Bretby England one eyed dog (Invalid?) Help?

[sagebomb]

Hello all.

Im trying to find out as much as I can about a ornimental dog that was given to my mum when she was young. I tried to find info on it about a year ago with next to no luck, and after our recent 7.1 quake (chch, nz) have looked at finding out more info about our various older items.

I have searched as deeply as I can on the net, but as someone who knows next to nothing about antiques the only thing I have been able to find was a similar piece (http://www.bonhams.com/cgi-bin/public.sh/WService=wslive_pub/pubweb/publicSite.r?sContinent=USA&screen=lotdetailsNoFlash&iSaleItemNo=2717736&iSaleNo=13421&iSaleSectionNo=1)

It has three stamps (as shown in the bottom picture), Bretby, Made in England and 2788.

Does anyone have any info on thie piece or can you direct me to where I could find more info.

I would like to know things like what year it was made and any history around it. We couldnt sell, but as the recent earthquake has shown it is worth knowing if certain things are worth insuring.

Thanks in advance for any help.

[wendy177]

 Hi sagebomb, Bretby Art Pottery had its era of fame between 1883 and 1918, more properly known as Tooth & Co. Ltd It all began when Henry Tooth became manager of the Linthorpe Pottery in Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire, in 1879.   Tooth launched Bretby Art Pottery, in partnership with William Ault, when he left Linthorpe.  This distinctive art pottery ceased after 1920, closing down after several break-ins and a fire in the museum. Bretby products almost always bear the impressed sunburst motif and the word ‘BRETBY’. From 1891 the word ‘ENGLAND’ is added and after 1900 ‘MADE IN ENGLAND’. This would place your piece between 1900 and 1920 &  they used glass eyes .

[hosman321]

Great info Wendy! Here's another. I agree with the link, the dog probably had to do with WWI. Maybe as a gift to an injured soldier? Does yours say, "After the battle" on it's back?
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/decarts/dali%20111.html

[sagebomb]

Thank you for the great info Wendy, thats a really cool piece of history to know about the dog (and maker).

Also thank you hoseman for that link. Yeah as I tried to show in the second and third picture after the battle appears on this right shoulder.

Is there any meaning to the number?

And has anyone else seen any around the net or in catalouges?

[D&b antiques]

Bretby's is listed in Millers Guide Books. primarly english antiques & collectibles compareing value's, would put your dog, in the $200.00 to $ 250.00 Dollar range.

[KC]

I would also like to interject here the history of the English Bull Dog. Originally it was of the Mastiff Breed with a little this/that and then greyhound.  Now, these puppies were not bred to be someone's pet...they were bred to be ferocious and fight known at that time as "Bull-Baiting" (the English bloody sport of dog fighting). The winning dogs were held in high esteem for the fights were EXTREMELY vicious, gut wrenching and deadly.  A famous story (see link below) of a dog that was blind, scarred and lame fought to the end (which I believe is the symbolism for this figurine).  Even masters would cut their dogs paws off and the dog would still attack the bull.  This was a wide spread pass time in England. In 1835 the "Cruelty to Animals Act" was passed which made dog fighting illegal and thus the decline in bull-baiting.  This itself led to the decline and eventual extinction of the pure strain of the Old English Bulldog.

Although illegal, dog fighting continued with breeders trying to create a "superior" dog that was faster and still as vicious (cross between Old English Bulldog and Old English Terrier) and this dog was known as the Bull and Terrier - which eventually evolved into the Bull Terrier and what we know today as the Pit Bull Terrier.

So the term "After The Battle" most likely refers to the Bull-Baiting of the time.  However, it was also adopted by many in England to represent England....small, compact, solid, vicious and most of all tenacious (Not readily letting go of, giving up, or separated from an object that one holds, a position, or a principle: "a tenacious grip" - Dictionary.com)

http://www.bulldoginformation.com/bull-baiting-2.html

[sagebomb]

Thanks D&b I cant see it on thier online catalouge but Ill see if I can find a hard copy. Thanks

Kc interesting interpretation thats quite cool (not the cruelty but the Idea). Thanks for that.

And still open to different peoples interpretations

[hosman321]

Wow KC, how horrendous. I can't believe I didn't think of dogfighting. I own two pit bulls, you would think it would have popped into my head. I really, really wish it would be symbolic of WWI. The thought of it being for dog fighting really makes me look at it differently.

[KC]

I had come across this once before...but hadn't seen the piece that was inquired about.

Interesting history of the English Bull Dog and how it became the unofficial mascot/trademark of England!

[sagebomb]

Come across but not seen? How does that work?

But yeah definitly interesting

[KC]

Came across the information/historical account in English history....but had not seen this particular item commemorating it -  is what I meant to write...but the fingers just didn't keep up with the brain cells!

[sagebomb]

Okay so what your saying is you are putting two and two togather, but your not 100% sure thats what the piece it?

We have an antique fair coming up in about another month which I will look at taking it to and seeing what they say. But Im not sure which sort of experts will be there so still looking for everything I can.

[KC]

??!!!!!!!!!!!

[sagebomb]

Im not challenging you mate, I am just looking for the full story.

[wendy177]

sagebomb, Try this site and see if you can contact them, They may have some archived information on your specific piece with a history of why & what it was made to represent. keep us posted  http://www.sharpes.org.uk/sdlhf.htm