Ceramic Dog

Marian Curtis Foster

National Gallery of Art

The sculpture depicts a small, curly-haired dog holding a basket in its mouth. The dog's body is split into a dark brown, textured material on the front half resembling fur, and a smooth, speckled surface in tans and browns on the rear half. The tail is curly and uplifted, and the legs are stout. The basket contains small fruits and is embellished with blue and white accents. The sculpture has a lifelike appearance and may serve as a functional or decorative item, reminiscent of old-fashioned ceramic or porcelain works.