19th Century Cast Bronze Pug Dog on Marble

This is truly fine bronze of a long tail pug. The pug is in an upright laying pose seated on a stepped two colour marble base, the upper step being a Sienna marble and the lower step we think is Crema Marfil, both are of French origin and the bronze is also in the French vein of the early 19th century.

The dog is a form of the breed depicted in eighteenth century prints, longer and leaner than the modern dog. We date this around 1820. There are signs of the dog's collar having been part-guilded,it is modelled as a period metal collar, the design being fashionable in the 18th and early 19th century.

The condition of the bronze is excellent, the base/plinth is definitely old marble, the colour and patina along with age wear is commensurate with the early 19th century, it has been suggested it could be earlier, but we believe it is more likely of the empire period. There is evidence that the collar and base were joined by a chain at some time.

Size: The maximum size of the plinth is 3 3/4 inches by 2 3/4 inches by 7/8th inches high. The dog has a front paws to tail length of 2 3/4 inches and base to top of head 1 5/8th inches.