| Object ID |
1986.350 (a,b) |
| Object Name |
Statue |
| Dimensions |
H-2.5 L-4 feet |
| Early Date |
1830 |
| Late Date |
1840 |
| Made By |
Gray Foundry |
| Description |
Two life-size, cast-iron Dalmatian dogs stood for 50 years on the lawn at 318 South Street in Bennington, Vt., the home of Dr. and Mrs. Peleg Matteson, parents of the donor.
According to family tradition, the dogs were cast at a foundry built in 1828 in Poultney, Vt. on an industrial site which had been established in 1811. In 1829, fire destroyed all but the foundry which went on to become well-known for the production of fine patented, cast-iron stoves. In 1844, the foundry was purchased by Henry J. Ruggles whose family operated it until 1900, after which it was known as the Gray Iron Works, recognized for the production of slate sawing and planing machines. In the early 1960's the Foundry closed its doors due to foreign competition and environmental controls, and today the buildings no longer exist.
Dogs such as these Dalmatians became popular in the mid-19th century when the use of stags, floral forms, dogs and other animals were widely used as decorative forms in response to America's desire to emulate British taste. Foundries in Europe as well as in America responded to this increased demand and decorative pieces were produced in great variety and number to adorn formal gardens and lawns. Dalmatians, long known as "Coach Dogs" were adopted by American firemen as their mascot explaining why they are known today as Firehouse Dogs.
Despite family tradition, current scholarship suggests these dogs date more accurately from the end of the 19th century and, at present, there is no way of determining where the dogs were cast
|
| Credit |
Gift of Robert J. M. Matteson |
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