Figurine, Medieval copper alloy figurine of a dog; body and legs of cast sheet, hollow underside, tail curving forwards, small head; small pierced hole in centre of back; one leg missing, surfaces pitted
Dogs in the medieval era performed many uses, from mastiffs acting as guard dogs to the spaniels needed for the popular sport of hawking. Some dogs were simply kept as pets, often depicted in paintings of the Court and in writings mentioning the common disruption their barking caused during church sermons. The dogs of the medieval era would, in many cases, be nearly unrecognisable today due to the selective breeding which has altered their appearance.
This copper alloy figurine consists of a cast sheet which was moulded to form the body and legs, giving the figurine a hollow underside. While one leg is missing, it is possible that the small pierced hole in the centre of the dog's back is intentional, as this has been found in other figurines of the period. While it is impossible to be sure, the dog breed depicted is possibly one of those now extinct which were popular in the middle ages, possibly a Talbot Hound, a Turnspit Dog, or a Lymer. Medieval depictions of these breeds often exhibit the small head and curved forwards tail displayed here.
