Northwestern Europe, England, Staffordshire, ca. 19th century CE. A charming trio of porcelain and hand painted animal figurines, a lion, cat, and Staffordshire spaniel. The left-facing Staffordshire spaniel sits on its haunches and turns its head towards the viewer to showcase the applied granular coat covering the front half and posterior of its body. On the underside is the mark, "OLD STAFFORDSHIRE WARE MADE ENGLAND" although bit faint and indiscernible. The eyes are outlined with black lining and brows while the snout is accentuated with black, and a yellow-hued collar and tag are painted across its neck. The kitty is seated similarly facing the viewer. The white surface specked with black and yellow to create a calico or tortoiseshell coat. The lion stands upon a green base, and faces forward, styled after the famous Medici lion in Italy- minus the ball, and the body is sparsely painted. Size (spaniel): 2" L x 1" W x 2.75" H (5.1 cm x 2.5 cm x 7 cm); (lion): 3.25" L x 1.25" W x 3" H (8.3 cm x 3.2 cm x 7.6 cm)

Staffordshire spaniels were made in several regions of England in the Victorian period, deriving their name from the 17th century production of ceramics in the Staffordshire region, which was known for its white porcelain. They were often given out as prizes at church fetes and village fairs, and legend has it that a woman could put a pair in her front window - if the dogs faced each other, her husband was home, but if they faced outward, her lover could come.

Provenance: private Evergreen, Colorado, USA collection; ex-private Denver, Colorado, USA, collection, acquired 1960 to 2000

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#168638

Chips and loss to the cat's ears, snout, and nicks to base. Firing vent perforation on base. Spaniel is intact and very good, stamp on base is faint and smudged, but partially legible. Lion is intact and only minor nicks to base. Some fading to pigments.