Butts In The Air, We Just Do Care

In response to this post about vintage ceramic animals, Butts In The Air, Like They Just Don’t Care, Nina writes:

Hi Deanna!

I came across an old blog post of yours when I was researching a vintage dog figurine for my Etsy shop. It has it’s butt up in the air and a hole where the tail should be. Ring any bells? Anyway, I thought I’d write you, firstly to ask if you ever found out what the use was for these kitschy creatures? And secondly, to let you know, in case you’re still collecting them that I just put one up in my shop.

Great blog! I’ll be back to check in, I do love the kitsch!

Nina

Here’s the vintage little dog Nina has:

vintage dog from thebakerandthebar

To answer your question, Nina, the fact is that hubby & I still debate this. He still thinks there was some sort of a “bobble” type tail. Butt However until I see one like that I remain unconvinced…

I often look for such items. So far, I have not found any (other than more modern plastic ones — which look quite different). However, you do see quite a number of dogs with spring tails. Most people are familiar with the antique postcards featuring dogs with metal spring tails.

1912 bulldog postcard metal spring tail

There are other examples too. Like these antique cast iron dogs with spring tails. You can see that the metal spring tails are attached to a “docked” nub of a tail on the dogs, which would not work on the vintage ceramic pieces we have.

antique metal dogs with spring tails

Today, however, I ran into this rather unusual version. This urinating dog is about six inches long, is marked ‘Germany’ on the bottom, and the seller calls it “Rockingham glazed.”

vintage Rockingham glazed ceramic dachshund dog

vintage Rockingham glazed ceramic dog made in germany

Aside from the dog lifting his leg to pee, this vintage ceramic dachshund is also a decanter of some sort.

urinating lifting leg to pee vintage dog

The metal spring of a tail is attached to a ceramic piece which holds a cork. The opening for the cork stopper has raised edges, so it is quite different from the vintage ceramic dogs that Nina and I have. Although, I could see that some sort of stopper is a possibility… But then what would these little ceramic dog decanters for?

cork tail with spring

container tail cork

raised hole for cork with spring tail

I’m wondering if this was some sort of inkwell for a dog-themed novelty desk set. (See also: Scotty The Pup Desk Accessory.) Perhaps it was a flask?

If you have any info on this dog — or any of these dogs — please let us know!

Image Credits: Antique postcard with bulldog with metal spring tail via Ernies Postcards; cast iron dogs with spring tails from Shusues Collectibles; and the photos of the urinating dog decanter from Orygun Trail Antiques.

Modern Woman Mondays Covered In (Comment) Ketchup

Jim sent a comment clarifying The Unknown Comic – Artist:

It’s a play on the single panel comic series “Right Around Home” by Dudley Fisher. More than likely, he did the ad himself.

Thanks, Jim!

Say Hello To El Santo

CarlosPC has left a new comment on Your Guess Is As Good As Ours:

Without looking for clues in Google I can tell you that this picture was taken circa 1970 in Mexico when a Costa Rican movie producer visited to negotiate the production of a movie with “El Santo” mexican wrestler.

The clipping is from a mexican newspaper called Excelsior (I can tell from the typography).

Poor Kitty Comment Ketchup

People are still talking at/about our previous kitschy posts, despite the inability for comments to be published, but with Comment Ketchup, we try to keep the extra zest.

Anonymous at Well, At Least The Cat’s Eyes Are Closed:

I think the little petes stickers was from my grandfathers old pottery shop and I think the tail for the puppy used to be air freshener or something. I will ask my mom for sure.

Leftover Vintage Christmas And Dames & Dogs #23

Because Blogger no longer allows you to host your own blog, Kitschy Kitschy Coo made the switch to WordPress in April of 2010, as a result any comments posted at the old blogger archives do not actually get posted — but people are still talking at/about our previous kitschy posts.

Like Betty, who left a batch of comments at the end of November; the emailed notices of which were stuffed in my spam. Arg! Betty, I feel so badly that I cannot contact you or publish your comments where they belong, so I’m going to hook you up here.

(The rest of you, just consider these your holiday leftovers to enjoy.)

Betty left the following comment at Thirteen Kitschy Christmas Crafty Things:

What! They didn’t coordinate the hairspray can with the toothbrush sleeve in leopard print?? My parents owned a craft shop in the 60s and even in the 60s some of these crafts were hard to swallow. Folks also loved to decopage and bejewel those wooden purses! Whooo hoooo 60s. PS. I’m doin some serious thinkin about that colored water in jars castle and if its the last thing I do this Christmas I AM making a foil angel for the table! Thank you so much. What a fun site you have. Betty

At Thirteen More Bits 0 Paper Scans:

The snowball fort and war was priceless. Adding the poem and this must go up on my wall somewhere.

With the exception of warmer parts of the US, hasn’t everyone had at least one snowball fort fight as a kid? It usually meant snow down the neck of our underdesigned outerwear, cold wet feet, and the unfortunate icy snowball in the face, glasses and all. Livin in TX today. Maybe, maybe it’ll snow again this year. Please, please, please.

At Buying A Christmas Tree?:

Aluminum tree, covered chair, plastic drapery. Keeping it clean for baby Jesus (under the tree.)

At Old Christmas Tree Lot:

I have that Santa Claus. I could live without the dangling greens but I would so love to have the signage!!! Betty

At Thanks For The Reindeer Sweater:

This sweater is flat out fabulous!

This sweater ROCKS!! And, it happens to look extremely good on the model. I’d buy it and if it didn’t fit…I’d frame it. Very, very cool. Betty