ONCE a child’s toy but now highly sought after with collectors, a pull-along model of a French Bulldog is estimated to sell for £500-800 at a Dorset auction next month.
Richard Bromell, from Charterhouse auctioneers in Sherborne, said: “The owner was given the pull along toy dog by a family member over 50 years ago. As a child, she was frightened by the character toy, and has now decided to sell it over half a century later through Charterhouse and use the money raised to by a real life Labradoodle dog.”
The model of the French Bulldog, with its pull-along chain and nodding head, dates to around 1900. Made from papier mache, they made ideal presents for children as they needed no exercise, made no mess, and there were no vet’s bills to contend with. Today, they are rare survivors and hotly contested when they appear on the open market.
Viewing for the auction at Charterhouse, The Long Street Salerooms, Sherborne, is on Wednesday, July 31, 10am to 6pm and Thursday, August 1, 10am to 5pm.
The auction is on August 2.
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