This is a very fine pair of extra large russet Staffordshire spaniels.
They would have sat on the mantlepiece or fireside of a rustic Victorian cottage.
They are in excellent condition with no restorations.
Nice larger size: each dog is 13 inches in height. They are each 9 1/2 inches wide and with a depth of 4 3/4 inches.
These dogs belonged to the celebrated collector, Iris Fox. After her death, a lot of her collection of Scottish ceramics was left to the National Museum of Scotland, and to the Newport Museum and Art Gallery.
(There is a history of the life and collection of Mrs Fox online if you google Fox Collection Newport Museum)
The remainder of her collection was sold at auction by Sotheby's (Edinburgh Sale), 7 - 8 November 1994,
These dogs were sold as Lot 892 in this sale - and the auction lot sticker is still on the base of one of the dogs.
Given their interesting provenance, unusual shape and beautiful colouring and fine modelling - these are a little more expensive than more routine dogs - but they are listed at a fair price.