The happy surprise of my week was to find this terrier beaming up at me from an unpicked box of tintypes! A relatively rare dog portrait, and an early one, c. 1860s-70s I believe, in original gold foil wrap, though the case long gone ( I do like to imagine it was housed opposite a brother or sister or very faithful companion!) . A very soulful looking pup, gazing out seemingly with much longing, and perfectly captured in 3/4 view so as highlight the distinguishing white stripe running down its snout and the tuft of white on its chest. Looks to me the pup was lying on one rug laid atop another, with the detail of the patterns very sharp in the foreground. Wonderful.

3 3/8 x 2 7/8 and in very good antique condition, with a light traces of a bend vertically down the center, minor.