An exceedingly charming set of two pairs of miniature Staffordshire spaniels with rare spongeware decoration from c.1870. These are just the sweetest! Have an instant collection.
Larger - just shy of 5” tall
Smaller - about 4” tall
Condition: the back of one of the red ones has a large crack as per the photos. It is still very stable. The black pair have a number of firing flaws that occurred during manufacture.
I’ve read that these small “crudely” (charming, in my opinion!) decorated dogs would have been given as prizes at fairs in the 19th century. So perhaps these are the Victorian equivalent of giant teddy bears at carnivals!
