Dogs Through The Ages: A Creative History Of A Faithful Human Companion

The pursuing images are from Museum of Dogs: A Romp Through Art History for Dog People by Jessica Poundstone.

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Three Young Dogs
Attributed to Nakamura Hôchû, Japanese, 1826, colour woodcut

If each nan small Pokémon characters looked for illustration these three, I would beryllium truthful into it. Alas.

These portly puppies are portion of a book published successful 1826, astir apt by an creator named Nakamura Hôchû. It contains twenty-six prints successful which Nakamura revived a method of coating called mokkotsu, which intends “boneless.” Yaaaaas.

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Sketch of a Dog
Egyptian, 1295–1070 BC, limestone

Egyptians utilized chips of limestone pinch animal images for illustration this 1 arsenic illustrations erstwhile they told stories and jokes. This pup was decidedly up to thing highly suspicious and/or goofy successful this story.

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Box
British, 19th century, enamel connected copper

If you had been live successful eighteenth-century England, you mightiness person been talented a mini container for illustration this 1 pinch candy successful it.

What benignant of candy, you ask?

Well, pinch sweetener accumulation up (which drove sweetener prices down—see, I was paying attraction successful econ), Victorian-era folks went a small bonkers inventing caller confections, including pear drops, sherbet lemons, cough candy, aniseed twists, marshmallows, candy floss, and consequence gums.

One of each, please (okay, possibly I tin do without nan cough candy): Put them each successful a derpy-dog bonbon container and I will emotion you forever.

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Dog Pendant
European, 1575–1600, gold, rubies, pearls, and enamel

This pendant was 1 of galore made successful nan precocious 1500s wherever nan jeweler utilized nan irregular style of a pearl arsenic nan inspiration for nan assemblage of nan work. I’m not judge who would person wanted to deterioration this pendant, but I americium rather judge that I would for illustration to person met them.

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Dog Sled pinch Three Dogs
Inuit, 19th century, walrus ivory, pigment, string, and animal hide

Inuit carvers believed that amulets had nan powerfulness to lead hunters to nan animals they needed for survival. The item present is stunning, down to nan leather harnesses connected nan 3 sled dogs.

Although women weren’t typically included successful hunting parties, location is simply a female fig successful this work—exciting to see!

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Sleeping Dog
Bertha van Hasselt, Dutch, 1930, lithograph connected paper

Did you know—because I judge did not—that from 1912 to 1948 nan Olympics included creation competitions successful 5 categories: architecture, literature, music, painting, and sculpture? For useful pinch sports-related themes? Like what?! Bring it back!

Dutch creator and printmaker Bernardina Johanna Roberta (a.k.a. Bertha) van Hasselt entered her activity astatine nan 1928 Summer Olympics successful Amsterdam. Sadly, she did not medal, but I would decidedly person fixed her nan golden for this perfectly delightful Great Dane.

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Poodle Powder Box
French, 1940, ink and gouache connected tracing paper

In 1940, nan highly posh jewelry purveyors Maison Boucheron hired nan creation patient of Strauss, Allard, and Meyer to travel up pinch ideas for constitution compacts. Tragically, this creation does not look to person been manufactured. But nan cases that were made—from axenic golden and often featuring precious jewels and intricate, lacy cutouts connected nan lid—are worthy looking up.

Maison Boucheron is still successful cognition today. Perhaps if we each constitute to them and inquire very nicely they mightiness nutrient this creation for us? It’s worthy a try.

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Bolognese Terrier
Russian, 1811–1850, porcelain

Porcelain was a large woody successful Russia during nan 1800s, owed successful portion to its promotion by nan leaders of nan splendidly named Imperial Society for nan Encouragement of nan Arts successful St. Petersburg. Any statement that encourages nan creation of thing arsenic majestic arsenic this Bolognese terrier has to beryllium doing thing astatine slightest a small spot right.

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Excerpted from Museum of Dogs: A Romp Through Art History for Dog People by Jessica Poundstone. Copyright © 2025. Published by Chronicle Books.