Can anyone help with ID of OLD stuffed Animal?

I just could not resist this dog last week. He was pretty pricey especially considering his hair is shedding, the pelts are VERY dry, there are at least lightly split seams and he has NO EYES!
I was told he dates back to the early 1900's and came from a family who really didn't believe in giving toys to children. It was this elderly lady's grandmothers. He's a good size about 18 inches long and I was told he may be made from horsehair.
My questions are as follows
1) Do you think he is a commercially made piece or a piece of folk art ?
2) Can you guess as to the type of fur?
3) Does the Victorian era fit this animal?
4) What sort of dog would you say? I was thinking some sort of Terrier.
Thanks for any help you can offer.
Karen
the lighter collector

 

This is a poser. As opposed to anything else, he looks like a terrier. A bit like a Westie, but your little fellow is not all white. (In fact, if you look up the AKC list of terriers, he looks rather like the one at the top of the page -- which doesn't look like any of the dogs listed below. I sincerely HOPE he is commercially made, as the thought of dear old Bowser being made into a plaything rather turns the stomach.

 

" I sincerely HOPE he is commercially made, as the thought of dear old Bowser being made into a plaything rather turns the stomach."

I guess I should have been more exacting in my description. I DO NOT THINK he is the hide of a real dog or I would have NEVER so much as touched him! But he could have been made from Horse hide (including the fur). The fur is genuine, that I am certain of, but what kind? I was limiting my guess to horse, deer, beaver, even cow. I am not certain. The thought of turning one's pet into a plaything for a child well, that would be cruel beyond belief.

 

Karen: while in a fraitfully chichi gift shop in one of CT's priciest areas, I came across some really cute, soft and furry, little kitties and puppies -- just the right size to fit in the palm of my hand. I picked one up, and I swear! the thing looked at me resentfully. Angrily, even. I dropped it back on the counter, and it flipped over -- "Made in China" on the bottom.

When I got home, I looked them up on the internet, and, guess what...

 

This OLD toy was not made in China. I have seen the animals that you are speaking of and yes, those are sometimes made from the skins of Rabbits, Cats or even man's best friend. This toy was stuffed with hay and sawdust, the pelts are as dry as jerky, very brittle (I found this out while photographing as I almost broke off his tail). It hard to convey age in photos, but take my word for it - this thing is at least 100 years old, if not older.

 

Personally, I think later than the early 1900s.
I think after WWI and pre WWII
Scotties, Westies, Terriers became very popular because of FDR.

Hide, leather, etc. if stored in a hot attic will dry and become brittle.

 

The leather does not appear to be old.

It is definitely not any of the furs you thought it might be.

If it isn't llama then it's Lassie

 

Hi Karen,
Just have to say when I looked at the new topics it says "Can anyone help with the ID of Old Lighter Karen". Did you gain weight?????
greg

 

Might be rabbit.

 

You mean like broccoli?

 

"When I saw it, my first thought was 'that's collie fur'"

"You mean like broccoli?"

LOL, that was funny !

 

Looking at the bottoms of his back feet, it sure looks like mohair to me.

 

Thanks everyone for your help. I might take it to my furrier and see if he knows what it is.