A Wonderful Painted c.1940 Papier Mâché Model of a Jack Russell Terrier

Origin: British
Period: Early/Mid Twentieth Century
Provenance: Unknown
Date: c.1930-50
Height: 12.5 inches
Width: 5.5 inches
Length: 14 inches (all at maximum)

The near life size hand painted model of a Jack Russell terrier dog in lifelike pigments surviving from the second quarter of the twentieth century.

Remaining in good overall condition, the piece doesn’t suffer from any rotting or spoiling. There are two old repairs to two of the legs, so thre are two hairline cracks, visible on close inspection. He stands soundly.

Papier mâché became an industry in England in 1772 when Henry Clay of Birmingham took out a patent for its making and as a result produced the inexpensive plastic of its time, easily be molded into desired shapes. As indicated by its name, it was mashed or pulped paper, which was first, molded, then baked, to drive off the moisture that had reduced it to pulp. When it became firm and hard it was finished with an enamel-like coat of paint and was then ready for a wide variety of decorative treatment. This little chap would have been crafted by a keen amateur and has endured well since, with very few like this of any age surviving.

A very desirable little decorative dog that is, in all honesty, a breeze to look after, with no poop scoop supplied, or indeed required.