This elegant pair of seated, spotted dogs date back to the late-1800’s. Made in the Staffordshire region of England, these figurines were most likely intended to represent Dalmatians which were a popular breed at that time. At 51/2″ tall x 3 1/2″ long x 2 1/2″ wide, these dogs are in excellent condition. While the appeal of Staffordshire figurines is often in their charming folk style, depicting everyday life in the English countryside, this pair also will add a very elegant and more formal touch to your home. They are seated on cobalt blue, oval bases, while their locked collars and linked leads are painted gold. They carry characteristics that identify them from the late 1800 – the early 1900 time period. Like many dog pairs from that time period, they are a matched set, yet not identical. As you can see, for example, the muzzle of one dog is colored in a flesh-tone beige, while the other is pure white. Each has a tiny firing hole on its side, but neither have the casting holes that appear in much later reproductions. Each one is marked “Old Staffordshire Ware England” in red, and one is marked with a number, in black that has worn off enough to render it indecipherable.
This pair is a wonderful find for Staffordshire porcelain collectors, and a gorgeous, decorative addition to any home.