A Victorian cast-iron and gilt dog umbrella stand Late 19th century – English

A charming Victorian cast-iron umbrella and stick stand, modelled with a seated sporting dog beneath a naturalistically formed tree, the dog and tree picked out in gilt against the contrasting black-painted iron.

The dog is finely modelled, seated attentively beside the trunk of an oak tree, its branches extending to form the supports for the elongated rustic stick and umbrella retainers. The tree is enriched with clusters of boldly modelled oak leaves, the combination of the faithful hound and oak providing an appealing Victorian sporting and country-house character.

The whole is raised upon a shaped semicircular base incorporating the removable drip tray, cast with further naturalistic foliage and ornament and prominently inscribed ‘CAVE CANEM’  (beware the dog) to the front.

The use of contrasting black and gilt decoration greatly enhances the sculptural quality of the design, particularly the silhouette of the dog against the tree and the naturalistic branch-form umbrella supports.

Umbrella and hall stands of this type were a feature of the increasingly elaborate Victorian entrance hall, combining a practical function with the period’s enthusiasm for sporting subjects, naturalistic ornament and novelty cast-iron furniture.

An especially attractive and unusual example, retaining considerable decorative presence as both a functional hall stand and a piece of Victorian animal sculpture.

H 74  x  W 36  x  D 18cm