The Chow Chow Terracotta Sculpture By Sculptor Richard Fath, Signed

The Chow Chow terracotta sculpture by sculptor Richard Fath, signed. Dimensions: Height 16 cm, Length 19 cm, Thickness 7 cm. Richard Fath was born in Paris on March 2, 1900. He studied drawing and modeling at the Saint-Maur-des-Fossés workshops. He was a sculptor who worked with all techniques: bronze, terracotta, wood carving, and stone carving. He created medals, jewelry, and also produced paintings in various forms: pastels, gouaches, etc. He depicted dogs (more than 120 breeds), horses, cats, and farm animals in plaster, bronze, terracotta, etc. Richard Fath died on November 17, 1952. The Chow Chow is a breed of dog originating in China. Of ancient origin, the breed was imported to England at the beginning of the 19th century. It belongs to Group 5 of the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI), which includes Spitz-type dogs. A medium-sized dog, the Chow Chow is characterized by its thick coat, lion-like appearance, and blue tongue. Originally from Mongolia, the Chow Chow was introduced to England by British merchant ships along with exotic goods. One was even presented to the Prince of Wales. The name "Chow Chow" is thought to derive from the Mandarin inscription meaning "miscellaneous goods," which was marked on the crates containing the first dogs of this breed imported from China to England. The idea that the name derives from a reduplication of "chow," meaning "food," because this breed of dog was eaten in China, is incorrect, as the term for this dog in Mandarin is "sōngshī quǎn," which means "puffy lion dog." The Chow Chow is said to have been used as a hunting dog by the emperors of China. Its origins are attributed to China, where it was used as a guard dog and also for hunting. Arriving in England at the beginning of the 19th century, the breed only became well-known from the 1920s onwards, particularly at the Crufts dog show in 1925. In France, the first traces of the Chow Chow's presence date back to the 19th century. However, this dog remained relatively rare until the 1920s, when the Chow Chow Club of France was created, thanks to the efforts of Renée Maréchal. Following this, the Chow Chow became very popular in Parisian high society, and its popularity increased during the war. The Chow-Chow Club of France was dissolved in 1952 and replaced by the Chow-Chow Club Français, which, even today, is the official club for the breed.