How wonderful is is antique cast iron dog drinking bowl advertising Hudson's Soap?
Robert Spear Hudson was born in December 1812 and he and his company were responsible for the popularisation of dry soap powder. He used unprecedented levels of advertising, as the dog bowl surely goes someway to prove!
Born in West Bromwich and attending Trinity College in Dublin, Robert opened a shop in the High Street in West Bromwich in 1837 and started making his soap powder in the back of that shop. By the 1850's he employed 10 workers, and in 1875 moved his main works to Liverpool, eventually employing approximately 1,000 people.
As well as puppy drinking bowls, Hudson arranged for professional artists to produce eyecatching posters and one of his slogans, "A little Hudson's goes a long way" adorned a coach travelling between liverpool and York.
Joined by his son in business, Robert died in August 1884. The business was sold to Lever Brothers in 1908 and the Hudson name was retained until 1935.
The water bowl measures approximately 40cm in length; 19.5cm in height and is approximately 17cm wide.