Pug Dog (One of a Pair)

Description

Meissen pugs were the inspiration for similar dogs made by many English ceramic manufacturers in the mid 18th century. Examples were made in salt glazed stoneware in Staffordshire, but Longton Hall designers may have been looking at porcelain pugs made at Chelsea and Bow, which are also seated on tasseled cushions. The Longton Hall pair suggests that the undecorated Bow pug may have originally had a companion as well. Undecorated Longton Hall pugs survive along with decorated examples like these. Pugs were introduced during the early “snowman” period at Longton Hall, and were made throughout the history of the firm.