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ID #SA1239616
FOR SALE
£795
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Early 20th Century Haunting Folk Art Dog with Opening Mouth & Pop Out Eye
For sale by Folk and Fable Antiques
for sale €930     $1,010
£795
Folk and Fable Antiques

Folk and Fable Antiques

Sellingantiques Verified Since Oct 2026
Browse dealers 14 items
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Id #SA1239616
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Early 20th Century Haunting Folk Art Dog with Opening Mouth & Pop Out Eye

1920 - 1940
Description

A wonderfully eccentric English folk art toy dog dating to the early 20th century. Handmade from a combination of wood, paper and what feels like thin very dry leather, it has a rather haunting character with its glass eyes, wired tail, wooden teeth and original metal wheels. Faint remnants of fur remain, hinting at how the piece would once have appeared when fully covered. The articulated jaw is operated by an internal weighted mechanism and when the mouth is opened, one of the eyes pops out. The mechanism is a little temperamental, but it adds an extra layer of disturbing to already very disturbing looking dog.

An evocative decorative object for those drawn to the curious and unconventional, certain to become a focal point and talking point within any interior.

A favourite find!

Condition is commensurate with age and heavy use. Structurally sound. Timeworn skin which is peeling in places, temperamental popping eye function, remnants of fur and a worn tail, all of which make it the haunting looking decorative piece we now love.

Measures 43cm (H) x 48cm (W) x 12cm (D)

Weighs 950 grams

Physical Dimensions
Height
43cm (16.93")
Width
48cm (18.90")
Declaration

Folk and Fable Antiques has dated this Antique Folk Art Dog to the 1930s.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1239616
Description
A wonderfully eccentric English folk art toy dog dating to the early 20th century.
“
Handmade from a combination of wood, paper and what feels like thin very dry leather, it has a rather haunting character with its glass eyes, wired tail, wooden teeth and original metal wheels.
Folk and Fable Antiques

Faint remnants of fur remain, hinting at how the piece would once have appeared when fully covered. The articulated jaw is operated by an internal weighted mechanism and when the mouth is opened, one of the eyes pops out. The mechanism is a little temperamental, but it adds an extra layer of disturbing to already very disturbing looking dog.

fig 1. An early twentieth-century folk art dog head sculpture constructed from aged parchment leather with glass eyes and a movable mouth revealing painted teeth.
fig 1. Early 20th Century Haunting Folk Art Dog with Opening Mouth & Pop Out Eye

An evocative decorative object for those drawn to the curious and unconventional, certain to become a focal point and talking point within any interior.

A favourite find!

Condition is commensurate with age and heavy use. Structurally sound. Timeworn skin which is peeling in places, temperamental popping eye function, remnants of fur and a worn tail, all of which make it the haunting looking decorative piece we now love.

Measures 43cm (H) x 48cm (W) x 12cm (D)

Weighs 950 grams

Height
43cm (16.93")
Width
48cm (18.90")
Date of Manufacture

Folk and Fable Antiques has dated this Antique Folk Art Dog to the 1930s.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1239616
Folk and Fable Antiques
Folk and Fable Antiques
Sellingantiques verified Since Oct 2026
Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Folk and Fable Antiques Profile Page

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An early twentieth-century folk art dog head sculpture constructed from aged parchment leather with glass eyes and a movable mouth revealing painted teeth.
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Film
Film of Early 20th Century Haunting Folk Art Dog with Opening Mouth & Pop Out Eye
Archive I An early twentieth-century folk art dog head sculpture constructed from aged parchment leather with glass eyes and a movable mouth revealing painted teeth.

Early 20th Century Haunting Folk Art Dog with Opening Mouth & Pop Out Eye

Film
Archive II An early twentieth-century folk art dog head sculpture constructed from aged parchment leather with glass eyes and a movable mouth revealing painted teeth. View II
Archive III An early twentieth-century folk art dog head sculpture constructed from aged parchment leather with glass eyes and a movable mouth revealing painted teeth. View III
Archive IV An early twentieth-century folk art dog head sculpture constructed from aged parchment leather with glass eyes and a movable mouth revealing painted teeth. View IV
Archive V An early twentieth-century folk art dog head sculpture constructed from aged parchment leather with glass eyes and a movable mouth revealing painted teeth. View V
Archive VI An early twentieth-century folk art dog head sculpture constructed from aged parchment leather with glass eyes and a movable mouth revealing painted teeth. View VI
Archive VII An early twentieth-century folk art dog head sculpture constructed from aged parchment leather with glass eyes and a movable mouth revealing painted teeth. View VII
Archive VIII An early twentieth-century folk art dog head sculpture constructed from aged parchment leather with glass eyes and a movable mouth revealing painted teeth. View VIII
Archive IX An early twentieth-century folk art dog head sculpture constructed from aged parchment leather with glass eyes and a movable mouth revealing painted teeth. View IX
Archive X An early twentieth-century folk art dog head sculpture constructed from aged parchment leather with glass eyes and a movable mouth revealing painted teeth. View X
Archive XI An early twentieth-century folk art dog head sculpture constructed from aged parchment leather with glass eyes and a movable mouth revealing painted teeth. View XI
Enlarged Archival View
Folk and Fable Antiques

Folk and Fable Antiques
Telephone 07788216610
Location
United Kingdom
Dealer Profile Page sellingantiques.co.uk/folkandfable
Verified Since Oct 2026
Items For Sale 14
Folk and Fable Antiques
Folk and Fable Antiques
Verified Since Oct 2026
View Dealer Info
Location: United Kingdom
Profile: sellingantiques.co.uk/folkandfable
Verified
Oct 2026
For Sale
14
An early twentieth-century folk art dog head sculpture constructed from aged parchment leather with glass eyes and a movable mouth revealing painted teeth.
Early 20th Century Haunting Folk Art Dog With Opening Mouth & Pop Out Eye
Ref: SA1239616
An early twentieth-century folk art dog head sculpture constructed from aged parchment leather with glass eyes and a movable mouth revealing painted teeth.
Film of Early 20th Century Haunting Folk Art Dog with Opening Mouth & Pop Out Eye
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Archival Detail

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Cataloguer’s note

Written by Sellingantiques from the dealer’s photographs and listing
  • ObjectSculptures
  • Period1920 - 1940
  • StyleFolk Art
  • MaterialParchment, Leather, Glass, Wood
  • ColourAged Cream
  • MotifsArticulated mouth, Pop-out glass eyes, Hand-painted details
  • SizeH 43 cm (17 in) x W 48 cm (19 in)

This early 20th century folk art dog sculpture is handmade from wood, paper, and thin aged parchment leather in an aged cream colour. The piece displays glass eyes, hand-painted details including an articulated mouth revealing painted wooden teeth, and dark patches around the nose and mouth. Condition details visible in the sculpture include peeling timeworn skin, cracked black paint on the snout and mouth, exposed stitching, and traces of remaining fur. The sculpture measures 43 cm high by 48 cm wide and 12 cm deep. Positioned on a bookshelf within an unconventional interior, this eccentric sculpture serves as a striking decorative object and talking point. The tactile combination of materials and hand-finished elements offers a distinct aesthetic for collectors of unusual folk art and curiosities. Visitors to the home will immediately notice the characterful expression and mechanical features of the piece.

FAQs

Folk art figures from this era were typically handcrafted by individual makers outside formal artistic institutions. They are characterised by expressive, non-standard forms, hand-applied painted details, and inventive functional mechanisms such as articulated jaws or glass eyes.

Makers frequently constructed these items using moulded papier-mache, stretched leather or parchment skin, hand-carved wood elements, and inset glass or metal eyes fitted around internal wire or string mechanisms.

Authentic pieces demonstrate natural age-related surface wear, craquelure to painted areas, hand-stitched leather seams, and period-appropriate internal joinery rather than modern synthetic fasteners or adhesives.

These distinct objects serve well as conversational focal points when placed within a cabinet of curiosities, positioned on a library bookshelf, or arranged alongside dark timber furniture in a eclectic maximalist setting.

Keep the item in a climate-controlled environment away from direct sunlight, dampness, and heat sources to prevent cracking or warping. Dust gently with a soft dry brush and avoid applying liquid cleaners or harsh chemical preservatives.
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