An Antique Georgian Staffordshire Poodle With the face of a Sweet Lamb but the Rear with the Strength of a Lion

THE STORY - I seem to have become firmly bewitched by the charm and joyous nature of Early Staffordshire Figurines and I have to say I don't mind one single bit. So when I came across this dear chap, he made me smile and then of course my heart was won. This little chap who I would imagine would date to the end of the Georgian Period circa 1830 lays recumbent on a rectangular base and he sports a hugely admirable example of the fashionable Cuts for Poodles of this time known as the Lion Cut where the main body and legs are clipped leaving just the curly wool on their manes and end of their tails, indeed this cut is still seen today. He is I believe made of Porcelain and I just adore the way his curly mane has been created which has to be with shreds of clay but it is so deep and curly and so lustrous to the eye. And this of course leaves his body which I find the modelling of just utterly beautiful when one looks at him from behind and sees the shape of his spine raised and his rear legs drawn in I find it very reminiscent of a lion and it conveys so much strength but then at the front we have the sweetest little face looking a little shy peeking out from that huge mane which just black dots marking his eyes and. The rectangular base which has a gilt rim running along the edge and on the underside there is a stuck to it an old hand written piece of paper with a number to it, this dear boy was obviously part of a much loved collection.

AGE - Circa 1830

CONDITION - The poodle is in good condition considering its age but it is not perfect and I am not sure I would be after nearly 200years, there are at the back of the base 3 separate hairline cracks which can best be seen in the 4th and 7th photo, these are old and very faint but they are there. Also the gilt rim is worn and this is especially true to the back of base.

DIMENSIONS (Approx) - Length 3&7/8" / 10cm, Height 2&1/4" / 5.5cm, Depth 2" / 5cm

And what I find so lovely when I think of this little chap is just how many smiles he must have created over his long life because every time I look at him I cannot help but smile. He is joyous, he is naive and he really does have an extremely gentle fluffy shredded clay head but an extremely strong and lithe end, no wonder he has what I think is a little confused expression upon that dear face.