Standing poodle

Art Historical Context

Standing Poodle, crafted by the United States Pottery between 1849 and 1858, is a charming earthenware figurine capturing the elegance of a poised poodle measuring 8½ x 9½ inches. Produced during a burgeoning era of American industrial pottery, this piece exemplifies the mid-th-century fascination with decorative animal sculptures, often placed on mantelpieces or shelves to adorn Victorian homes. Earthenware, fired at lower temperatures than porcelain, allowed for affordable, mass-produced ceramics with vibrant glazes and accessible designs—key to the company's output. This medium's rustic durability made it ideal for everyday decorative arts, reflecting America's growing manufacturing prowess post-Industrial Revolution. Housed in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's American Wing, the figurine highlights the cultural adoration for dogs, particularly stylish poodles, as beloved pets and symbols of refinement in antebellum society. A delightful snapshot of everyday American artistry, it invites visitors to appreciate the whimsy woven into domestic life.