Dog
late 19th–early 20th century
Medium
Soft-paste porcelain
Dimensions
Overall: 2 5/8 × 2 in. (6.7 × 5.1 cm)
Classification
Ceramics-Porcelain
Culture
British, Chelsea
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Irwin Untermyer, 1964
Accession Number
64.101.527a, b
Tags
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Sculpture and Decorative Arts, this petite porcelain figurine titled *Dog* captures the whimsical charm of British craftsmanship from the Chelsea Porcelain Manufactory the late 19th to early 20th century Measuring just 2 5/8 × 2 inches (6.7 × 5.1 cm), the soft-paste porcelain sculpture depicts a loyal canine companion, a popular motif in Victorian-era decorative objects that reflected growing affection for pets among the middle and upper classes. Chelsea Porcelain, rooted in Britain's 18th-century quest to rival Chinese hard-paste imports, perfected...
About the Artist
Chelsea Porcelain Manufactory · 1744–1784
**Chelsea Porcelain Manufactory** The Chelsea Porcelain Manufactory, Britain's pioneering porcelain enterprise, was founded around 1743 in Chelsea, London, by two Huguenot silversmiths: Nicholas Sprimont from Liège and Charles Gouyn. Sprimont, trained in Paris as a goldsmith before immigrating to England, brought his expertise in luxury metalwork to the venture, while Gouyn handled early sales th...