Before cuddly toys took over the prize stalls, fairgrounds and carnivals often gave away painted chalkware figures like this one. Made from moulded plaster, they became especially popular as game prizes from the early 1900s through to the 1950s, with animals, comic characters and brightly painted novelty figures among the most common designs.
This little terrier is a wonderfully characterful survivor, with hand-painted markings, a bright red mouth and plenty of scuffs and paint loss. That wear feels right for what it is. Chalkware was cheap, fragile and never really designed to last for generations, which makes surviving examples all the more charming.
Dimensions: 12cm heightÂ
Pre-loved: chipping to the chalkware throughout the piece as shownÂ
