Where were pair of spaniel figurines displayed?

These figures sat traditionally on either end of a domestic mantelpiece above a fireplace. They faced inward toward the centre of the hearth. Victorian households used them to decorate sitting rooms, often placing them where visitors would immediately notice them upon entering.

What materials were used for spaniel figurines?

Makers primarily used earthenware and ceramic, finished with lead glaze and hand-painted enamel decoration. Some pieces incorporate gilt details or copper lustre. Later Edwardian versions occasionally utilised plaster, particularly when the objects served a dual purpose as heavy doorstops.

Are all Staffordshire dogs spaniels?

The category includes various breeds alongside spaniels, such as poodles with pups, Maltese terriers, and pugs. Potters modelled whichever popular lapdogs suited domestic tastes of the period. Most share the same seated posture and Staffordshire earthenware construction regardless of the specific breed represented.