Lord Byron’s Best Friend
Boatswain’S Dog Collar , c. 1803-04
Brass
H 4 x W 16 x D 14 cm
H 1 2/3 x W 6 1/3 x D 5 1/2 inch
H 1 2/3 x W 6 1/3 x D 5 1/2 inch
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The collar is formed from a single strip of heavy-gauge brass, cut and shaped by hand rather than cast. The metal shows a deep, naturally developed patina, ranging from warm...
The collar is formed from a single strip of heavy-gauge brass, cut and shaped by hand rather than cast. The metal shows a deep, naturally developed patina, ranging from warm ochre to darker brown. The thickness and resilience of the brass are consistent with collars intended for large working dogs in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, rather than purely decorative or commemorative objects. Both the upper and lower edges are finished with a crenelated, tooth-like profile, created by hand-cutting rather than machine punching. This distinctive edging is not merely decorative: it increases rigidity and reduces edge deformation, a practical feature for collars subjected to strain. The execution is irregular but confident, consistent with provincial craftsmanship rather than metropolitan luxury manufacture. Adjustment holes are hand-punched, unevenly spaced, and show wear consistent with repeated re-fitting during the dog’s lifetime. The fastening consists of a rectangular slot engaging with an iron loop, now darkened with oxidation. The iron element is original and shows long-term contact wear against the brass, further confirming prolonged use rather than later assembly.
Provenance
Lord George Gordon Byron, 6th Baron Byron (d. 1824)
The widow of Francis, gamekeeper to Lord Byron
E.M.Kidd until 1903
Sold by F.W. Kidd & T Neale & Sons, 11-13 November 1903, lot 424
Purchased by the Earl of Shrewsbury (d. 1921)
By descent to the Hon. Mrs Arthur Eliot
Sold by Sotheby’s, 14th December 1976, lot 180
Jimmy S Taylor (Leeds)
Sold by Tennants, 18th November 2017, lot 281