Definition:Lefton

Lefton China dog figurines were produced under the brand of George Zoltan Lefton, a Hungarian immigrant who founded his Chicago importing company after World War II. While the Lefton brand is American, all pieces were manufactured in Japan and imported — a common model for mid-century American giftware. Lefton dog figurines are known for their extraordinary variety: breed studies, anthropomorphic dogs, spaghetti-style pieces, planter dogs, and novelty items all appear in the Lefton catalog. Collectors look for the distinctive red-and-gold foil label (‘Lefton Japan’ or ‘Lefton Exclusives’) and the occasional impressed mark. ‘Lefton Exclusives’ represent higher-quality production — better modeling, finer painting, more elaborate decoration — and command premiums over standard Lefton production.