Featured Black and white dogs

Hi everybody

These two black and white dogs have been in the family for years and unfortunately don’t know much about them. If anybody could provide any information that would be most appreciated?

robbi

 

There were many copies/reproductions of the Staffordshire Terriers. They were original used as hearth spaniels or fireplace dogs and were King Charles spaniels.

 

https://www.1stdibs.com/furniture/d...4trMtKg8zi7Pa1t5x1EaAijaEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

I have a good feeling about yours, even though there are lots of repros.

 

You can see how different these are in every way:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/726283...BiQdXnDy5_jQy6MaOrO1JVjfs4Z4QyEEaAvgvEALw_wcB

 

Thank you for your response, they seem to have air holes in the back of them as well. Just wondered how do you tell a repro from an original? Just out of curiosity what would they be valued at?

 

You do what we just started to do, search the Internet for similar examples, compare yours to others, especially ones offered by sources who are more likely to be credible. The only way to assess current value is to look at completed sales, the more recent the better, & see the prices achieved.

The 1st Dibs site specializes in high end stuff. If the seller of the dogs that look like yours is correct that they are Staffordshire, then yours are too. You have already noted that they have the hole in the back. To list some other points: the bottom is completely closed; the color patches on the coat are butterfly shaped, including one on the top of the head; the gold on the tag deliberately does not go all the way to the edge of the modeled area. Painting is going to vary by individual painters, but the underlying modeling should stay the same. Do yours also have a number on the bottom in the clay, not just written on?

 

https://www.realorrepro.com/article/Staffordshire-Dogs

 

I mistrust 1stdibs, rather. The holes and patterning thing have been seen on good repros. And those who sell on the site have wishfulness written all over their price tags, as well as often inaccurate descriptions.

Having said that, I think yours are probably from my neck of the woods, but not as old as some. The clay is right, and the painting is well done without being self conscious, if that makes sense. I suspect early 20th C, rather than older.

Can't speak for the US, but here, that price would be a factor of ten times what they'd sell for.

 

The only have this mark on the bottom of one of the dogs.

 

I suspect this is significant to people who really know their Staffordshire dogs:



Another article on what to look for:

http://antiquescouncil.com/antiques/index.php?page=out&id=258

 

Glaze is good, gloopy and lumpy, old craquelure and hairlining.

 

The red marking looks like a number 6 would you agree?

 

Yes, & if you read the article at the second link I posted you will have seen this may indicate size of the model in that pottery's line.

 

Yup, they came in diffferent sizes.

 

I never take them as authoritative either, but they can be a starting point. Have seen enough errors in listings for items where I have some degree of expertise to know not to take them as gospel. And prices are very ambitious. Most are open to entertaining offers & have a feeling items often go for less than posted price. The only time I bought anything from a 1st Dibs seller, they made me an offer in their reply to a question I sent.

 

As I don’t have much experience within the antiques world I thank everybody for their help. Looking at the pictures that I have put on the thread what would you guys roughly estimate for them in value as struggling?

Robbi

 

All we can do is something you can do yourself, scour the Internet for completed sales. For example: https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/59220003_english-staffordshire-dogs

I'm registered with them so can tell you there were 18 bids that took them from an opening bid of $50 to a hammer price of $160. Buyer had to pay at least another 20% over that.

https://m.skinnerinc.com/search?s=Staffordshire+dog+figurine

 

In the UK, fifty to eighty pounds at auction, but I'd think the higher price in the US is realistic.

 

Hi there

Just wondering why they are valued a bit more in the us?

 

Probably less common in the US since they were made in the UK. How common or rare something is affects value.