Staffordshire Pottery Spaniel Quill Holder

This Victorian-era Staffordshire spaniel dates from the mid-19th century (circa 1850–1875).

• Recumbent spaniel: A dog, modeled as a King Charles Spaniel, with russet (reddish-brown) markings and a characteristic downturned red mouth.
• Base: The dog rests on a shaped, oval green cushion with painted pink or gilt (gold) fringe or tassels.
• Function: It is a quill or pen holder. The function is indicated by the single aperture. This hole is specifically designed to hold a pen or quill upright when not in use.

Quill Holder vs. Inkwell

The difference between a quill holder and an inkwell is their function on a writing desk:

Ink Use and Mechanism

This piece would not have been filled with ink and is not designed to function as an inkwell, though these are often sold as inkwells.

• The single, small hole on the spaniel’s cushion is too shallow and too high for a pen nib to reach and collect ink from a large internal reservoir. More importantly, it lacks a lid to prevent evaporation or a wide opening for easy filling, both of which are essential features of an inkwell.
• The hole is merely a stable slot for the pen’s shaft. The writer would have used a separate, dedicated inkwell and then placed the pen in the holder between writing sessions.

The confusion sometimes arises because inkstands (or standishes) were complex desk trays that often integrated an inkwell, a sand-shaker (pounce pot), and quill holders into a single large unit. Figurines like this one could be sold separately or as a component of a larger writing set.

Staffordshire Dogs, colloquially known as Comforters, were popular ceramic animal ornaments produced by Staffordshire potters in England starting in mid-19th century and often depicting Spaniels and other popular breeds such as Poodles, Greyhounds/Whippets, and Dalmatians. After Queen Victoria married Prince Albert in 1840, the family grew to include several dogs, but none were more popular than her favorite pet and constant companion, Dash, a King Charles Spaniel. This sparked a love for this breed. Early production Victorian Staffordshire dogs (1840s-1860s) are distinct from later productions (1870s-turn of the century) primarily in manufacturing techniques, quality of decoration, and overall craftsmanship. The transition from more rustic handmade pieces to factory produced models marks the most significant differences.