Dog – Bulldog with Horseshoe Pen Rack

A three-footed base holds a bulldog’s head and a horseshoe supported on each side by cherubs. The bulldog, wearing a nicely detailed collar, has glass eyes which are wired to the interior. The dog’s head lifts to access the inkwell. Two little cherubs do some heavy lifting, holding up the horseshoe embedded with nails to hold pens.

The underside of the inkstand is impressed “A. & A. F. G. Jaccard”, referring to a distinguished family of jewelers and silversmiths who were prominent in St. Louis, Missouri, during the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Here is more information about the company:

• Family and Founders: The Jaccard family were Swiss immigrants who brought their expertise in watchmaking and jewelry to the United States. They established multiple successful firms in St. Louis. The name “A. & A. F. G. Jaccard,” is one of the specific iterations of their business. Other related firms included Louis Jaccard & Co., E. Jaccard & Co., and most famously, Mermod, Jaccard & Co.
• Business and Reputation: The various Jaccard firms were known for their high-end, luxury goods, which included not only jewelry and watches but also fine silverware, sterling silver, and decorative objets d’art. Their name was a hallmark of quality and sophistication.
• The Mark’s Significance: A mark like this on the bottom of an item typically indicates that Jaccard & Co. was the retailer, not the manufacturer. It was a common practice for high-end luxury retailers to commission works from various foundries and workshops, both domestic and European, and then stamp the finished product with their own prestigious name. This mark served as a guarantee of the item’s quality, design, and authenticity.