Rare basset hound art screen commissioned by Mrs. Mable Tottie – SOLD
Howllo Fellow Basset Hound and Mable Tottie Lovers! This will be a very long but very interesting posting about how everything concerning basset hounds is related to the Lily Book! LOL! Stick with me and I can prove it as it relates to the acquisition of this “Maud Earl” masterpiece commissioned by Mrs. Mable Tottie back in the late nineteenth century.
Some of you may remember the auction and sale of this breath taking screen which took place back in February of 2009. This rare and important piece of basset hound history sold for just under 27,000 dollars.
Barkfest Breakfast at Bonham’s.
Here is the blog posting I did about it two days after the sale.
Yesterday, I received my Tally Ho, the official publication of the Basset Hound Club of America, and there was a very detailed article about the acquisition and the couple (Jim and Sharon Dok) who bought it. (PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE)
BREAKING NEWS UPDATE – 4-11-10
THE BASSET HOUND CLUB OF AMERICA HAS DEMANDED THAT I TAKE DOWN THE ARTICLE IN OUR PUBLICATION THAT I POSTED IN THIS BLOG REGARDING THIS PIECE OF BASSET HOUND HISTORY. I HAVE NO IDEA WHY THEY WOULD DO SUCH A THING. IT IS JUST ALARMING!
THE BASSET HOUND CLUB OF AMERICA DOES NOT WANT ME TO REPORT ON THIS WONDERFUL PIECE OF BASSET HOUND HISTORY FOR SOME REASON. WHY? I HAVE NO IDEA. IT IS ABSOLUTELY CRAZY. JUST DOWN RIGHT RIDICULOUS. THIS IS BASSET HOUND HISTORY! I WONDER WHAT MABLE WOULD THINK? I BET SHE WOULD BE SHOCKED. THE BHCA SHOULD BE OVER JOYED THAT SOME ONE SUCH AS MYSELF IS SHOWCASING THIS PIECE OF HISTORY BUT INSTEAD, THEY ARE MIRED DOWN IN LEGAL COPYRIGHT ISSUES? CAN YOU EVEN BELIEVE IT? WHAT ARE THEY THINKING?
(article removed per the BHCA request???????) For what reason I will never know.
BUT FEAR NOT, MY RESEARCH IS FAR BETTER THAN ANYONE HAS DONE AT THE BHCA AND IT IS AS FOLLOWS…..PLEASE ENJOY!
What I found most exciting about this article is that fact that this screen was commissioned by Mrs. Mabel Tottie in the late 19th Century. You could call me somewhat obsessed with Mrs. Tottie. I started reading about her back in the mid 1990s. I remember seeing a picture of her and thinking that she looked like my Grandma on my Dad’s side. I kept her picture on my book case and I would think about how in a different life we could have been friends. Her love of the basset hound breed intrigued me.
Mrs. Mabel Tottie
(taken from the book, DOG SHOWS AND DOGGIE PEOPLE, 1907)
As several of the leading fanciers of the quaint and aristocratic-looking Basset-hounds have from various causes ceased to support the variety, it has been a good thing that so zealous a champion has been found in the subject of this sketch, who has collected a very strong and typical team of Roughs and Smooths, amongst them being several champions and many promising youngsters.
It would be impossible in the space at my disposal to give even a summary of the numerous honours won by the kennels at Coniston Hall, a beautiful place between Leeds and Hellifield. But the annals of the leading shows for some years past will prove that many of the principal prizes and trophies open to Bassets have found their way to Coniston Hall.
Mrs. Tottie is the wife of Major J. B. G. Tottie, J.P., whose tastes as an ornithologist and breeder of prize stock in horses and cattle are well known, and who has carried off many prizes at the best shows in the kingdom. Before Mrs. Tottie took up Bassets, she devoted her energies for a while to Skye Terriers, with which she was moderately successful, but I think of late years she has almost entirely given them up. However, she has other strings to her bow, as she keeps a few high-class Bull dogs, which have already made their mark on the show benches, and keeps as house pets some of the charming little Blenheim Spaniels, which are likely to benefit by the patronage of such a spirited fancier.
This lady, I am informed, takes a personal interest in her hobbies, and devotes much of her time to the superintendence of the kennel arrangements, and to this is doubtless due the great success which has attended her efforts.
MRS. TOTTIE’S BASSET-HOUND GRAVITY, AND LITTER.
Probably at the present time no other kennel, in this country at least, can show such an array of high-class Basset-hounds as are now located at Coniston Hall, and I am pleased to be able to give excellent portraits of this lady and of four of her pets, and hope she may long be included in the ranks of Doggy People, amongst whom she has so many friends.
End of profile of Mrs. Mable Tottie in the Book called, DOGGIE SHOWS AND DOGGIE PEOPLE, written in 1907.
Check out this incredible picture I found of the screen inside of her Coniston Hall sitting room.
Just breath taking!
This is where Mrs. Mable Tottie raised her beloved Basset Hounds, Coniston Hall, between Leeds and Hellifield – England.
It was fun for me to find out as much as I could about Mrs. Tottie. So, when I learned that she was the one that commissioned the screen I was enchanted to find another fascinating detail about Mrs. Mable Tottie. Then, I was shocked at how the rare and significant piece of art was taken apart by the winning bidders. I personally would have NEVER had the paintings removed from the screen. In my opinion, by doing that, the value of the piece lost an incredible amount of it’s meaning. The history of the Mable Tottie commission is just as significant (if not more) and valuable as the art itself. This was an important, if not the most important, piece of rare basset hound art in the world. Without Mrs. Tottie this piece would have never been commissioned. Mrs. Tottie did her homework and picked one of the leading, fashionable, canine painters of her time to bring her vision to life.
It should have been kept just the way Mrs. Tottie had commissioned and wanted it. Eventually, it could have been donated to a museum. The Tally Ho article states that a critical decision was made to remove the paintings from the screen. I have no idea what that means. I would love to know what that critical decision was. The screen looks to be in fine condition. Nothing was mentioned in the catalog that the screen was falling apart.
But I am not the one who won the piece and the couple who did can do whatever they want! One thing about art is that is totally subjective. I have my opinions about treasures such as this and no one will convince me other wise. However, my opinion is no match for the highest bidder. They get the final say.
Now the Mrs. Mable Tottie commission is just a photograph on the internet.
So, how does this piece of basset hound history relate to the Lily book? I wonder if anyone even knows? This is page 28 of the Lily book.
Look a little closer……
Thank you Mrs. Tottie for your inspiration and good taste.
More rare and important blog postings later…Love, Cat, Chaps and Emma
Comments(10)
Cat,
As you say…the successful bidder holds the cards so to speak, however, being a lover of both antiques and BASSETS this really hurts my heart; just as the blog you did on all those beautiful older homes on govt. property going to seed did. I would LOVE to see those.
Paula – I will follow all of those old homes. They are about 5 minutes from my house. I think an auction is coming up soon. I will let my readers know how it goes.
Since visiting Virginia Military Institute I see how a base similar to the size of our Fort could have been maintained. However, VMI is not government so to speak.
Cat
I can’t believe they removed the paintings either. I wonder why they bought such a beautiful screen and then destroyed it.
I love the picture of Mrs. Tottie in your book, you should definitely send a copy to the Coniston Hall hotel. I know a copy of the Lily Book would be happy there.
The paintings had originally been painted on canvas attached to stretchers. They were cut unevenly off the stretchers and glued to the oak panels. Over time the panels had become very warped. This cannot be seen in the photos. The warping was causing serious damage to the paintings. There also had been water damage. The adhesive used was drying out. The paintings would slowly come off of the panels if some action was not taken.
The right decision was made to remove them and properly line them with modern techniques and materials. The painting were returned to the way Maude Earl had originally painted them as 3 separate canvases (I can prove this). Now they will be enjoyed for many more years (Hundreds) into the future. I welcome your response. Lawrence Castagna
Oh! Lawrence I would love to see your proof! Can you send me the pictures of how the warping was causing serious damage? I would love to see that.
Then, I can add my reply as to how this piece of history could have been saved via the original design that Mable had commissioned. All efforts should have been done to restore the original. Not only would it have held more value it would have restored history. Now, who knows what will happen.
I believe every effort should have been made to keep this historic art work in it’s original shape.
The three panel design was bassetabulous. The new owners should have honored her wishes, even if it re-created the masterpiece. Now it is just 3 panels ripped from history. Never mind what Mable wanted. It may have been old fashion to some but to me it was priceless…..
Cat
Maude Earl painted 3 separate paintings. The paintings were on stretchers. They were cut off of there stretchers unevenly.
Pasted poorly to the wood panels. They were damaged during the process.
One was cut an inch smaller at the top. So as I stated they were returned to the way Maude Earl had originally painted them. My restoration actually has increased the value of the painting. Jim Dok can verify that and the warping.
Jim Dok wanted them off the screen. The screen was saved. I cannot send you photos without permission from the owners. Have you seen the AKC article on the project ?
Yes Lawrence I have read the article. The entire point of my posting is that this is the way that Mable wanted them displayed. She is the reason that Maude Earl painted the trio. She commissioned him. It was her vision of her dogs on a screen in her sitting room.
I really don’t care what Jim Dok wanted and I am sure he does not care what I think should have been done. He can do whatever with the art work. He bought the piece. I don’t get a vote, just an opinion. That is worth about 2 cents. I find it very sad that the original masterpiece is now, gone forever.
At least it can be viewed on my website for generations to come along with some history of Mable and her commission. She had great taste and great bassets!
Thanks for stopping by.
Cat
There was another article in the AKC Gazette. if you give me your e-mail I can send it to you. In the mean time I would appreciate it if you removed my name from your website.
Lawrence I removed your name from my blog posting. I am sorry you cannot stand a bit a criticism. Not everyone agrees with me and you could have had many visits to your website to see the interesting AKC article.
I am sure you do great work. This is just one piece that I have a strong opinion on.
Good luck to you Lawrence. I have seen your website (which my readers can’t) and it is fantastic.
Cat
The BHCA should be ashamed of themselves. Trying to silence me is the ultimate in overblown importance. To tell me that an article like this cannot be posted is the utmost in arrogance. This is why the BHCA is old, stodgy and irrelevant. They just don’t get it. The same old blow hards, with no new ideas are in charge of this club. They should all be blown out. No one has any new ideas. Get with it BHCA!!!!!!!!!!!
I tried to help and I was shut down as well.
Just face it. This club is just about selling puppies. That is why you never see a change in the old guard.
I for one would love to see Randy and Richard give up the ghost.
But this is our downfall. Only 2 powerful men want to run this club…
I think this club is not long for the lasting.
Might be a good thing.
I personally would like to see a younger group take over.
Cat