Dash: Royal Inspiration

We are fascinated by Staffordshire spaniels and so did a little digging into the history of these sweet objects and loved what we found out about them…  

It all started with Queen Victoria…  She became heir to the throne at the age of 11 as the niece of the childless King William IV. Because of this she had a uniquely lonely childhood. Largely isolated from other children, her closest companion was Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named Dash. Dash was so important to Victoria that following her coronation on June 18th, 1838, she rushed back to Buckingham Palace to give him his usual bath.

Queen Victoria was inconsolable when Dash died in 1840 and he was buried with full honors at Adelaide Cottage in Home Park, Windsor (the private park on the grounds of Windsor Castle). A marble effigy over his grave has the following inscription:

"Here lies DASH. The favourite spaniel of Her Majesty Queen Victoria. In his 10th year. His attachment was without selfishness. His playfulness without malice. His fidelity without deceit. READER If you would be beloved and die regretted profit by the example of DASH."

The public were aware of Dash because of several famous portraits. The most famous was Sir Edwin Landseer’s 1838 portrait of royal pets, publicly exhibited at the Royal Academy, in which Dash is regally seated surrounded by the greyhound Nero, Hector the Scottish deerhound and Lory the parrot. The relaxed positioning gives the portrait a sense of intimacy and shows how these pets were an integral part of the royal family.

Staffordshire potters recognized a major commercial opportunity. They realized the power of celebrity association from the ultimate celebrity of the age – Queen Victoria (one of the first influencers!). From the 1840s onwards most Staffordshire pottery dogs were therefore pairs of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. This gave people of all social classes the ability to have a small symbol of royal stardust to adorn their mantelpieces. Their popularity has endured because the simple designs, sweet facial expressions and resting poses provide a sense of comfort while the symmetry of the pairs gives a feeling of harmony. Staffordshire spaniels stand as a reminder of constant companionship.  How absolutely lovely is that?