Staffordshire dog figurine
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Staffordshire dog figurines are matching pairs of pottery spaniel dogs, standing guard, which were habitually placed on mantelpieces in 19th-century homes. Mainly manufactured in Staffordshire pottery, these earthenware figures were also made in other English counties and in Scotland. They are also known as hearth spaniels or fireplace dogs as they were positioned on top of the mantelpiece.[1][2][3] Many other breeds were produced, particularly the greyhound, though the spaniels were especially popular and this is attributed to royalty favouring the King Charles Spaniel breed. In Scotland, they were colloquially termed Wally dugs[Note 1][4] and were manufactured in bulk at potteries in places such as Pollokshaws in Glasgow and Portobello near Edinburgh.[8][9][failed verification]
Though the most popular, the dogs were only one of many types of Staffordshire figures; other animals and human figures of various kinds were also popular.