Posted 8 years ago
KarenLR71
(191 items)
Found in a box when clearing my Mom's house. It was her Mom's and all of the dog figurines were wrapped in Miami newspaper dated 1963. According to my older brothers, my Grandma had an active/on display collection for decades dating back at least to early 40's (unsure if any were from the 30's), she collected up thru the late 50's at least. Wish I knew why she packed them all up in 1963. I'll have to go through the genealogy info my folks left to see if maybe it was for another move as my Granddad was a Lt. Colonel in the military.
This was MUCH bigger than the other figurines but it fascinated me. I didn't even realize the 'head' tilted back. Then I realized it was some type of decanter/storage for alcohol/spirits. My grandmother loved her alcohol too..lol. The poor dog (a pug?) is missing one of his (likely glass) brown eyes. I may see if we kept the box with all the newspapers in it so I can dig around to see if I find a loose eye.
I've been trying to figure out what it is, from what time period but there are no marks on the glass body. There is an area that looks like it might be a micro mark on the back of the head right above the 'collar' but I can't get it in focus. I assume the head is pewter but don't know how to tell for sure so hesitate to 'shine' it up. My youngest brother and I were born 15 yrs after our 2 older brothers so they know much more about what our grandparents were like. I'm sad I didn't know them better. The box of dog figurines was a surprise in itself.
one online reference has this as a set noted as 20th century Austrian silver plated decanters shaped as dogs, with a King Charles spaniel, a Bulldog and an Alsatian.
http://www.richardgardnerantiques.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/2749_1.jpg
TallCakes - my gosh you are incredibly fast and obviously very well versed. Thank you so very much. We had found a picture of the Alsation (forgot to mention that) but it looked so different 'shined' up that I was unsure if they were related. There was no concrete info with the Alsation so all I knew was there was something 'similar' to mine. I cannot thank you enough. We lost my Mom to dementia recently so it was very hard, as it is when you lose a loved one, to pack up her house. Although the box of dogs we found was intriguing, it also makes me wish I had known about it long ago so I could have talked to my Mom about it. Thank you again for helping to close this one mystery.
you're very welcome. and so sorry for your loss. if you google: Austrian silver plate dog decanter you should find this one with the Austria mark:
https://www.rubylane.com/item/549184-dd-gaey/Austrian-Figural-Decanter-x96-German-Shepherd
One thing that has really thrown me off with the fact that it's older than I realized and the fact that it's Austrian is that my grandfather was from a small village in Austria and came over to the U.S. on a ship somewhere between 1902 and 1907. I still have hard time imaging he or his Mom (his Dad was already in the US) packing up something this heavy and it was my grandmother who was the dog collector. It's probably a coincidence but it makes you wonder....
intriguing; perhaps this piece was the inspiration for the k-9 collecting...
Wow...what an interesting thought. Thank you for your condolences by the way. I waited for about 10 days before posting and have happily spent a few hours looking at everyone's treasures...I've noticed your name solving many mysteries. I know everyone thanks you...but honestly...you are a treasure yourself. Such a wonderful resource/subject matter expert. Thank you for all that you do for so many.
LOL, I told my husband what you found about the origin. He's like "Don't shine it up whatever you do!". He's thinking of that episode of Antiques road show where someone found a helmet in the attic dating WAY back and shined it with Windex or something. He says things 'lose their value' if you don't keep them the way they are found. I think he's getting confused with 'restoring' an antique. Since the day I selected this to keep instead of putting in the estate sale, I've smiled anytime I look at it thinking of my grandma. That is priceless to me.
Silver is different, in that whether it's new or antique, museums and private collectors will keep it looking polished (and of course, especially if it's being used at the dinner table). Patina is no indicator for a silver object's age or value. You will hardly find silver at Sotheby's or Christie's or some high-end dealer that is not polished.
The only examples I can think of are when a museum displays things like silver coins from an ancient shipwreck, crusted and fused together.
Thanks noob,
Your comments made a lot of sense. I had found an image of the Alsatian but thought it was different as it look more 'goldish'...well, I have since found another picture of the same Alsatian but the person notes that the silverplate is mostly worn off so you see almost the entire head is brass underneath it?
Not sure if one that has ALL of its original silverplate is more valuable or not, but to me it is more desirable although even if it only had the brass finish, I'd still cherish it. This stuff is so....fun to look into. I can see myself easily getting hooked on this.