Cheffins
Lot 684
George Earl (British, 1824-1908) Study of Caesar, the King's dog signed lower left "George Earl" oil on canvas 19 x 24cm (7 x 9in) Other Notes: The wire fox terrier "Caesar of Notts" was bred by the Duchess of Newcastle in1898 and presented to King Edward VII in 1903. The King and his dog became inseparable. A medallion inscribed ' Caesar - I belong to the King' was attached to his collar and can been seen in portraits of the dog. Caesar frequently caused problems for the King, escaping in Marienbad whilst chasing white peafowl and on another occasion killing rabbits owned by Lord Redesdale's daughters. The King ordered hardstone models of his favourite dogs and racehorses from the House of Fabergé. Caesar was at the King's side on his Norfolk estate when the initial wax models were revealed by the company. The model of Caesar was made of chalcedony, rubies, enamel and gold, and included Caesar's collar in the design. After the death of the King on 6 May 1910, Caesar refused to eat, and would spend time whining outside the King's bedroom. At one point, he managed to sneak into the King's bedroom and was found hiding under his bed by Queen Alexandra. The Queen encouraged him to eat once more and restored him to his normal self. In 1910, Caesar won the hearts of the nation when he attended the funeral of Edward VII, leading the funeral procession, with a Highlander, walking behind the carriage that carried the King's coffin. He was placed ahead of the Heads of State in the procession, including King George V and eight other Kings - an act of which Kaiser Wilhelm II of the German Empire disapproved. It was about this time that the German firm Steiff started producing their stuffed toy models of the dog. Caesar lived on in the Royal Household, cared for by the Dowager Queen, until his death in 1914. He is immortalised in stone at the feet of the King on the tomb of Edward VII in St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. Cleaned at some stage and with a modern wooden frame.
