British school (XIX) - Porträt eines englischen Terriers mit Halsband

Portrait of an English Terrier with Collar – Fine oil painting on board from H. Schmincke & Co. Düsseldorf (ca. 1880–1920)

IMPORTANT: Please also note my other listings, as there is a second, different painting (pendant) of this terrier in my auctions. If you win both paintings of this dog, you pay only once for the shipping costs. You will find the second painting, which you can purchase in the other auction, at the end of the image gallery (photo 22).

The present object is an original oil painting on tinted string-paged board or canvas-textured carton, regarded as a expressive animal portrait from the turn of the century up to the early 20th century (ca. 1880–1920).
Carrier history: The back of the painting support bears the original factory stamp of the renowned Düsseldorf maker of artist’s colors and art supplies, H. Schmincke & Co. Düsseldorf. The embossing or stamp with the assortment designation "MF8" and the size specification "00 / 16 x 12 cm" confirm the use of a professional, academically studied and high-quality painting support from German production of this era.
Catalog number / format reference: Format 00 (16 × 12 cm). This specific sizing traditionally places the support material in the miniaturist and study-form segment, as highly valued for open-air studies and fine animal portraits from the period before and around 1900 into the 1920s.
Physical condition: The image measures approximately 16 × 12 cm excluding the frame, and about 18.2 × 14 cm including the frame. Please note these are approximate figures, documented in detail in the images of the gallery. The support consists of pressed, sturdy carton with rear lamination and marking.
Analysis of the artistic rendering (the dog portrait)
This work is characterized by an accurate and characterful capturing of the animal:
Kinological assignment: The painting shows the head of a short-haired dog in profile looking to the right. The phenotypic features – elongated skull, attentive eye, slightly open mouth with visible tongue and teeth, and the distinctive coat pattern (brown-and-white) – strongly suggest an English Terrier (such as a Fox Terrier / Smooth Fox Terrier or a related breed of British terriers).
Detailing: The artist succeeded in capturing the dog’s gaze with life. The dark leather collar with metal studs adds a refined domestic flourish to the scene and provides a harmonious color contrast to the red-brown white fur.
Background and tactility: The background is rendered in a neutral cool gray-blue, with fine, loose brushstrokes that lend dynamism and make the subject stand out in relief.
Iconography and back-side graphic design
The back of the painting board serves as an important secondary source for criterion assessment:
Factory stamp: The stamp print "Schmincke Düsseldorf" with the characteristic company emblem is clearly legible and guarantees the historical quality painting ground from the late imperial period or the early 1920s.
Back condition: The back paper shows an even, age-appropriate patina without significant moisture damage, indicating proper and dry storage for more than a century.
Art-historical context: Animal and breed dog painting around the turn of the century
The subject of academic and semi-professional animal painting enjoyed enormous popularity around 1900 as well as in the 1910s and 1920s – buoyed by the rising pure-bred terrier Races:
Stylistic mixture: The work combines a realistic, kynologically precise capture of anatomy with a noticeably impressionistic, brisk brushwork in the area of fur texture and background, which is typical for plein-air and study painting of the period 1880–1920.
Significance of the painting support: Schmincke painting supports were preferred by academically trained artists as well as experienced portraitists because they guaranteed a warp-free and durable painting culture.
Condition and collector’s valuation (grading)
The preservation state of the paint layer is superb for a work well over 100 years old:
Paint layer: The oil paint is stable, shows strong, fresh pigments, and there are no notable craquelure, flaking, or overpaintings. The surface texture of the canvas embossing subtly emerges through the paint.
Framing and integrity: The provided profiled wooden frame with silver-gold finish is structurally damaged. The corner joints are unstable and loose; the geometric integrity is no longer reliably maintained.
Provenance: Unsignied but very skillfully executed piece from a private collection (bundle provenance 2026).
Market value analysis and outlook 2026
The work stands out positively due to its dating (ca. 1900–1920), the renowned Schmincke ground, and the expressive execution.
Criterion | assessment | influence on value
Artistic rank | Skillful, distinctive animal study circa 1900–1920 | High
Physical condition (image) | Very well preserved, stable paint layer | Maximum
Frame condition | Damaged / unstable | Neutral value to reduction
Market trend 2026 | Steady demand for antique dog portraits of the early 20th century | Positive
Market assessment: The estimated market value of the object is €600 to €800. The frame is expressly listed as a free addition/shipping protection.
Archivist summary
This object is a fine example of intimate animal portraiture from the period ca. 1880–1920, on high-quality material from Schmincke Düsseldorf. It impresses with its lively charm and makes a beautiful collectible for lovers of classical antique dog motifs.

Title
Portrait of an English Terrier – Original oil painting on Schmincke board, ca. 1880–1920
Object
Oil painting on textured board (Schmincke Düsseldorf, MF8).
Dimensions excluding frame: approx. 16 × 12 cm (approximate, see photos of the gallery).
Dimensions including frame: approx. 18.2 × 40 cm (approximate, see photos of the gallery).
Manufacturer of the support: H. Schmincke & Co. Düsseldorf.
Representation
The painting shows a fine bust portrait of an English Terrier in profile. The dog looks attentively to the right, with a slightly open mouth. It wears a dark, nailed leather collar. The fur is worked in vibrant brown and white tones, the background in a subdued, stippled gray-blue.
Technique and execution
Oil on linen-textured board.
Support: Factory-produced board support by Schmincke Düsseldorf.
Framing: Wooden frame with decorative profiling (damaged).
Dating and context
The work can be dated to ca. 1880–1920 based on the Schmincke ground and stylistic features.
Stylistic classification
Representational animal painting of the late imperial period/early modernism with impressionistic brushwork and precise anatomical rendering.
Framing and packaging
The frame is damaged with corners weak. It serves for shipping only as protection for the painting panel and as a potential base for restoration, with no guarantee of success for such repair.
Condition
Painting / paint layer: Very well preserved.
Frame: Damaged / loose.
Cultural-historical significance and interpretation
Characteristic specimen for private animal painting and kynology of the late imperial period and the 1920s on professional painting material.
Conclusion
A moodful and aesthetically appealing animal portrait on historic Schmincke painting ground from the time around 1880–1920.
Artist: Unidentified / illegibly monogrammed
Title: Portrait of an English Terrier
Technique: Oil on board (Schmincke MF8)
Dimensions: approx. 16 × 12 cm (excl. frame) / approx. 18.2 × 40 cm (incl. frame) – approximate, see gallery photos
Condition image: Very good
Condition frame: Damaged
Market situation and demand
Small-format antique animal portraits from the era around 1880–1920, especially classic dog breeds, enjoy steady demand on the art and antiques market.
Estimated values (as of 2026)
Condition | Estimated market value
Estimated value | €600 to €800
Conclusion for disposal
A sale via specialized art and antiques platforms or auctions focusing on animal painting of the turn of the century is recommended.
Note regarding assessment of measurements: Please refer to the photos (I often photographed the measurements with a measuring tape). Measurements are sometimes imprecise in electronic processing and may be wrong in the description—please inquire again before purchase if exact measurements to the millimeter or centimeter matter to you.
Note that all information on the time classification of this work is given to the best of our knowledge, but no guarantee or claim to accuracy and precision is made. 100% certainty would require a material analysis. Bid only if you have sufficient expertise to determine a correct dating from the provided photos. The seller and the Catawiki experts assume no liability for incorrect dating. Therefore, consider the photos as the decisive descriptive features.

WSz