Pears' Soap chamber pot?

I picked this up today, assuming it was a 1970's reproduction. When I got it home, though, the more I looked at it the more convinced I became that it might just be a real antique. Has anyone seen another? It's the size and shape of a child's chamber pot, with a picture of a child on the sides, so I'm guessing that's what it is. Strange choice for Pears' to use as an advertising piece!





What do you think? Antique, or knockoff?

Cheers,

Dave

 

That's not a vintage PEAR'S SOAP logo (which you can confirm with a quick internet search.) Looks 1970s "olde tyme-y" to me. And are you sure that's a child's size chamber pot? Surely a child that small would be still in diapers.

Debora

 

Perhaps shaving soap?

 

Probably as old as this.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/515512...h_query=pear's soap vintage&ref=sr_gallery_14

Debora

 

"Bubbles" by Sir John Millais which, apparently, was owned by PEAR'S LTD.

Debora

 

Thank you for your replies. Debora, I expect you're probably right, and it's modern (probably from the 1970's). Still, the Pears logo seems to have varied quite a bit over the years, and the pot doesn't have the modern logo - note the curly S. Also, if it is from the 1970's or 80's, I would expect there to be another one on the internet, somewhere. Maybe somebody else can find one, but an hour of searching has turned up nothing for me.

As for the chamber pot theory, it's the same size and shape as other things called "child's chamber pot" that I've found, and it's awfully large to be a shaving mug.

Dave

 

The pot in this photos appears to be about the same diameter:

 

I realize this is a joke photo, but still...

 

Probably meant for something else --a bit big for shaving, but that's what came to mind. Convinced this is 70's.

Also that a "Pears' Soap" 1970's mirror was found means some company was churning out these "Pears' Soap" antique-y but new pieces.

Love the photo, but not sure a 1970s company would find a market for reproduced chamber pots. Could be wrong, though!

 

You can see a reproduction chamber pot HERE in a very similar style, but with marks on the bottom, and a note inside saying it's a reproduction!

 

That repro is 7" across, and that's a match. So vintage child's chamber pot it is!

 

Don't want to beat the topic to death but... Would anyone really place a child on a chamber pot just slightly larger than a U.S. dollar bill and expect -- how shall we say -- a successful outcome?

Debora

 

Interest history relating to this picture of a young boy looking up at a bubble. The original painting was done by Sir John Everett Millais in 1886. It was of his grandson looking up at one of the bubbles he was blowing. The painting was titled "A Child's World." The painting was sold to a London illustrated publication. The director of Pears' Soap saw it and purchased it to use in Pears' Soap ads.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bubbles_(painting)

BTW, it really wasn't a child's chamber pot. They were reproduced as mini versions of chamber pots for advertising purposes.

--- Susan

 

It does seem like a bad idea, but there's no shortage of photos of exactly this sort of thing:





BTW, I love that, in the first photo, the dog has a pot, too, which seems like an even worse idea!

 

They were sold as cache pots for plants. I agree on 1960s or later: the clue is the crisp edge on the lettering on the transfer and the colour brightness. Older transfers wear more and the blues do fade. (My dad was a printer!)

 

Here's my Pears' Soap tin. I've had it sitting in my powder room for at least 20 years. My cousin (who I love dearly) makes her own soap and occasionally gifts me some. I never had the heart to tell her I don't use it. Anyway I keep that soap in this tin and toss the contents periodically. The tin probably came in a box lot at some time. I always assumed it was pretty new when I got it and from somewhere like Hobby Lobby.
Don

 

How big is that, Don?

 

Oh sorry! It measures 5 5/8" top to bottom, 3 3/4 side to side, and 2 1/4" tall.
Don

 

Ta. It was sold with a cake of soap in it: that's a bath bar size. I'd think 1960s ish.

 

Even the reproduction stuff now has some age to it!