Antique and Collectible Dogs in Ceramics

Ceramic Dogs
1
Antique and Collectible Dogs in Ceramics
7
by John Ainsley
Pair of Chinese porcelain
dogs, late 18th/early 19thC,
lying with face turned, brown
fur details, chips to tail/paws,
9.8cm. (2) Sworders, Stansted
Mountfitchet. Nov 05. HP:
£3,600. ABP: £4,248.
Pair of white glazed Pug
dogs. Tring Market Auctions,
Herts. Jan 02. HP: £950.
ABP: £1,121.
2
8
Rare pair of Victorian
Staffordshire spaniels, rust
colouring, seated on hollow
bases, primitive malachiteeffect, 7.75in. Gorringes,
Lewes. Apr 07. HP: £2,100.
ABP: £2,478.
3
19thC Austrian earthenware
seated Staffordshire bull
terrier, open mouth, glass
eyes (some restoration),
21.5in. Gorringes, Lewes. Dec
06. HP: £950. ABP: £1,121.
9
Gallé faience figure of a
bulldog, c1900, body painted
with flowers & blue ribbons,
glass eyes, signed E Gallé,
Nancy, front paw damaged.
Sworders, Stansted
Mountfitchet. Feb 07. HP:
£2,000. ABP: £2,360.
4
Beswick labrador, walking,
brown, 3062B, gloss, boxed.
(BCC 1993, Ltd Edn of 93)
Charterhouse, Sherborne. Sep
09. HP: £900. ABP: £1,062.
The prices quoted are actual
Hammer Prices (HP)
followed by the Approximate
Buyer’s Price (ABP) which
includes an average buyer’s
premium of 15% + VAT.
Unusual Staffordshire King
Charles spaniel, 19thC,
21cm. Woolley & Wallis,
Salisbury. Mar 00. HP:
£1,200. ABP: £1,416.
5
10
Beswick Beatrix Potter figure,
Duchess 1355, style one, black
dog holding bunch of flowers,
designed by Graham Orwell,
BP2, 3.75in high. Halls Fine
Art, Shrewsbury. Jul 05. HP:
£900. ABP: £1,062.
Royal Doulton bull terrier.
Louis Taylor, Stoke. Sep 01.
HP: £1,150. ABP: £1,357.
11
6
Royal Copenhagen bulldog,
printed marks, No. 778,
30cm. Sworders, Stansted
Mountfitchet. Feb 07. HP:
£1,150. ABP: £1,357.
19thC Meissen model, seated
Maltese terrier scratching his
chin, incised No.335, 7.75in,
and another similar model in
grey/white, 7.75in. (restored
front legs) Gorringes,
Bexhill. Mar 02. HP: £900.
ABP: £1,062.
ANTIQUES INFO - July/August 11
In the last edition I looked at collectible cats in all mediums. Here because of the
sheer number on our Website Database I have restricted this selection from our
Website Database to just over a hundred, all from the ceramics category. Dogs, as
collectible models, like cats are hugely popular and the best and the least common
will always hold their value and prove a good investment over time. This is
evidenced in the huge numbers which have been created by ceramics factories
around the world. Leading the way in this country and certainly in the twentieth
century are the Royal Doulton and Beswick models but when collecting, these must
be chosen with care as the market has long since become flooded. In this selection I
have illustrated some of the less common models.
The commonest of all dog models are those described as ‘Staffordshire’ and these
have been produced from the Georgian period and then continuously reproduced into
modern times. The term is generic and whilst there are plenty of real Staffordshire
examples in the twenty five lots shown here their origins can range from across
Europe and as far as China. The best and earliest examples can fetch several
thousand pounds, at 2, through to the later and more ubiquitous examples appearing
towards the end of the samples. Incidentally, whilst Chinese ‘Staffordshire’ is
relatively worthless, real Chinese dogs are valuable, along with most other Chinese
ceramics in the current market. See 1. Just as rare, is the signed Gallé dog at 3 and at
£2,360 has fetched more than the more common Gallé or ‘Gallé’ cats which can be
found with relative ease. Here also are plenty of Royal Doulton and Beswick
examples. At 5 the Doulton bull terrier isn’t identified but going by the price I
suspect it is HN 1144. At 9 the Beswick labrador is precisely identified and has done
very well against a book price of £750. And so has Duchess with flowers at 10.
Personally how anyone can pay over a £1,000 for such a dreadfully modelled dog is
beyond me. A few years ago two competing women at Brettell’s auction in Newport,
I believe in 2005, between them raised a Duchess to an astonishing £2,900 hammer
and with premium this added up to a massive £3,411! The loser ended up the winner
in this absurd head to head and this example should stand out as a lesson to us all.
Both actually lost their heads but the underbidder got away with it. By the way there
is a similar model, Duchess with Pie, worth far, far less so don’t get confused! Far
more serious in terms of quality and modelling are the range of other dogs from 6
through to say 15 and including Royal Copenhagen, Austrian, Meissen, Royal
Worcester and Royal Dux in the price range of about £1,400 down to about £800.
Much less common are the dog’s head models which often double up by
functioning as either stirrup cups or whistles. These are nearly always porcelain. The
Copeland and Garrett model at 16 fetched £650 in 2003, but I would suggest this was
a good investment because of its quality and rarity. There is another porcelain
example at 21 which is unidentified and cracked but still got near to £500. I suspect
that the buyer had identified the factory. At 34 are two Royal Worcester dog’s head
porcelain whistles. I am surprised at the £300 price but Royal Worcester examples
are not uncommon. Dog’s head Staffordshire window rests are thin on the ground
and the pair at 52 fetched a modest £188 in 2008 although they were a/f. For a final
example see a further Staffordshire porcelain dog whistle at 72 and just over a £100,
which was far too low but of course this is an auction price. Providing the condition
is good this should sell at retail for £300-£400. Collecting should be about seeking
the unusual and the uncommon. What is the point of collecting something if you can
fill every space in your home within a few years Rare dog models, which also have a
novelty function are highly collectible and one could hardly expect to build a very
large collection even in a lifetime, unless ones resources are unlimited. This is
exactly as it should be. Collecting should be about seeking out the worthwhile, not
the worthless.
At 22, 24 and 51 are three examples of Royal Doulton Union Jack bulldogs, which
always seem to fetch about £400-£500. Good value I think. I can’t say the same for
the Beswick Dulux sheep dogs. There is one included at 30 and about £300 seems to
be par for the course but I wouldn’t give one house room. At 40 and 41 the Crown
Devon and Mintons models, at about £250 each should have done better. I would
have liked to know more about the French faience example at 74. This free standing
model looks good and could have age to it so why did it fetch less than £100?
Similarly the free standing Herend example at 71 looks to have quality and a certain
wow factor if I may be excused the pun. Why did it fetch only a £118? See also the
French porcelain pug at 79. Finally I am surprised at the pair of Denby dogs at 99,
which do not look at all like the run of the mill ‘Byngo’ types which fetch about £30£50. Can any reader tell me more about this pair, including their size and date?
Ceramic Dogs
12
24
18
30
36
Royal Worcester porcelain
figure, pug dog, cream/brown
colouring, 14.75in high, 17in
wide, impressed mark.
Andrew Hartley, Ilkley. Jun
00. HP: £880. ABP: £1,038.
Pair of Derby seated pug
dogs, late 18thC, patch marks,
7cm high. (s.d.) (2) Richard
Winterton, Lichfield. Aug 09.
HP: £450. ABP: £531.
19
Royal Doulton cream glazed
china model, seated bulldog,
Union Jack over his back,
printed black mark, Rd. No.
645,658, 5.75in high.
Amersham Auction Rooms.
Oct 03. HP: £360. ABP: £424.
31
28
13
Beswick Dulux sheep dog
advertising figure, No.1990,
gold oval mark, 31cm high.
Richard Winterton, Lichfield.
Jan 08. HP: £310. ABP: £365.
Two 20thC Nymphenburg
greyhounds, standing dog
modelled after an original by
P J Mene, 10.5cm high, the
other reclining, 18cm long. (2)
Cheffins, Cambridge. Apr 05.
HP: £240. ABP: £283.
37
Two identical Austrian earthenware seated pug dogs with
glass eyes, 8in. Gorringes,
Lewes. Dec 00. HP: £850.
ABP: £1,003.
Pair rare Victorian Staffordshire comforter spaniels,
holding baskets of flowers in
their mouths, decorated with
black markings, ears and tail,
8in. Gorringes, Lewes. Jul
08. HP: £420. ABP: £495.
14
Meissen dog, seated on hind
legs, painted features, crossed
swords mark in underglaze
blue, some damage/repairs,
7.5in. Gorringes, Lewes. Dec
04. HP: £360. ABP: £424.
20
Pair of 19thC Meissen dogs,
each recumbent on hind legs,
7.5in. Gorringes, Lewes. Oct
05. HP: £800. ABP: £944.
26
R. Doulton Tommy Bull dog,
Rd No 662746 in green to base,
6.5in high. Dee, Atkinson &
Harrison, Driffield,. Dec 00.
HP: £420. ABP: £495.
21
15
Royal Dux group, 2 bulldogs,
one seated, other standing
beside, shot green enamel
and gilt highlights, oval
plinth base, signed Jarl, 12in.
Gorringes, Lewes. Oct 04.
HP: £650. ABP: £767.
16
19thC bone china stirrup
cup, dog’s head painted with
brown and black markings,
black collar with gilt plaque,
c1830, (cracks) 5.25in.
Gorringes, Lewes. Mar 03.
HP: £400. ABP: £472.
32
Royal Doulton smooth haired
terrier Ch. ‘Chosen Don of
Notts’, 6in. Louis Taylor,
Stoke on Trent. Mar 03. HP:
£350. ABP: £413.
Two German porcelain dogs,
Mopsen, c1870, each bitch
on its haunches, one with a
pup, both restored, 21cm and
20cm. Sworders, Stansted
Mountfitchet. Nov 05. HP:
£320. ABP: £377.
28
Royal Doulton Scottish
terrier, Ch. Albourne Arthur,
HN1008. (minor chip to foot)
Charterhouse, Sherborne. Sep
09. HP: £230. ABP: £271.
38
Lladro dog (AF) rare, no 308.
Stroud Auctions, Stroud. Jul
05. HP: £220. ABP: £259.
39
Pair of 19thC Staffordshire
pottery figures of spaniels
with puppies, blue and gilt
decorated oval bases, 8.5in
high. Canterbury Auction
Galleries, Kent. Jun 07. HP:
£280. ABP: £330.
Pair of Staffordshire porcelain dogs, seated dalmations,
gilded collar and chain, blue
bases with gilt line, 19thC, 5in
high. Hartleys, Ilkley. Aug
06. HP: £220. ABP: £259.
34
40
Royal Doulton Union Jack
British Bulldog, repair to
cigar. Roger Jones & Co,
Colwyn Bay. Dec 04. HP:
£400. ABP: £472.
Royal Crown Derby National
Dogs figure, Pekinese, 12.5cm
high. Charterhouse, Sherborne.
Nov 08. HP: £320. ABP: £377.
Crown Devon model of a
Bulldog dressed as Churchill,
5.75in. Gorringes, Lewes. May
10. HP: £220. ABP: £259.
41
35
23
Royal Worcester bonzo dog
figure, No. 2855, date code
1932, 2.75in. Gorringes,
Lewes. Dec 00. HP: £380.
ABP: £448.
Two early 20thC Royal
Worcester dog head porcelain
whistles, one modelled as a
hound, other as a Pug, hound
marked, largest 1.75in.
Gorringes, Lewes. May 09.
HP: £260. ABP: £306.
29
17
Pair of 19thC saltglaze
spaniels, shaped base, 3in
high. Dee, Atkinson &
Harrison, Driffield. Apr 01.
HP: £550. ABP: £649.
Beswick model, Staffordshire
bull terrier. Louis Taylor,
Stoke on Trent. Sep 05. HP:
£300. ABP: £354.
33
27
22
Copeland & Garrett,
‘Felspar Porcelain’ stirrup
cup, dog’s head painted with
black markings and features,
printed mark in green, 183347 Gorringes, Lewes. Mar
03. HP: £550. ABP: £649.
Pair of 19thC porcellanous
Staffordshire seated figures of
black & white King Charles
spaniels, moulded/gilt lined
bases, (one base a/f), 6in high.
Tring Market Auctions, Herts.
Jan 04. HP: £310. ABP: £365.
Royal Doulton figure of a
retriever with a pheasant in
its mouth. HN2529, 9in.
Ewbank Auctioneers, Send,
Surrey. Dec 05. HP: £320.
ABP: £377.
Royal Doulton, dog figure
‘Sealyham Terrier’, from the
CH Scotia Stylist series
c1931-1955, white with light
brown patches over eyes,
factory marks to underside.
Rosebery’s, London. Sep 04.
HP: £240. ABP: £283.
Late Victorian Mintons model
of a seated dog, rectangular
base, moulded with scrolls,
moulded mark, 5.5in.
Gorringes, Lewes. Mar 04.
HP: £210. ABP: £247.
ANTIQUES INFO - July/August 11
Ceramic Dogs
54
42
Pair of Victorian Staffordshire dogs, white with black
spots, each holding a rabbit
in mouth, on gilded, oval blue
bases, 6in. Gorringes, Lewes.
Mar 03. HP: £200. ABP: £236.
43
66
60
48
Fielding’s Crown Devon
Bulldog, standing foursquare smoking cigar and
wearing naval officer’s cap,
collar and bow tie, cigar reattached, 6.5in. Gorringes,
Lewes. Jul 03. HP: £180.
ABP: £212.
Beswick fireside labrador,
black, 2314, gloss.
Charterhouse, Sherborne. May
09. HP: £150. ABP: £177.
55
Royal Crown Derby National
Dogs figure, Corgi, 13cm
high. Charterhouse
Auctioneers, Sherborne. Nov
08. HP: £130. ABP: £153.
Royal Doulton, Bull Dog,
wearing a tin helmet and
carrying a satchel, finished
in brown glazes, (repair to
leg) 6.5in. Gorringes, Lewes.
Mar 03. HP: £110. ABP: £129.
61
67
49
Meissen Bolognese terrier,
c1875, incised ‘C26’, No. ‘13’,
blue crossed swords, loss to
ear/tail, 14.5cm. Sworders,
Stansted Mountfitchet. Apr
10. HP: £200. ABP: £236.
44
Royal Dux figure of a
hunting dog, with game in its
mouth, on naturalistic base,
19in. Gorringes, Lewes. Oct
09. HP: £180. ABP: £212.
Pair of Victorian Staffordshire gold lustre chimney
dogs, 11in. Gorringes,
Bexhill. Mar 02. HP: £140.
ABP: £165.
56
Royal Crown Derby National
Dogs figure, Scottish Terrier,
15cm high. Charterhouse
Auctioneers, Sherborne. Nov
08. HP: £130. ABP: £153.
45
Beswick Firsude Labrador
Dog 2314. (unusual dark tan
colourway) Potteries
Specialist Auction, Stoke. May
09. HP: £170. ABP: £200.
68
62
50
Large Beswick model of a
grey English Setter dog, 8in
tall. Wotton Auction Rooms,
Wotton-under-Edge. Jul 08.
HP: £200. ABP: £236.
Pair of black and white mini
Staffordshire dogs. Sandwich
Auction Rooms, Kent. Apr
05. HP: £110. ABP: £129.
Pair of Victorian Staffordshire comforter spaniels,
holding baskets of flowers in
their mouths, 7.5in.
Gorringes, Lewes. Mar 10.
HP: £140. ABP: £165.
51
Dresden pug dog, 5in.
Gorringes, Lewes. Oct 00.
HP: £100. ABP: £118.
Austrian Weiner Werkstatte
style earthenware model of a
Terrier, brown/white glaze,
with impressed mark to base,
12in. Gorringes, Lewes. Mar
04. HP: £120. ABP: £141.
This section is only a sample
from 1000s of results from
recent sales. See our website
for an extensive selection.
69
63
57
19thC Staffordshire
Dalmatian dog, standing on
all fours with free standing
legs, oval base, 10.5in high.
Dee, Atkinson & Harrison,
Driffield. Feb 09. HP: £200.
ABP: £236.
Royal Doulton bulldog
draped in a Union Jack, 6in
high. Ewbank Auctioneers,
Send, Surrey. Dec 05. HP:
£160. ABP: £188.
46
Carlton Ware comical figure
of a black and white sausage
dog, with worn printed mark,
height 6in. Fellows & Sons,
Hockley, Birmingham. Oct
03. HP: £130. ABP: £153.
52
Pair of Staffordshire black
and white comforter spaniels,
10in. Gorringes, Lewes. Oct
10. HP: £120. ABP: £141.
Brankson china group, two
gun dogs, 6in high.
Dee, Atkinson & Harrison,
Driffield. Mar 04. HP: £100.
ABP: £118.
64
58
70
Meissen style model of a pug
dog, blue collar, white and
gilt bells, cross swords mark,
19th/early 20thC, 14.5cm.
Wellers, Chertsey. Jun 09.
HP: £200. ABP: £236.
Pair of Victorian Staffordshire window rests, modelled
as heads of spaniels, 3.5in.
(a.f.) Gorringes, Lewes. Oct
08. HP: £160. ABP: £188.
53
Dresden porcelain Bolognese
terrier, 29cm high.
Charterhouse, Sherborne. Nov
08. HP: £130. ABP: £153.
59
47
Pair of 19thC Staffordshire
sitting Dalmatian dogs, free
standing front legs, blue and
gilt oval base, 5.25in high.
Dee, Atkinson & Harrison,
Driffield. Feb 11. HP: £120.
ABP: £141.
Earthenware advertising
bulldog, ‘Bottling Bass &
Guinness’, 6in. Gorringes,
Lewes. Apr 05. HP: £100.
ABP: £118.
65
19thC Staffordshire model of
a sporting dog, blue base
with inkwell back, 3in.
Gorringes, Lewes. Oct 00.
HP: £180. ABP: £212.
Royal Dux porcelain model
of a retriever holding a duck
in its mouth, rounded oblong
base, pink patch mark,
No.1198, 10in long, 7in high.
Hartleys, Ilkley. Sep 10. HP:
£150. ABP: £177.
ANTIQUES INFO - July/August 11
71
Royal Crown Derby National
Dog figure, Borzoi, 22cm
high. Charterhouse
Auctioneers, Sherborne. Nov
08. HP: £130. ABP: £153.
Pair of Staffordshire figures
of dogs, gilt collars and
decoration to bodies, 32cm
high. Lambert & Foster,
Tenterden. Feb 04. HP: £115.
ABP: £135.
Herend Hungary green glazed
figur, seated Labrador, 5in.
Denhams, Warnham, Sussex.
Mar 06. HP: £100. ABP: £118.
Ceramic Dogs
72
85
79
Victorian Staffordshire porcelain dog whistle, as a hounds
head, 1.75in. Gorringes, Lewes.
Oct 09. HP: £90. ABP: £106.
73
Late 19thC French porcelain
model of a Pug dog, with
blue florets, glass eyes,
unmarked, 6.5in. Gorringes,
Lewes. Sep 08. HP: £70.
ABP: £82.
91
Royal Crown Derby Bulldog
paperweight, 8.5cm high.
Charterhouse, Sherborne.
Nov 08. HP: £50. ABP: £59.
86
96
French porcelain seated
figure of Toby the dog,
2.75in. (lid of a box)
Gorringes, Lewes. Apr 01.
HP: £40. ABP: £47.
Large Sylvac terrier. Great
Western Auctions, Glasgow.
Dec 05. HP: £35. ABP: £41.
80
Royal Dux model, hunting
dog, 14in. Gorringes, Lewes.
Dec 09. HP: £90. ABP: £106.
74
French faience type earthenware long coated dog, florally
decorated, 10cm tall. Locke
& England, Leamington Spa.
Sep 05. HP: £80. ABP: £94.
Italian pottery figure of a
seated white bull dog, 16in.
Denhams, Warnham, Sussex.
Feb 05. HP: £65. ABP: £76.
Pair of Victorian Staffordshire spaniel dogs, seated with
red markings, gilt chains,
9.5in high. (2) Dee, Atkinson
& Harrison, Driffield. Feb
09. HP: £50. ABP: £59.
87
81
97
92
Large turquoise glazed
‘Dismal Desmond’ dog
figure, probably Crown
Devon, brown glass eyes,
painted/impressed numbers,
height 9in. Fellows & Sons,
Birmingham. Jul 03. HP:
£35. ABP: £41.
Porcelain bulldog advertising Guinness, Bulldog
Brand collar, wearing a
blanket advertising beers,
marked Foreign 7in.
Gorringes, Lewes. Mar 04.
HP: £40. ABP: £47.
75
Beswick Yorkshire terrier No.
2377. Kent Auction
Galleries, Folkestone. Nov
06. HP: £62. ABP: £73.
19thC Staffordshire figure,a
dog, tongue out, free-standing
legs, shaped base, 4.5in high.
(s/f) Dee, Atkinson &
Harrison, Driffield. Apr 06.
HP: £80. ABP: £94.
98
93
Royal Doulton bone china
Pekinese dog model, standing
four-square, painted in
brown and black, 3.25in.
high Gorringes, Lewes. Apr
03. HP: £40. ABP: £47.
Beswick model of a labrador,
Wendover. Gorringes,
Bexhill. Oct 05. HP: £35.
ABP: £41.
99
94
Pair of 19thC Staffordshire
chimney dogs, copper lustre
glaze on a cream ground,
8in. Gorringes, Lewes. Mar
04. HP: £50. ABP: £59.
Royal Doulton model of
Airedale terrier (HN1023),
rear right hand leg has been
repaired. A F Brock & Co
Ltd, Stockport. Nov 05. HP:
£45. ABP: £53.
Pair of Bourne Denby dogs.
S/D to one tail. Black
Country Auctions, Dudley.
Dec 05. HP: £30. ABP: £35.
100
89
83
77
Large Beswick labrador No.
2314. Kent Auction
Galleries, Folkestone. Jun
06. HP: £70. ABP: £82.
88
82
76
Beswick Staffordshire Bull
Terrier, 3060. Brindle Matt.
Potteries Specialist Auction,
Stoke on Trent. May 09. HP:
£75. ABP: £88.
Staffordshire dalmatian dog,
early 19thC. Black Country
Auctions, Dudley. Sep 05.
HP: £48. ABP: £56.
German porcelain model of a
puppy dog, seated on hind
legs, painters initials JH, 6in.
Gorringes, Lewes. Apr 02.
HP: £50. ABP: £59.
Pair of late 19thC Staffordshire dogs, gilt markings,
9.5in high. (2) Dee, Atkinson
& Harrison, Driffield. Apr
08. HP: £45. ABP: £53.
Crown Devon Fieldings
cream glazed female dog
figure, large ribbon tied
around her head, brown
glass eyes, printed, 4.75in
high. Fellows & Sons,
Hockley, Birmingham. Oct
03. HP: £40. ABP: £47.
Art pottery figure, stylised
dog, gold and white crackleglaze finish, attributed to Jill
Crowley, on shaped base,
4in. Gorringes, Lewes. Mar
09. HP: £30. ABP: £35.
101
90
84
95
78
Pair of Staffordshire St
Bernard dogs, English late
19thC, gilt collars, glass eyes,
25cm high. Rosebery’s,
London. Dec 05. HP: £70.
ABP: £82.
Pair of 19thC pottery
Staffordshire dogs, white
glaze, gilt embellishment,
glass eyes, 13in high. (2)
Dee, Atkinson & Harrison,
Driffield. Sep 05. HP: £50.
ABP: £59.
Beswick high seated bull
dog, white with brown
patches to each side of face,
seated gloss finish, 4.5in
high. Kent Auction Galleries,
Folkestone. Jul 05. HP: £42.
ABP: £49.
Beswick Alasation dog, model
No. 969, gloss finish, 5.75in
high, with a small version,
model No. 1762A, 3.25in
high. Tring Market Auctions,
Herts. Jun 10. HP: £38.
ABP: £44.
Late 19thC Staffordshire
pottery St. Bernard dog,
standing on all fours, glass
eyes (one missing) (s/f), 10in
high. Dee Atkinson &
Harrison, Driffield. Sep 09.
HP: £20. ABP: £23.
ANTIQUES INFO - July/August 11