Where did these dogs sit?

Victorian households traditionally placed a pair of these ceramic spaniels on the mantelpiece, facing each other to guard the hearth. This symmetrical arrangement became a staple of interior decoration in nineteenth-century parlours and sitting rooms.

Are all the pairs matched?

Most listings comprise a left- and right-facing pair designed to mirror one another symmetrically upon a shelf. Some collections group four individual figures together, reflecting variations in the original production batches.

What colours do they come in?

Traditional palettes include plain white, black and white, and red and white, often complemented by gold leaf or copper lustre. These variations stem from the hand-painted enamels applied by Staffordshire potters after the initial glaze firing.