From 1955-1975, poodles were the most popular breed of dog in America. They were featured in publicity photos of stars like Elizabeth Taylor and Audrey Hepburn, they adorned the skirt of teenage girls on their way to a sock hop and they were even painted on one a highly collectible set of china in the 1950s. Their charm and appeal established them as icons of mid-20th century America culture and the topic matter for some of today’s most highly collectibles.
In the early 1950s we were introduced to porcelain poodles with fur applied in layers to mimic the “pom-pom” coat of an actual poodle. Designers of these popular collectibles forced clay through tea strainers to form strands of curls that were then attached to the dogs. “Spaghetti Dogs,” as they came to be known, are very delicate in nature due to all of their attached trim and individually glued parts. Exercise caution when considering one for purchase as condition is the main determinant of value. Missing rhinestones, bows, flowers and chains are common as are cracked or missing tails. You will find them in a variety of styles ranging from fireman and sports figures to graduating students and brides. White, pink and gray are common colors, but watch for the elusive yellow poodles as they do surface on occasion. Dogs should be marked with the country of origin as well as a date and a makers mark. Company names to watch for include Napco, Lefton, Thames and Relco.
The poodle skirt was brainchild of designer Juli Lynne Charlot. In the winter of 1947 she described herself as “broke, frump and a lousy seamstress.” Still, she had been invited to a Christmas party and was determined to find something festive to wear. She cut a large circle from a piece of felt, added a smaller circle for the waist and decorated it with Christmas items that she found around the house. Her skirt received so many compliments that she and her friends began making them decorated with flowers, glitter and sequins and eventually a poodle on a leash. Since the design required no sewing, not even a hem, it was something young girls could make with absolutely no sewing skills and soon Charlot’s “no sew” skirts were being made on kitchen tables across America.
Clothing manufacturers soon followed Charlot’s lead and the poodle skirt became one of the top selling pieces of clothing throughout the 1950s and well into the 1960s. They can be found made of silk, cotton and poplin with tags from many different clothing manufacturers and will range in price from $20-$30, but the most popular to this day are those from Juli Lynn Charlot which are currently bringing as much as $750 online.
The Glidden Pottery Company of Alfred, New York produced their popular “Chi-Chi Poodle” dinnerware from 1951-1955. It was designed by Ernest Sohn as a part of their “Animal Menagerie” line. The original set included square plates, cups and saucers and tumblers featuring a black poodle on a creamy white background. Ashtrays and cigarette boxes were added to the line in 1952. Unlike most standard sets of china from the era, each piece was hand-painted so no two were exactly alike. Divided plates are currently selling for $100 and up with dinner plates and bowls seeing realized pricing from $40-$50.
Poodle collectibles continue to grow in popularity and value as is evidenced by the 7,500+ items currently offered on eBay. They can be quite pricey online but if you shop carefully there are still bargains to be found. Just last week I purchased a spaghetti poodle (in mint condition) at a local flea market for $1! So, be on the lookout!! Until next time . . . Linda
Linda Kennett is a professional liquidation consultant specializing in down-sizing for seniors and may be reached at 317-258-7835 or lkennett@indy.rr.com
