Napco Spaniel Appraisal

Vintage Napco Christmas Spaniel Dog Figurine

This is a vintage mid-century ceramic figurine of a long-eared Spaniel puppy, likely produced by the National Potteries Corporation (Napco) or a similar Japanese importer like Lefton or Norcrest during the 1950s or 1960s. The piece is crafted from hand-painted ceramic with a glossy overglaze finish. The puppy features 'big eye' styling typical of the kitsch era, with large, expressive blue eyes, long eyelashes, and rosy cheeks. It is adorned for Christmas with a bright red bow at its neck, a sprig of holly and berries atop its head, and is holding a green wrapped gift with a gold ribbon. The color palette consists of warm honey-brown tones with airbrushed shading to define the fur texture. Standing approximately 4 to 5 inches tall, the craftsmanship shows fine hand-painted details, particularly in the facial expression. Regarding condition, the piece appears well-preserved with no visible structural cracks or major chips, though there is a small white fleck on the pup's left cheek which may indicate a tiny glaze pop or surface wear. Typical of ceramics from this age, fine crazing in the glaze may be present upon closer inspection. These figurines were mass-produced in Japan for the American giftware market and often featured a silver or gold foil manufacturer's sticker or a stamped model number on the base.