Pair of Antique English Staffordshire Dogs

• England, circa 1880
• Dimensions: 11 3/8 inches height, 7 1/2 inches wide at base

Fashions ebb and flow but, as man’s best friend, dogs gave always had a special place in our hearts and homes. The Staffordshire Company is known for their charming figurines which comes in various sizes, shapes, and types, of which the favorite are the “Staffordshire dogs”. These wonderful ceramic hounds generally came in pairs and were produced in a variety of dog breeds such as pugs, greyhounds, collies and the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. This last type was definitely the most popular. No fashionable or well to do home would be without at least one pair. Staffordshire Dogs also became very popular because of their connection to Queen Victoria. She and her family had many different types of animals but “Darling Dashy Dash” was probably her most favorite. She wrote in glowing terms quite often in her journals about this dog.

A charming pair of Antique English Staffordshire White Dogs in the seated position. They feature beautiful white coats, have black and gilded hand painted faces, gold colored collars and curled tails. Please note that the fold colored collars are slightly worn. They also have black noses and a red line that goes through the nose. This style was very popular which makes them quite desirable as it was only done for a short period of time.

In today’s society, Staffordshire Dogs are still decorative and beloved items and have never gone out of fashion.