Lady Sheffield This life sized dummy board based on the picture painted by Thomas Gainsborough ( 1727-1788), in 1785 of Sophia Charlotte, Lady Sheffield when she was just 18, was sold into in private collection in the U.S.A. in 1985, from a museum collection. It was common practice for dummy board artists to insert the face of the patron or his wife or children, into existing historical costumes depicted on famous paintings and many boards of this kind were made in the late Georgian era and into the 19th century. Some of them are really exceptional as is this very decorative and beautifully rendered portrait of a lady of whom we know absolutely nothing, except that she is modelled on a very elegant Gainsborough portrait now in the Rothschild collection. The Shrewsbury Pug One of the most popular dummy board dogs, the pug was very commonly seen in the 19th century and became fashionable after Queen Victoria was given one as a present. They were often painted as the pampered lap dog, sitting on a cushion but this mid 19th century figure is probably based on an earlier painting as he is a standing dummy board and displays the characteristics which were beginning to be ‘bred out’ of the pug at this time, namely the longer legs and more pronounced snout. Made on one board of pitch pine this little fellow is just over a foot in height and is in a private collection belonging to an antiques dealer in the U.K. Dogs are commonly the most sought after dummy board figures and fetch a relatively high price at auction today despite their small size,as they are easily accommodated in the modern home. If you would like to purchase an item, or if you have a question, please contact Susanne. Lady Sheffield size 5 x 3 inches (130x80mm) £190.00 The Shrewsbury Pug 1 inch (25mm) £35.00 |
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Lady Sheffield and Shrewsbury Pug