Just The Sweetest Victorian Bronze Bulldog, Large in Character and Large in Size

The Story - Well with that face there was absolutely no way he or she wasn't home with me as I strolled around my favourite Antique Shop. Those eyes looking mournfully up at you, that downward set mouth and all those wonderful wrinkles on the forehead, he/she so deserves their time in the spotlight. The dog which I think is an English Bulldog is I believe Victorian I would imagine would date to end of the nineteenth century circa 1880, made from bronze which has been painted although a lot of the paint has worn over time. He carries no obvious marks that I can see and indeed for some reason both myself and the shop owner felt he was English, and this is why I am not calling him Cold Painted as I believe it was only bronze figurines from Austria that could be called that. He sits upright with his two strong front legs weighted firmly on those big paws and his head is slightly turned looking at you and at the back is that dear tail curled upwards and resting on his back. He looks like he was once painted all over with a deep red paint which I think can best be seen in the third photo and I keep looking at those eyes as they stand out but I don't think they are painted. And for a bronze figurine he is big, especially compared to the cold painted Austrian ones he measure approx 12cm in height by 8.5 cm in width and weighs an impressive 1&1/2lb / 700gms. He really is beautifully cast especially all those wrinkles both on his forehead and down his back and although there are no obvious marks there are what looks could be marks on the base but I really cannot make them out.

AGE -Circa 1880

CONDITION - He really is in very good condition. The original deep red paint has worn on his coat so there is now just a hint of it and the bronze is showing through, although I have to say I don't see this as a fault but instead a bonus as it helps to highlight his form.

DIMENSIONS (Approx) - 4&3/4" / 12cm, Width 3&1/2" / 8.5cm, Depth 2&1/2"6cm

I find it impossible not to fall in love with that imploring face looking up at me. And I cannot work how it is so but those small round eyes stand out so well demanding you look at them. How he must have been much loved in the many years of his life by all those who have been lucky enough to own him. He or she really is one very special Dog who really does deserve their time in the limelight!