Dogs in antiques: Five good boys to bid for and buy

Here we look at a few different depictions of dogs in lots going under the hammer in upcoming auctions on thesaleroom.com. How much will each one fetch?

Spaniel

First up is a spaniel, which appears on the lap of a 17^th century lady in this English School portrait. Set in front of classical buildings with flowers in a fountain to her right, the portrait is signed and dated VIGNON. It has a provenance to the Earl of Liverpool and is offered at Chorley’s Fine Art & Antiques auction of January 25 with an estimate of £4000-6000.

View and bid for this full-length portrait here.

Allegory

This late 18th or early 19th century memorial plaque has an estimate of £200-250 at Catherine Southon’s auction of Antiques and Collectables on February 2.

On tombs and monuments the presence of a dog often signifies loyalty and such is the case with this late 18^th or early 19th century naïve miniature memorial plaque. The sepia tone token shows a maiden seated beneath a tree with the dog on its lead. Contained within a yellow gold collet, the plaque also encases hair clippings. It goes under the hammer at Catherine Southon on February 2 with an estimate of £200-250.

View and bid for this memorial plaque here.

Staffordshire dogs

This pair of late 19th or early 20th century Staffordshire spaniels are available with an estimate of £20-40 at Barbara Kirk Auctions of Penzance on January 25-26.

Spaniels again. Staffordshire dog figurines were all the rage in 19^th century Britain, when Victorian homeowners placed them on their mantlepieces. Also known as hearth spaniels, fireplace dogs or Wally dugs (in Scotland), spaniels were only one of the breeds produced at the Staffordshire pottery, but were by far the most popular. This late 19^th or early 20^th century pair is available at Barbara Kirk Auctions of Penzance on January 25-26, where it is offered with an estimate of £20-40.

View and bid for this pair of Staffordshire dogs here.

Novelty

This novelty dog clock has an estimate of £50-100 at Eastbourne Auctions sale of January 26-28.

Think of novelty animal clocks and you probably picture the Art Deco Kit-Cat Clocks with moving eyes and a swinging tail that were produced in the early 1930s. However, from the 1920s-50s, Fritz Oswald in Germany produced a number of Black Forest carved novelty dog clocks, which told the time through rotating eyeballs – the left points to the hour and the right to the minutes.  This clock is catalogued as Black Forest and not Oswald, though there is a clear debt to the famous maker. It is offered for £50-100 at Eastbourne Auctions’ sale on January 26-28.

View and bid for this novelty dog clock here.

Boxer

This Edwardian silver study of a Boxer goes under the hammer at 1818 Auctioneers in Milnthorpe on January 30 with an estimate of £50-80.

Presented with several holes to the top of its head, this 1902 silver study of a Boxer is thought to be an Edwardian pepperette or vinaigrette. Made in London, it goes under the hammer at 1818 Auctioneers in Milnthorpe on January 30 with an estimate of £50-80.

View and bid for this Edwardian silver study of a Boxer here.