In the 18th and 19th century every house had a fireplace, and therefore a mantlepiece, and in the grander houses, several mantlepieces. These, along with shelves and cabinets, would be decorated with all manner of things from clocks, candlesticks, photograph frames and pottery and brass ornaments.
 
Hundreds of pottery factories were set up in Staffordshire during the Victorian period, many of them producing crude colourful figures, sold to decorate the more humble households. In a dark cottage in winter they must have seemed so bright and joyful, their colours brightening any room they were displayed, from the kitchen to the bed chamber.
 
This is a pair of Staffordshire pottery dogs, popular in the Victorian period especially in country cottages. This pair of dogs would have been the prize possession of a humble family and would have taken pride of place on a mantlepiece.
 
There iis a small chip on the foot of one dog and some rubbing to the paintwork which is very common on this type of pottery.