Majolica cat and dog unusual candle sticks / holders - any idea of maker?

[img][IMG]https://2img.net/h/oi43.tinypic.com/2djvs6g.jpg[/[/img]Hello - I have a pair of Majolica cat and dog candle sticks (or holders).Rather unusual, each with a smiling grinning face! Approx 26cms tall. Any help in identifying them greatly appreciated.

Welcome Louise. I assume that you have tried to show us some pictures but without success. Please keep trying.

Yup - Having problems! Will get it eventually :)

I think we all had problems at the beginning and I know that I eventually stumbled upon a way that works for me.

This might not help but here goes.............. click on the double disc icon (4th from right above the quick reply box). Click "Browse" and find the image on your computer that you want to add. Then click "host it". Click on the letters and numbers in the Thumbnail box and cut and paste into the "Quick Reply" box and Send!

Can we have a photo of the base, please.
They look a bit like turn of the century Brannam Barum ware, or Ewenny pottery, but identification will depend on whether they're signed, and if not, then what type of clay they're made of.
Alternatives, since you're in Scotland, is one of the Victorian Scottish ceramics companies like Dunmore. Or a possibly a French company.

https://i.servimg.com/u/f34/18/41/89/40/bases10.jpg

I thought at First Brannam , but looking at the base I don't think it is , possibly Belgian , very nice pieces just the same .

I think that the bases might pose more questions than answers...... so here is a question or two.

There appear to be shell residue marks on the bases - is that so?

They appear hollow?

Can you say what the pottery body is made of? It looks translucent in the picture, which would suggest porcelain, which seems strange.

They are slip cast, and white inside, so probably a parian/porcelain clay base.
They have quite large spur marks on the base which indicate a 19th Century date. Possibly a Victorian 'fairing', ie, an item one would win at a fair, or buy at the seaside while on holiday. I don't think the quality is there to place it in the top end majolica group.

As for where they were made, difficult to say. Possibly Staffordshire, but could also be Continental, eg, Belgium, as Ed suggests, or France. Might even be American.

Looks like white earthenware to me to be honest. No idea who made them, would have expected them to be late 19th century.

To me the picture of the bases suggest that they are nowhere near that old but I would be interested in hearing Louise's answers to my questions.

Thank you for your interest! I've posted another picture of the bases in case it helps further. One of the figures appears hollow up to half way. Not sure about the shell on the base? I think they are too large to be fairings and much too heavy. Don't seem quite old enough somehow! I've been trying to find another like them on the net but so far have been unable find anything like them :)

I don't know who made them but they remind me a bit of cats and dogs drawn by Louis Wain (1860 - 1939) who was very popular in the early 20th century and who had lots of imitators. As far as I know the only ceramics he designed were the remarkable "futurist cats" which are nothing like yours, but it may be that yours are made in imitation of his earlier style.

I think that's my view too in that they are imitating something earlier but it is very difficult to tell from pictures.

There are a lot of 'long necked' cats and dogs made by various companies like Goss for the tourist trade. Maybe they are not as early as Victorian. Didn't want to mention it, but the bases look a bit like the clowns one sees, made in Japan. The glaze is a bit like the majolica owl jug we had a while back that was also possibly a later Japanese copy of a Victorian piece.
If its white earthenware then I'd be looking at it being made in France.