Definition:Staffordshire

(Sleeved Dogs)

Staffordshire dogs (often called “Wally Dogs” or “Hearth Dogs”) are perhaps the most traditional dog collectible in history. Originally produced in pairs in the 19th century, these earthenware Spaniels were designed to sit on Victorian fireplaces. True vintage Staffordshire is hand-painted and often features “discontinuous” luster (shiny spots) or small “vent holes” on the back or bottom. Because they were so popular, they have been reproduced for decades; however, authentic 19th-century pairs are heavy, show age-appropriate “crazing” in the glaze, and possess a regal, folk-art charm that modern copies cannot replicate.