Antique Silverplate Figural Pug Dog Matchstick Holder c. 1880’s

This Victorian Pug, with glass eyes, sits guarding a pot with a scalloped edge and dot-sized punctures all around. The dog is highly-detailed from the frowning wrinkles on his face, to his muscular chest, and down to his toes and curling tail. Used during the Victorian era as either a matchstick or toothpick holder, he sits 2″ tall x 3″ long x 3″ wide. This fascinating item is completely intact, but the silver plate has worn off on most of the surface area. Even with that, it looks like the terrific antique that it is , and almost “in character” with the look of the dog. It is marked “Sterling” and “Derby Silver Co Derby Quadruple Plate 2306”. A great find for lovers of Victorian era silver plate holloware.