This exquisite Conta & Boehme porcelain figurine is also an inkwell. It tells the wonderfully, whimsical tale of a mother dog, seated atop a table, and who is watching her three rambunctious puppies, pulling at the tablecloth, in their attempt to get at the bones and dog dish, which are on the top of the table.
This gorgeous piece is reminiscent of the much smaller figurines like this, that were also made by Conta & Boehme, called “Fairings”, and were given out at country fairs, as prizes in the early 1900’s.
As with many of the Conta & Boehme figurines, this one is part matte porcelain (the fence and the grass) and part glazed porcelain (the dogs and the tablecloth.) It has it’s original, porcelain inkpot, and As with many of the Conta & Boehme figurines, this one is part matte porcelain (the fence and the grass) and part glazed porcelain (the dogs and the tablecloth.)It measures 6 1/2″ tall x 7 1/2″ long x 7″ wide. The hinges used to open and close the inkwell seem to have been replaced, and are in perfect working condition. The numbers “40”, “15” and “8” are impressed along the bottom, inside edge.
This extraordinary inkwell is an absolute treasure, an outstanding addition to any collection, and a tribute to the charismatic character of our canine counterparts.