Vintage Dog Art: Prints, Paintings & Figurines for Collectors

Vintage Dog Art: More Than Just Figurines

Vintage dog art encompasses a rich world beyond three-dimensional figurines — prints, paintings, illustrations, photographs, and ephemera that celebrate dogs across the same eras that produced the ceramic and bronze pieces most collectors focus on. Understanding the relationship between vintage dog art in two and three dimensions opens up the collecting field considerably and often reveals the artistic context that makes individual figurines more interesting.

The greatest dog artists of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries — Edwin Landseer, Maud Earl, Arthur Wardle, Cecil Aldin, Morgan Dennis — worked primarily in two dimensions, and their influence on three-dimensional ceramic production was profound. Understanding these artists enriches appreciation of the figurines they inspired.

Key Vintage Dog Artists and Their Influence

Sir Edwin Landseer (1802–1873): The pre-eminent Victorian dog painter, whose sentimental, highly finished portraits of dogs set the emotional tone for an entire era of dog art. Landseer’s famous subjects — the Newfoundland “Saved,” the Scottish deerhounds of Highland paintings — were reproduced as engravings in enormous quantities and directly influenced the ceramic subjects produced by Staffordshire and other factories throughout the Victorian period.

Cecil Aldin (1870–1935): The great illustrator of the Edwardian and interwar periods, whose warmly humorous dog illustrations defined popular ideas about canine personality for a generation of British and American readers. Aldin’s direct influence on Royal Doulton’s “Dogs of Character” series makes his prints the natural complement to those ceramic pieces — displaying an Aldin print alongside the Royal Doulton figure it inspired creates a compelling collector’s context.

Morgan Dennis (1892–1960): The American equivalent of Aldin in many ways — an illustrator whose sympathetically observed dog paintings, particularly of Scottish Terriers, became some of the most recognizable dog imagery of mid-century America. Original Morgan Dennis prints are actively collected alongside the Scottie figurines and objects his work inspired.

Maud Earl (1864–1943): One of the most accomplished Victorian and Edwardian dog portrait painters, whose formal portraits of champion show dogs were the canine equivalent of aristocratic human portraiture. Earl’s work is more formal and less sentimental than Landseer’s or Aldin’s, and her prints are sought by collectors who appreciate the dog show tradition.

Types of Vintage Dog Art to Collect

Engravings and lithographs: Nineteenth-century printed reproductions of dog paintings were produced in enormous quantities and remain affordable entry points into vintage dog art collecting. Period engravings after Landseer, Aldin, and other significant artists appear regularly in estate sales and print shops.

Original illustrations: Original magazine and book illustrations by dog artists are more valuable but genuinely attainable for dedicated collectors. Cecil Aldin originals, Morgan Dennis magazine originals, and Maud Earl preparatory sketches surface occasionally in specialist sales.

Trading cards and ephemera: Victorian dog trading cards — produced by cigarette manufacturers, tea companies, and other commercial interests — are charming, affordable, and actively collected. Sets featuring dog breeds are particularly sought.

Photographs: Victorian and Edwardian dog photographs — both portraits of specific dogs and breed illustrations — are a distinct collecting category. Early photographic processes (daguerreotypes, ambrotypes, tintypes featuring dogs) are particularly prized.

Mixing Vintage Dog Art and Figurines in Display

The most interesting dog collections often combine two- and three-dimensional pieces into displays that create context and narrative. A Cecil Aldin print alongside the Royal Doulton “Dogs of Character” figure it inspired. A Morgan Dennis illustration paired with a Scottie figurine. A Victorian breed portrait print above a Staffordshire spaniel pair on a mantelpiece. The combination creates a richer collecting statement than either medium alone.

For current pricing benchmarks and collector reference, Smithsonian American Art Museum is an invaluable resource for anyone evaluating antique and vintage ceramics.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are vintage dog prints valuable?
The range is enormous — common Victorian engravings are very affordable; original illustrations by significant artists can command thousands. Condition, subject, and artist all drive value.

Where can I find vintage dog prints to complement my figurines?
Print dealers, estate sales, and specialist auctions are the primary sources. Browse our dog collectibles collection and explore our range of antique and vintage dog objects — we occasionally source two-dimensional dog art alongside our figurine inventory.

Ready to add a handpicked piece to your own collection? Browse our curated selection of vintage dog collectibles — each item chosen for authenticity, condition, and collector appeal.