Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United Kingdom England Bristol Nipper, the Listening Dog
AO Edited

Nipper, the Listening Dog

A miniature replica of the canine that became the logo for a large recording company.

Bristol, England

Added By
SEANETTA ALLSASS
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
Nipper Statue   Robert Powell / CC BY-SA 3.0
“Nipper”   Giles Colborne / CC BY-SA
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  Matt Brown / CC BY 2.0
  Andrew Gustar / CC BY-ND 2.0
‘His Master’s Voice’   Francis Barraud
363 Oxford Street   SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
Nar. Museum of American History, Wa. D.C .   SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
Site of the original HMV Store.   SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
Nipper   Xavixavir / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

There are many famous and infamous historical figures associated with the maritime city of Bristol. From Archibald Leach, better known as the Hollywood film star Gary Grant, to the mysterious and elusive Banksy. But there is one who walks on all fours and has a small statue dedicated in their honor. No, not Gromit from Wallace and Gromit fame, but rather, Nipper, a mixed-breed terrier, who would go on to be recognized as the mascot of HMV (His Master's Voice).

Nipper belonged to the Barraud family, whose children christened him with the unusual name because of his unruly habit of nipping at the ankles of their guests. The father, Mark worked for the Prince's Theatre, which was located on Park Row, and is known as the Merchant Ventures Building, now a part of Bristol University.

Mark had two brothers: Francis, a painter, and Phillip, a photographer. After Mark passed away, Nipper was left in Francis's care. At some point, Phillip captured the canine in a photo, as he tilted his head at a playing Edison brand gramophone. A few years later, Francis used the image to paint a portrait that he titled, His Master's Voice.

Initially, Francis tried to sell his painting to the Edison company, but was told that "dogs don't listen to phonographs." He then retouched the portrait, etching out the Edison name, and approached a competing business: the Berliner Gramophone Company. In 1899, they bought the painting and rights to the copyrighted image for £150.00. The company then changed its name to HMV and the rest, they would say, is history.

The image of Nipper, who was buried under a Mulberry bush in London at the age of 11 in 1895, became the company's logo, and the logo of its successors, including RCA Records in America. It was used to sell everything from life-sized piggy banks to coffee mugs. Larger-than-life depictions of Nipper can be found as an oversized statue in Baltimore, Maryland, to a gigantic effigy in Menands, New York. Not bad for a little mutt who used to terrorize visitors in Bristol. 

Related Tags

Statues Paintings Music History Dogs

Know Before You Go

"Nipper" is on a small platform, above an arched window, where Woodland Road and Park Row meet. Located on the Merchant Ventures Building. Just a five-minute walk down, in a south-easterly direction, from the Bristol Art Gallery, across the street from the Esso Gas Station.

Visible and accessible at all hours of the day.

Community Contributors

Added By

SEANETTA

Edited By

Xavixavir, Michelle Cassidy

  • Xavixavir
  • Michelle Cassidy

Published

March 13, 2023

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://www.rca.com/us_en/nipper-chipper-1720-us-en
  • https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/10-things-you-not-noticed-4175205
  • http://thetruthaboutpitbulls.blogspot.com/2010/11/americas-dogs-nipper.html
Nipper, the Listening Dog
75 Woodland Rd
Bristol, England, BS8 1UB
United Kingdom
51.455984, -2.60295
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Bristol Museum Natural History Collection

Bristol, England

miles away

Bristol Museum Archeology Collection

Bristol, England

miles away

The Red Lodge Museum

Bristol, England

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Bristol

Bristol

England

Places 32
Stories 5

Nearby Places

Bristol Museum Natural History Collection

Bristol, England

miles away

Bristol Museum Archeology Collection

Bristol, England

miles away

The Red Lodge Museum

Bristol, England

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Bristol

Bristol

England

Places 32
Stories 5

Related Places

  • Kent, England

    The Glimmer Twins

    Two members of the Rolling Stones frozen forever in bronze.

  • A statue of Balto stands in a place of honor in Central Park.

    New York, New York

    Balto Statue

    This monument is dedicated to Balto, the heroic Alaskan sled dog.

  • A bronze statue of a golden retriever holding two flags in its mouth.

    Ashland, Massachusetts

    Spencer the Marathon Dog Statue

    This sculpture is dedicated to a local therapy dog who later became the official mascot of the 126th Boston Marathon.

  • Odate, Japan

    ‘Homesick Hachiko’

    Another statue of Japan's most famous dog stands in his hometown.

  • De Lutte, Netherlands

    Kardoes the Hellhound

    A bronze statue commemorating the legend of a hellhound haunting the village of De Lutte.

  • A statue of Leo faithfully watches over the town to this day.

    Pančevo, Serbia

    Leo

    This monument honors a true hero dog.

  • Selena Memorial - Mirador de la Flor 2024

    Corpus Christi, Texas

    Mirador de la Flor

    A memorial dedicated to the Tejano superstar Selena Quintanilla-Pérez.

  • A bronze statue of Annie the Railroad Dog.

    Fort Collins, Colorado

    Annie the Railroad Dog

    For 14 years, this former stray dog greeted every train passenger that arrived in Fort Collins.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.