Pets enter the household and promptly acquire possessions. Bowls, beds, collars, coats and toys accumulate with all the enthusiasm of a second wardrobe.
Robert Harper's pet-accessory collection contains 79 unique photographs across 186 frames. Food bowls, grooming products, toys, collars, leads, coats, litter trays, treats and a Tamagotchi appear within a compact survey of animal care and consumer design.
Design for another species
These objects balance practical requirements with the tastes of human owners. A collar may be functional, decorative or both. A pet coat borrows directly from fashion. Toys adopt colour and shape intended to appeal across species, though purchasing power remains firmly human.
Harper photographed such products with the same clarity he gave to beauty, kitchenware and fashion accessories. The Tamagotchi adds a witty historical turn, placing the virtual pet beside the equipment required for real ones.
The collection connects naturally to Harper's 1,020 cat photographs, where living subjects provide the personality that product still life can only imply.