Rare Early Minton Porcelain Blanc De Chine Figure Of A Gun Dog c.1830

A very fine and rare porcelain model of a dog, standing on a shaped, naturalistic, rocky base Produced by Minton, c.1830-40. Left predominantly in the white with some careful enamelling to the face and proudly wearing a gilded collar. The foot of the base is also rimmed with gilt and light gilt highlights dot the surface of the base. Superbly modelled, even with individual teeth and the inside of the mouth shaped realistically as well as the musculature and fur. The base is closed with a central open hole. This particular figure is illustrated and documented in "Dogs In English Porcelain Of The 19th Century" by Dennis G. Rice, colour plate 210, and pages 136 and 137. Documented as a Newfoundland by Minton, but it looks like nothing of the sort, bearing much greater resemblance to a number of gundog type breeds such as various Pointers or Tollers (Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever).