A rare, early velvet bulldog c.1920s/30s standing 23cm (9″) high excluding ears, on flat card-lined feet. Unjointed, and kapok-stuffed with a woodwool muzzle, he goes by the  name of Gaston, as he looks to be something of a gastronomic, with a healthy appetite, judging by his characteristic, rotund body!

Gaston is all original, with back-painted glass eyes, worn mostly clear. His black velvet nose shows some wear, and he has an airbrushed mouth, and other markings. He appears to have once been black & tan velvet, and his black areas have mellowed to a brownish green over time, but his blackness can still be seen deep inside his ears, and in-between his limbs.

There’s a few small seam repairs here and there, where he must have stuffed himself to bursting point! Also the tips of his feet have a little loss of nap, with tiny repairs, and the top seam of his muzzle is partly threadbare with a few stitches. Overall though, Gaston is in good condition, including his velvet pads.

He isn’t sure if he’s a British Bulldog or a French one, so is keeping his options open. Consequently, we’ve made him a red, white & blue felt dicky bow – the colours of both country’s national flags – along with a black felt waistcoat decorated with mother-of-pearl buttons. Despite looking fairly serious, it’s only food Gaston takes seriously, and he’s a really a playful, very lovable bully!