCHAM around the perimeter, and Regd. No. 748794 in the centre.

(Permission for the re-use of these images on GMB granted by garybhamcity).

According to
http://www.bonzo.me.uk/glass.html
“There were many images of Bonzo reproduced in glass - scent bottles, inkwells, ashtrays, powder bowls, etc.  The majority of these were made under licence in Czechoslovakia in the later 1920s & 30s, some even having registered numbers on them.” – [my emphasis].

There were, apparently, three Bonzo dog figural perfume bottles made by Potter and Moore in the series, and although I have seen several images from various online sources none of these Potter & Moore Bonzo bottles is noted as having a registered design number.

The Ooloo bottle is now, obviously, seen to be one registered design. The only other pieces showing registration marks are the three Bonzo inkwells….“Again. made in Czechoslovakia, they have a silver hinged band to form his collar.  They have Bonzo's name in raised lettering on the back of his head between his ears, and a registration number underneath the collar.  The head tilts back to reveal the small well for ink in his body.  There were three versions that I'm aware of; clear, frosted and purple glass.” I can’t, however, read the registration number on Bonzo’s collar.

RD 748794 is not listed in http://www.great-glass.co.uk/glass%20notes/regnos08.htm presumably as the registration would be for a bottle. The registration should be in September 1929 (the year of Ooloo’s debut in The Sketch).

Hence the refrain …is RD 748794 in the Blue book, please? If so, can a kind GMB member let me have the precise registration details?

Does anyone know any more information about the Czech or Bohemian manufacturing link to these Bonzo et al. figural glass items?

What a fantastic, fun collection though – and likely to be jolly valuable too with many bottles seemingly with asking prices around (or even well above) the US$ 195 mark.

[Paul S.]

nope, it's absent Fred, they knew you were coming and removed it.       Another item for Kew at some time.

[Lustrousstone]

There were, apparently, three Bonzo dog figural perfume bottles made by Potter and Moore in the series,

I think you mean for Potter & Moore, as they are perfumiers

[agincourt17]

Thank you, Christine - quite correct.

[Paul S.]

Absent for what is, probably, the most common reason of having been Registered as CLASS 4.          The registrant is the creator, George Ernest Studdy, with a London address, but unfortunately as you can imagine giving nothing remotely new in the way of a maker.     So best we can say is probably Czechoslovakian in origin.

Believe this completes all outstanding 'Look Up' requests - if not, do let me know.

[agincourt17]

Thank you, Paul.

Really impressive to see the original Studdy drawings.

[Paul S.]

Seems I forgot to give the Kew references, which are.........
Representations.. BT 52/1423
and for the Register...BT 53/57

Assume this item may now be deleted from the Look Up Requests.   

[Anne]

Deleted as requested.