Location: Madison-Bouckville Antiques Show in NY
Featured Items: 1890s a life-size French toy bulldog and Staffordshire King Charles spaniels
Details: Now here's a 1890s pup that's sure to take best in show. It's a French bulldog--a life-size toy bulldog. At first glance, it looks like the real thing, with glistening glass eyes and realistic coloration. Even the definition of the dog's muscles gives a natural look. Made of painted papier mache, this little guy hides his age well. He even has his original badger color. At the time this piece was made, real bulldogs wore these straw collars to keep them from getting stuck when chasing vermin into badger holes. Make no bones about it, though, this dog's bark is definitely worse than his bite. Collectors call toys like these growlers. As you pull the dog's chain through the collar, he nods his head, shows lots of teeth, and, of course, barks. He even has little wheels under his paws, so if you were lucky enough to own him, you could take him for a walk. What would you need to bring home this rare breed? About $3,000.
Next, is Staffordshire King Charles spaniels. We're all familiar with Staffordshire spaniels. Go to any antique show, and you're sure to find a pair, so why are they so popular? Because in the mid-19th century, Queen Victoria owned real King Charles Spaniels. The people loved their queen and her dogs, so Staffordshire Potteries in England began modeling her dogs, and other figurals soon followed, but the dogs were the most popular, because everyone wanted King Charles spaniels. One pair is especially valuable because they depict not only Queen Victoria's dogs, but also her children. They are called "the royal children on King Charles spaniels", and are circa 1850. They are quite rare because they have the royal children sitting on the backs of the spaniels. We're told that any time you can find a representation of Queen Victoria's children on anything, it increases the value, and the Staffordshire dogs are no exception. The pieces also happen to be in great condition. No chips, no repairs, and the paint and glaze are in prime shape. So when you add all these factors together, you have a rare pair that would sell for more than $4,500.
Resources Madison-Bouckville Outdoor Antiques Show
Contact Madison-Bouckville Mgmt. for additional show information.
Madison-Bouckville Outdoor Antiques Show
Hamilton, NY
Phone: 315-824-2462
Website:
www.bouckvilleantiqueshows.com
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