Antique English Glazed Pottery Seated Pug Dog Figurine, 1890s

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Modelled in a seated posture with front paws planted firmly forward, this decorative earthenware jar is cast with deep wrinkles … Read more Modelled in a seated posture with front paws planted firmly forward, this decorative earthenware jar is cast with deep wrinkles around the muzzle, brow, and neck. The collar encircling the neck features a prominent bow and tassels at the rear, ingeniously disguising the seam where the head separates from the body. Finished in a rich monochrome blue glaze, the glossy surface pools darkly into the recesses of the facial folds, musculature, and curled tail, while thinning subtly over the raised contours of the ears and snout. Under direct light, the lustrous lead glaze reveals hints of petrol-like iridescence across the high points of the cranium and shoulders. Novelty animal containers of this type were frequently used as tobacco jars or mantelpiece humidors. Produced around 1900, the vessel reflects the popular Edwardian and late Victorian taste for domestic canine ceramics. The underside of the base is fully glazed with a small central vent hole and bears no maker's backstamp or impressed model numbers, though the modelling and glazing closely mirror English art pottery from the Staffordshire or Yorkshire regions. Standing approximately 20 cm in height with a base width of around 15 cm, the figure remains structurally sound. The exterior displays minimal surface wear, while the interior rim of the removable head exhibits a few small fleabites and minor chips along the inner flange, completely hidden from view when the cover rests in place. See less