Cavalier King Charles Spaniels Article

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Breese's Basics

STAFFORDSHIRE was the centre of British pottery from the late- 1600s and developed partly because of the endless supplies of clay, coal and salt used in the production of ceramics. The spaniels started to appear in the 1840s and have a special royal connection - it was Queen Victoria that brought the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel into fashion.

How Much Did You Say?

NO pair of dogs will ever cost the Earth as these studies were originally mass produced. A good pair of mid-19th Century spaniels will set you back at around pounds 400. I have seen a rare pair of 1860 King Charles Spaniels with their tongues sticking out up for sale at around pounds 1,800. Any depicting Queen Victoria's dogs playing with her children can cost several thousand pounds at auction.

The Real Deal

THERE are quite a few different spaniel types and size. The earlier pieces have a naive feel to the painting and the actual feel of the dogs is different compared to later pieces or the many reproductions which currently abound. It's worth knowing that Staffordshire Dalmatians (usually in a recumbent position on a blue base) are worth far more than spaniels of the same era. Lastly there is nothing better than a fine, small selection on display - the spaniels look great grouped together.