by Cindy Michalak 
 
Another BCOA Specialty has passed by while spring fills the air in my neck of the woods. Congratulations to all the winners! For this issue of Unique Zoitiques I received some photos to share with everyone from Betsy Denning. I understand Betsy has quite a Zoitique collection of her own. This column will be a diversified collection including metal, chalk and porcelain.
First of all is an old doorstop or paperweight. It is made of cast iron (heavy) produced by the old Hubley Manufacturing Company. Hubley was well known for their cast iron toys beginning in 1894 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The figures were always painted but after years of use, the paint would chip or wear off. The paint on Betsy’s Borzoi is in almost perfect condition. The paint has almost a luster look to it. If you glance at the figurine, it looks like the front legs are missing; however, they are tucked under the chest of the dog. The Borzoi measures 4½" long x 2½" tall and is valued at around $75.
 
Next is a pair of Borzoi made of chalk. They look solid and quite heavy. Betsy said they are 7" tall on an 11" base. The detail in the hair is beautiful and they even took the time to not only paint the faces but the toenails and collars as well! Betsy gave me several poses of this piece and I chose one that I thought showed both dogs the best. It’s fun to have a statue with character and not just the same old standing dog doing nothing, although the model for the sitting dog looks quite bored. Value on this would depend on the collector, since not everyone is in love with chalk pieces the way I am. With that in mind, I’d place a value of $100 on this pair.
Betsy’s last piece here is quite a conversation piece. Originally Betsy sent the picture to me saying she didn’t think it was a Borzoi but just something that fit in nicely with her hunting theme dishes so, before I argued with her that it was a Borzoi, I tried to give her a sales pitch to let me buy it. No go. This is a stunning silverplate condiment holder with a lot of nice detail, including a collar with an actual buckle on it. The Borzoi looks like the old Siberian Wolfhound you should be familiar with. The bucket is the saltcellar, with a pepper shaker and mustard pot (including the spoon) hanging on his sides like a packmule. Very charming and unique, it has a base that measures 5" x 3" to give you an idea of the overall size. This piece was probably made in the very early 1900s and is priceless.

Here is a cute little porcelain that is unmarked but looks to be of German origin. The Borzoi are in full stride, possibly in pursuit of wild game. They measure 5" long x 3½" tall. The back of the piece has a rather large firing breathe-hole almost an inch in diameter, which does detract from the beauty when looking at the back view. Still the value on this hard-to-find figurine is $50.

 

 
This is a darling little porcelain produced by Gerold Porzellan of Bavaria. While it measures only 4" long x 2" tall, the piece offers a lovely action shot of a Borzoi either in pursuit or just out having fun. I was so delighted to find this in an antique shop, where nothing can be found anymore, that I paid the $40 it had on it without hesitation.
Cortendorf of Germany designed this lovely double running Borzoi statue. The Borzoi are obviously out for a gallant run in a field without a care in the world. I purchased this figurine from Germany. I was just about holding my breath until it arrived due to the size and long journey it had to Illinois. It measures 12" long x 11" tall and it is a soft-paste porcelain, which means it is hollow and can break very easily. A Unique Zoitique, which I value around $400.
Last but not in any way least is another soft-paste porcelain and very old Sitzendorf figure of a classy lady out on a romp with her two lovely red and white Borzoi. Measuring 10½" tall x 9" long, I also found this from a person in Germany. Looking at this makes you want to get all dressed up and go running with your Borzoi, right? You can’t tell from the picture but the woman has a lovely smile on her face, showing the love she has for these dogs. A value I would put on this rare piece would be $450. Special thanks to Betsy Dunning for sharing some of her treasures with us. Betsy told me she may even send more photos for the next issue. Who would have ever thought that so many talented artists through the years would select the Borzoi for their model. Many of us can attest to that by just looking around our homes. Not only have the real Borzoi taken over but the antique collection as well. Have a safe and winning show season and hugs to all the Borzoi out there!§