The stories behind Staffordshire spaniels: collectible conversation pieces

May 15, 9:10 AMSF Antiquing ExaminerSusannah Carson

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I’m fascinated by antiques that come with stories, which is why I love Staffordshire spaniels.

Staffordshire spaniels are an odd breed of antique. On the one hand, they’re the quintessential Victorian bourgeois status-symbol knick-knack: no mantelpiece was complete without a pair of spaniels standing guard. On the other hand, they’re utter whimsy: pottery dogs don’t snuggle, they don’t bark, and they have no household use—but they do come with great stories.

When my mother visited a small seaside town near Southport, an old Englishwoman told her this story:

Once upon a time, in a little bungalow next to the sea, there lived a woman and her two Staffordshire spaniels. She was careful about placement of her spaniels in the front window. When the spaniels had their backs to each other, her husband was at home. When they faced each other, he was at sea. The woman's lover would pass by the house, note the position of the spaniels, and know whether or not he could sneak in for a snuggle.

There are more stories. The Staffordshire spaniel is tied to the history of the living, frolicking Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. In the Renaissance, these gentle, comforting little dogs were called Spaniells Gentle or Comforter Spaniels. Court ladies hid them under their voluminous skirts to keep their legs warm. Legend has it that a small black and white spaniel was found in the skirts of Mary Queen of Scots (1542-1582) after she was beheaded (Adele Kenny, Staffordshire Spaniels, p. 13).

The spaniels became great favorites of the British monarchs. King Charles I (1600-1649) had a spaniel as a young boy.

The court of Charles I’s son, the Cavalier King, Charles II (1630-1685), was full of his eponymous spaniels. They play an important role in Michael Hoffman’s film Restoration (1995) starring Robert Downey Jr. as Dr. Robert Merivel and Sam Neill as King Charles II. The first bit of this youtube clip features a pack of gorgeous, boisterous spaniels.

Queen Victoria’s (1819-1901) spaniel, Dash, sat next to her on the throne. His portrait was done by court painters, and for this reason the spaniel became a popular artistic motif in paintings and pottery throughout Victoria’s reign (1837-1901).

Since the 1720s, spaniels had been produced by pottery factories in Staffordshire—along with other figurines, such as shepherds and princesses, lions and lambs. Thanks to Dash, however, the spaniel model enjoyed a siege of popularity in the 1840s which lasted through Victoria’s reign.

To meet the dog demand, factories enlisted underpaid, overworked children to paint the whiskers and splotches of “the only ‘pets’ they would ever know,” (Kenny, p. 9)—a sad story, and unfortunately true. Although the vogue of the spaniels was glamorously royal, the production of the spaniels descended to the smallest, poorest laborers.

The spaniels are all pretty much the same: for the most part, they’re seated, they’ve got a gold chain and locket, and they’ve got a creamy white base coat. They were produced in pairs, but today they are often found in lonesome singles.

The artistry is in the details. The spaniels come in sizes from a little over a foot to a few inches high. The base coat is layered over with polka dots or brushed patches of rust, copper luster, or black. Disraeli spaniels feature painted curls on their foreheads; Jackson spaniels are entirely black. Some have glass eyes, some painted. The most frequent model features front legs molded to the body; rarer models have one or two distinct front legs. Some spaniels are ready to go for a walk, while others are lying down. A rare bunch of spaniels do have utilitarian purposes: they masquerade as spill vases (see the slideshow), ring holders, banks, and pitchers.

You can also find other Staffordshire dog breeds, such as pugs, afghans, greyhounds, collies, poodles, and Dalmatians.

The best story a Staffordshire spaniel can tell comes from its own expression. Even in pairs, no two dogs are the same. The can be cuddly or fierce, whimpering or smug, curious or proud.

Today, you can find spaniels up for antique adoption in boutiques, at flea markets, and online. Why pick them up? For aesthetic reasons: their graceful silhouettes pop nicely against a dark background. For their rarity: each one is a unique artifact and a valuable investment. For their engaging expressions: buy a single one to be your ever-constant, patiently-listening best friend, or buy an entire pack to liven up the whole household. Or, just collect them for their stories: Staffordshire spaniels make great conversation pieces.

Buyer beware! Indications of forgeries include an air release hole larger than a pencil eraser, a chalky base, too-even, fake-crackled glaze, and too-deliberate features. Jane McClafferty tells how to spot a fake Staffordshire spaniel.

Real spaniels have what Kenny calls a “spontaneous presence”—a cryptic formulation which won’t make much sense until you’ve known a lot of spaniels. In the meantime, your chances of getting what you pay for are increased if you buy from a reputable dealer such as PotOGold Antiques and Rose Victoria.

On the other hand, new reproductions (like mutts) need homes too. They can be found at McGees Gift Shop.

For more of the history of the Staffordshire spaniel, visit Bob Brooke's site Those Charming Staffordshire Dogs.

Books on Staffordshire Spaniels include:
Staffordshire Spaniels: A Collector’s Guide to History, Styles, and Values by Adele Kenny
A-Z of Staffordshire Dogs, A Potted History by Clive Mason Pope
Victorian Staffordshire Dogs by A. Harding, N. Harding

Antiquester tip: a great selection of Staffordshire spaniels is currently available at Nest.