1890? Two two-piece brass buttons, 9/16" in diameter, picturing " The Dog Who Carried His Master's Dinner." $12 from Joni Goldbarg through Ebay, April, '99, and a gift of Robin Larner, Rochester, NY, May, '99.
This is perhaps the simplest of the buttons I have found. Until the Goldbarg offer, I did not know that this scene found its way onto a button. Almost the full top half of the button's circle is simple darkness. In addition to the dog and the lunch, there is only the raised ground beneath the animal. The button seems to have been constructed of the scene proper and a standard brass backing with a self-shank. BBB Plate 154 #29. In the Larner exemplar, this scene is, as BBB describes, "all tinted in red" (379).
1970? One valentine proclaiming "I'm not a dog in a manger but I want you for myself alone. Valentine." Made in U.S.A. $2.95 from Trish Rucker at Birdhouse Books, Decatur, GA, through eBay, Jan., '18.
I am delighted to find a good ol' time Valentine! I am surprised that the receiver is supposed to be able to recognize the Aesopic allusion. I do not think that "The Dog in the Manger" is a well known fable these days. So when was it well known?
1930? 7" white plate from Sarreguemines, France. Inside a 1.5" rim there is a representation of Grandville's "The Dog Carrying His Master's Dinner." The front carries two inscriptions: "Fables de la Fontaine" and "10. Le Chien Qui Porte a Son Cou le Diner de Son Maitre." The back has a "Digoin" stamp.
The attack of others against this dog is clear, as the illustration presents a close grouping of three figures. A dog behind the porter-dog grasps him with his paws. A dark fierce dog stands in his way. the basket around the porter-dog's neck is a focus of attention.
2012? Painted Mirror Showing DS. 12" in diameter. Creative work for a fable course at Creighton University by Laura Hund, April, '12.
Laura does well with the meet hanging from the dog's mouth. Students produce surprising art renditions of fables!
1920? Hand-painted bowl 8" in diameter and 1¼" deep. Title "The Dog & The Shadow" above the hand-painted colored illustration, and "People Who Try To Get What Belongs To/Others Often Lose More Than They Gain" below. Gold trim around the inside and outside edges of the top ring. Aesop's Fables Series. Royal Winton, Grimwades. Made in England. $35 from Col. Kirk's Auction Gallery, Millville, PA through Ebay, August, '99.
Magnificent color work! The red piece of meat is just about to hit the water. Some of the lettering seems to be breaking up, but I see no loss in the picture.
1930? 7" white plate from Sarreguemines, France. Inside a 1.5" rim there is a rendition of J.J. Grandville's "Le Chien Qui Porte a Son Cou le Diner de Son Maitre." The front carries two inscriptions: "Fables de la Fontaine" and the title. The back has "Fables de la Fontaine" and "Digoin, Sarreguemines, France." $23 from Mary Ellen Kennedy, Larchmont, NY, Feb., '00. One extra exemplar.
As always with Grandville, some of the fun lies in the clothes with which these three dogs are done up. Now I start to ask myself how many plates there are in the set….
