German Figural 9 ½" Affenpinsher Dog Vase Bisque Porcelain c 1887 to 1920

This is a German bisque (unglazed) porcelain Affenpinsher dog holding a vase. Yes, the Affenpinsher dog is typically black, but this dog is white because it is unglazed white porcelain. The age is circa 1887 to 1920.

The dog is about 9 1/2” high, about 5 ½” from the tail to the lower tip of the paw, and about 3 ¾” from side-to-side.

The Affenpinsher is also known as the monkey face dog, because of the quizzical face, and is part of the Schnauzer family of dogs. The dog is similar to a terrier in appearance.

The dog is sitting on his haunches with his tail curled up along his lower back. He is holding a yellow egg shaped vase, which can be used to hold flowers or to hold pocket change for on top of a night stand. Around his neck, as part of the mold, is a collar colored in gold. His nose is colored gray, and the end of his snout is a blush pink. The eyes are a pink-orange and black. The fur is part of the mold and waves over his body.

Bisque porcelain, because of the nature of it being unglazed, will get separation cracks in the porcelain as it ages. There are small separation cracks on this piece too. There is an area of small radiating cracks that have turned brown from age under and around the dog’s upper left leg, along the body. I show a close-up photo. A repair of this area may have been attempted at one time. Other tiny cracks are visible on the top of the head, on the fur on the sides of the head, behind the ears, and on the underside. I show close-ups of a few of the areas. The flaws are normal for bisque porcelain of this age, because as the years go by and the piece is exposed to temperature and humidity fluctuations, the porcelain will expand and contract, which eventually results in the tiny separation cracks.

The inside of the egg shaped vase is stained from use, with a brown line part way down that may be an old water line. The rim of the vase is rough to the touch, discolored, and missing most of the original color.

An unusual feature of this dog is that there is one or more coins rattling around inside. Either the coins were placed inside at the time of manufacture, or if the upper leg was repaired the coins were inserted at that time. There are no openings to insert coins.

The underside shows a blue mark of the words Made in Germany inside a double circle. There is the impressed number 38.

An air hole is drilled into the underside.

Item ID: RL-244