Dog, Cavalier King Charles in Staffordshire earthenware no. 8, circa 1860

A hand-painted Staffordshire earthenware dog in ecru, gold, and black, depicting a seated Cavalier King Charles Spaniel with its head turned to the right. Highly prized at the Victorian court, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel's image became popular in 19th-century decorative arts, where it was initially conceived as a pair to adorn the mantelpieces of middle-class English homes. A local folktale recounts that two dogs placed behind the window carried a message: if their gaze was turned inward, the man of the house was away; conversely, if it was turned outward, he had returned. This posture, as a pair, facing each other, gave rise to the expression "to stare at each other like porcelain dogs." In very good condition, this earthenware dog, produced in the second half of the 19th century, shows subtle signs of age and some cracking in the glaze, giving it an authentic patina. The gold glaze is worn and patinated. Ideal on a side table, mantelpiece or bookshelf, it will bring an antique and vintage touch to your decor.