Pair of red Cavalier King Charles dogs in Staffordshire pottery, 19th century.

Pair of Staffordshire ceramic dogs, hand-painted in ecru and russet, depicting two Cavalier King Charles sitting, one with its head turned to the left and the other to the right, each wearing a collar with a padlock and chain. This pair of dogs, estimated to be from the mid-19th century, is in perfect condition. Highly valued at the Victorian court, the Cavalier King Charles was widely represented in the decorative arts of the 19th century, where it was originally designed in pairs to adorn the mantels of bourgeois English homes. A folk anecdote suggests that the two dogs placed behind a window conveyed a message: if their gaze was turned inward, the man of the house was absent, whereas if their gaze was turned outward, he had returned. It is from this posture, in pairs, facing each other with an air of defiance, that these dogs gave rise to the expression "to look at each other like ceramic dogs." Ideal for a side table, a mantelpiece, or a bookshelf, they will add an antique and vintage touch to your decor.