The Dalmatian and the Donkey

I do not have many 'outdoor' dog photographs in my collection and this one is particularly special. Here we have a Dalmatian sitting patiently on the back of a Donkey in the middle of a street in Angoulême, southwestern France.

The Dalmatian wears a deep studded leather collar which reminds me of the type of collar which is now fashionable for Lurchers and Greyhounds. The Dalmatian's ears are closely cropped, this practice was popular at the start of the 19th century. Ear Cropping was banned in England in 1899, but not in France until 1st of January 2010 so it is not surprising to find this photographic example of a cropped eared french Dalmatian.

1804 Engraving of a cropped eared Dalmatian by J. Scott

You can see how the photographer Henry Billard kept his subjects entertained during the photograph's exposure; the little girl holds a tray of food for the Donkey, which also keeps a just visible second Dalmatian standing still.

Robert Leighton writes in Dogs and All About Them in 1910 about the Dalmatian & Equine relationship:

[Originally] the Dalmatian was known as the Coach Dog, a name appropriately derived from his fondness for following a carriage, for living in and about the stable, and for accompanying his master's horses at exercise. He appears almost to prefer equine to human companionship, and he is as fond of being among horses as the Collie is of being in the midst of sheep.

It is no wonder the Dalmatian is so at ease with the Donkey. I have found some other examples of photographs taken by Henry Billard in 1893 of the market at Angoulême which also feature Donkeys, you can see them here.

 The reverse of the photograph showing the photographers details

Sources:

• Dogs And All About Them, Robert Leighton, 1910
• Wikipedia entry on Angoulême
• Wikipedia entry on Animal Cropping
• Examples of photographs by Henry Billard

The Spaniels and the Siblings

In this photograph we have two siblings, so similar in appearance and age I have considered that they might be twins. With them they have the family dogs, a Springer type spaniel and a Cocker spaniel type puppy. The studio props are somewhat usual as a fake tree and naturalistic wooden benches are used to give an outdoor appearance, whilst the props and subjects stand on a patterned carpet.

The larger older dog has done a good job posing and looking straight at the camera.

Where as the young pup seems to be concentrating on something off to the right hand side.

The photographer is Max Erler, he operated his "Sunbeam Gallery" at 1216 S. Adams Street in Peoria, Illinois between 1883 and 1898. The style of the photograph's mount with its elaborate lettering and fancy imprint on the reverse would date this image to the latter part of this time period.

A Short Family history of Max Erler

Max's father Michael Erler was born in the city of Reichstadt, Germany, June 23, 1829. From the age of 14 to 19 Michael he was apprenticed to learn the trade of a watchmaker, a skill which he put to good use when he arrived in Amercia on 1st of August, 1848. After two years Michael was able to set up his own business as a watchmaker which proved very successful. Michael was described thus "he is a man of earnest, strong character and intelligent mind, and his honesty and unswerving integrity in all the transactions of life have gained him a high place in the regard of all who know or associate with him."

Michael married in June, 1850, to Laura Lehne, whose parents were early pioneers in America, and were also natives of Germany. Michael and Laura had seven children together including Max who was born on 16th of February 1856.

Max married Jennie E. Harris on 28th of June 1883. He remained is listed as a photographer in US census records and city directories up until 1920, during this time he became one of Peoria's finest portrait photographers and was well known as a wedding photographer.

 

Max Erler in the Peoria, Illinois, City Directory, 1890.

Source Information:

Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989 [database on-line]

Sources:

• Portrait and Biographical Album of Peoria County (1890) - transcribed online here 
• Erler on Langdon's list of 19th & 20th Century photographers
• Max Erler's grave information on Find a Grave
• List of Peoria County Photographers 1862-1899
• Max Erler in Illinois, Marriages, 1851-1900

Billy the Setter from Boston

Here we have a Setter with a beautiful shiny coat photographed whilst lying on an patterned rug. The photograph was taken by William Shaw Warren who was one of the most prolific photographers of the carte-de-visite era. This particular photograph was taken at Warren's studio on 41 Winter Street, Boston, c1880's

 

Antique Postcard of Winter Street, Boston

On the reverse of the photograph it has been at two points in its existence been annotated. Once to note "Our dog Billy" and then a second time to note "annies dog".

Edward Jesse wrote of the setter in 1858:

The old English setter, was originally derived from a cross between the Spanish Pointer and the large Water Spaniel, and was justly celebrated for his fine scent. He is more attractive than the pointer, but has not so much patient steadiness.


Sources:

• W. Shaw Warren in the list of America's most productive Photographers
• W. Shaw Warren in Langdon Road's list of 19th and 20th Century Photographers
• W. Shaw Warren in the 1850 United States Federal Census
• Ancedotes of Dogs, Edward Jesse 1858

The Dachshund with the Big Family

This photograph of a Dachshund with his very large family was taken by Gebrüder Brändlein in Schweinfurt, Germany. Schweinfurt literally translates as "swine ford" - there is an ancient story about pigs crossing the once shallow Main River, on the bank of which Schweinfurt would eventually be built.

The photograph is a great example of how scanning an old photograph can provide a fresh perspective on and image, and show you things you would perhaps never have seen with the naked eye. Allow me to demonstrate...

The mother in the image is carefully working on her knitting.

The Dachshund and one of the little girls are framed by two figurines, one of a cat and one of a little girl in a bonnet with a basket.

This little girl holds a favourite curly-haired doll.

Not only can we take a closer look at the relationship between mother and daughter, but we can see the mother wears a brooch with a winged-cupid holding a lute.

Sources:

• Other examples of Gebrüder Brändlein photographs in Lexikon der Fotografen
• How did Schweinfurt get its name?

The Little Boy Who Loves His Dog

What makes this portrait so charming is the mutual love between boy his Manchester Terrier. The pose is very natural and relaxed. This is due in part to advances in photographic technology in the 1880s which reduced exposure times needed for indoor portraits from minutes to just a few seconds.

This photograph was taken by Edward Lyddell Sawyer. Born in 1856 Lyddell was the son of Henry Sawyer, portrait painter & photographer (1830 - 1896). Aged 15 he began working in his father's Newcastle Studio before establishing a photographic business of his own, also in Newcastle, in  mid-1885.

In 1895 Lyddell moved to London and opened another studio in Regent Street. In his spare time he began to experiment with taking landscape pictures in a naturalistic style. During this time Lyddell gained some eminent friends in the photography world including Whitby photographer Frank Meadow Sutcliffe and Henry Peach Robinson.

 

View of Newcastle c1890 by Lyddell Sawyer

Lyddell was a member of the Photographic Society (later The Royal Photographic Society) from 1881. However in 1895 he became a member of the Brotherhood of the Linked Ring (founded by Henry Peach Robinson in 1892). The Brotherhood sought to break away from the Photographic Society, who they believed did not understand "the photographic art", and saw photography as more of a science.

The Brotherhood had some what of a mystical hierarchy, and every member, or "link" chose for themselves a pseudonym. Lyddell was known as "Sheriff". The Brotherhood represented themselves with a logo of three interlinked rings, which were meant in part to represent the Masonic beliefs of Good, True, and Beautiful.

As much as he saw himself as an artist Lyddell was commercially aware. He was one of the first photographers to see the potential to make money by publishing some of his photographs as picture postcards. He began doing this around 1902, using photographs that had often been taken years previously.

 

1903 postcard featuring Lyddell Sawyer's photograph Summer Time

The photograph featured in this article is from the personal collection of D.Hockley. You can look forward to more Manchester & Black and Tan Terrier photographs from his collection appearing on Antique Dog photographs over the coming weeks.

Sources:

• Old North East Photographs Show a Forgotten Way of Life, North East Life 
• Creative Photography: Aesthetic Trends, 1839-1960 by Helmut Gernsheim 
• Edward Lyddell Sawyer in the Directory of London Photographers 
•  1903 postcard with image by Lyddell Sawyer 
• The Linked Ring on Wikipedia   
• Lyddell Sawyer in Sun Artists, No. 4 , 1891

Little and Large

What a pair these two dogs make! It is unclear whether this St Bernard was photographed next to this little West Highland White terrier puppy, because they belonged to the same owner, or simply because when paired together they made an interesting subject.

The photographers of this image were William Henry Wheeler and George P. Day of 106 High Street, Oxford, England.

In 1865 Wheeler and Day purchased the photographic business of Edward Bracher which resided at 26 High Street and moved it to 106 High Street. In Jackson's Oxford Journal for 28th of October 1865, Wheeler and Day advertise their new "large and commodious Photographic Gallery".

There is an engraving of the shop on the reverse of the photograph.

 

In 1871 Wheeler and Day separated as business partners, but Willian Henry Wheeler continued the business at the same premises. A very similar engraving as on the back of the CDV appears on Wheelers bill-head c1872, shown below.  Taking into account this information we can date "Little and Large" to between 1865 and 1871.

Reproduced by permission of Oxfordshire County Council, Reference Number: HT14020

A short Family History for William Henry Wheeler, born about 1831

Here is Wheeler in the 1871 census, listed as a Bookseller. Business much have been thriving as he is listed as "employing 4 men, 2 apprentices and 2 boys". At this time William and his wife Ellen, also employed two servants (one who was aged just 13) who would have cared for their then two year old daughter Frances, and 5 month old daughter Lucy. (Click on the image for a larger view)

Source Information: Census Returns of England and Wales, 1871. Kew, Surrey, England

By 1891 Henry and Ellen had had another four children together (two son's and two daughters), they had also increased their household staff to six servants and one waiter. Their daughter Frances was also now working as an assistant to her father at 106 High Street. (Click on the image for a larger view)

Source Information: Census Returns of England and Wales, 1891. Kew, Surrey, England

William continued to work until his death aged 87 in 1918 and the business was closed shorty after.

 Source Information: Principal Probate Registry. Calendar of the Grants of Probate and Letters of Administration made in the Probate Registries of the High Court of Justice in England. London, England © Crown copyright.

106 High Street is now the Oxford University Bookshop, and the shop front has changed little since Wheeler & Day set up business there 148 years ago as you can see in the image below.

Sources:

• The history of 106 High Street from Oxfordshire History
• List of photographers of The High, Oxford
• Trick photograph of a headless man by William Henry Wheeler, c1875 
• The Oxford University shop website

The Much Loved Pug

The plain studio backdrop in this image highlights the subjects in the foreground, and their close relationship. This well dressed, fur-clad lady has a clear affection for her pug, who himself is so contented, he has his eyes closed as she holds him. As smartly dressed as his owner, the Pug wears a studded leather collar with a little bell.

Author Robert Leighton said in 1910 "What ever may have been the history of the Pug as regards its nativity, it had not long been introduced into England before it became a popular pet, and it shared with the King Charles Spaniel the affection of the great ladies of the lands. Queen Victoria possessed one of which she was very proud."

The photograph was taken at No. 19 Hill Street, Richmond, London by Byrne & Co.

Here is a postcard of Hill Street c1880-1900, looking very closely at the multitude of street signs and business placards, amazingly I was able to find a sign for the Byrne & Co. Studio and their "Electric Light Studio".

Click Here for more Pug related articles from this website.

Sources:

• W. J. Byrne & Co. in the The Royal Commonwealth Society Photograph Collection
• Number 19 Hill Street in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, Local History and Heritage archive
• Postcard of Hill Street, Richmond from pepandtim on Flickr
• Portrait of Queen Mary by Byrne & Co. in the National Trust Collection
• A selection of portraits including Queen Victoria by Byrne & Co. in the National Portrait Gallery
• Dogs and All About Them, Robert Leighton, 1910