Nipper Bristol's most famous mutt

historybuff, on July 30, 2007, said:

Over 3000 free to view historic Bristol photographs visit my website www.bristolhistory.com

historybuff, on August 2, 2007, said:

BRISTOL BORN NIPPER THE DOG

When lists are drawn up of Bristol’s best-known Victorian characters, they always seem to forget Nipper. But Nipper’s probably the most famous of them all, a figure known across the world.

He was a mongrel with a touch of bull terrier and a century later he’s still celebrated for his role as that loyal pooch listening to His Master’s Voice.

The Bristol-born dog was bought as a pup in 1884 by flamboyant Bristol theatrical artist Mark Barraud and the two became inseparable.

When some of Mark’s most brilliant sets for exotic shows at the Prince’s Theatre in Park Row won a standing ovation, Nipper would join his master on stage for a bow. When Barraud died in 1887, leaving a widow and five children, his brother Francis gave Nipper a home and the dog became fascinated by the family’s phonograph. He would sit quietly listening to the horn loudspeaker, ears cocked.

Nipper and his second master later moved to Kingston-on-Thames where the dog died in 1895 and was buried under a mulberry tree in the garden. Three years later Francis painted his immortal picture in memory of a dearly-loved pal.

The original painting was sold to the Gramophone Company for £100 and in 1908 Nipper replaced the company’s original logo.., so becoming one of the most famous pets of all.

By 1950 Nipper was such a superstar that the record company HMV, named after the picture, wanted to remove his remains to their headquarters in Hayes Middlesex.

Alas, Nipper’s bones had been covered by a newly-built concrete car park. And there he rests.

Leonardo8404, on February 20, said:

I remember that logo on the "RCA Victor" record labels! but did not the story behind that, even less that it was that old. Thaks for sharing the information. Leonardo.