![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
DOGS
Several in each category:
|
The Piutre Lifesize, Large and Lifelike Animal Collection is unquestionably the finest collection of realistic stuffed animals in the world. The faithfully replicate their real-life counterparts in form, coloring, dimensions, and expression. Each piece is sewn, shaped, and finished entirely by hand in Italy, using the finest European-made materials, resulting in a beautiful keepsake animal to treasure for a lifetime.
All of the animals in this collection are made with fire-retardant fabrics and stuffed with pure acrylic fibers; therefore, they are hygienic and washable. The synthetic, soft-to-the-touch plush is true to life, and each piece is hand-trimmed and hand-finished for an exceptional degree of realism. The eyes and nose of each animal are extraordinarily lifelike, too—and, of course, safety-anchored.
These astonishingly realistic animals are hand-made in Italy using the original patterns and models created by an Italian firm that came to be known the world over for its highly realistic—often life-size—plush renditions of dogs, cats, and other animals.
A highly skilled artist is responsible for each animal and personally sees each one—from the tiniest mouse to life-size polar bears—through all the exacting details of the production process. Only when an artist is completely satisfied that their animal has been superbly executed does he or she tag and package it—in essence, a gift to the individual who will ultimately touch and treasure it.
This is your chance to acquire an irresistible treasure that’s destined to be enjoyed and appreciated for generations to come.
Extraordinary. Exquisite. And exclusively yours.
|
![]() Fred
Basset Hound
Handmade
31.5"
Item # 3284
$ 600
The Basset Hound is a short-legged breed of dog of the hound family. They are scent hounds, bred to hunt rabbits by scent. Their sense of smell for tracking is second only to that of the Bloodhound. The name Basset is derived from the French word bas, meaning "low", with the attenuating suffix -et, together meaning "rather low". Basset hounds are commonly brown and black and most often spotted, but also exist in a variety of colors.
In February 27 1928, Time magazine featured a Basset Hound on the front cover. The accompanying story was about the 52nd annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Madison Square Garden as if observed by the Basset Hound puppy. This prestige is often seen as the event which made the Basset Hound a popular part of American popular culture.
Basset Hounds have had prominent roles in movies and television. Some Bassets have been featured in comic strips and cartoons. Examples include cartoon character Droopy, originally created in 1943 by Tex Avery, and Fred Basset, the main character in the comic strip Fred Basset, created by Alex Graham in 1963. Basset Hounds playing more minor roles include Rosebud the Basselope from Berke Breathed's comic strip Bloom County, Byron Basset in Tiny Toon Adventures, Toby, from The Great Mouse Detective, and Lafayette, from the 1970 Disney film The Aristocats. The notable webcomic PvP by Scott Kurtz occasionally features the author's pet Basset Hounds. In the children's novel Lunchbox and the Aliens (2006 Henry Holt), by Bryan W. Fields, a basset hound named Lunchbox is abducted by a pair of misfit aliens and accidentally made intelligent. Rodney Dangerfield voices a Basset Hound in the animated feature film, Rover Dangerfield. Even Phil Harris voiced Patou the Basset Hound in Don Bluth's Rock-a-Doodle.
Basset Hounds in films include Fred, the companion of Cledus in the 1977 movie Smokey and the Bandit and its two sequels. A basset, Gabriel, appears as Batou's Basset Hound in Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence. Gabriel is in fact director Mamoru Oshii's real life pet, and is included in many of his animated films including the 2001's Avalon. In a scene most likely referencing Smokey and the Bandit, a truck driver has a Basset Hound beside him in American Pie 2. Basset Hounds are featured prominently in off-beat roles as well—one gets hit by a car and survives in The Rage: Carrie 2, and in the film Monkeybone a basset has its own nightmarish dream sequence. In The Cassandra Crossing a basset is airlifted by helicopter off a doomed train allowing officials to identify a deadly plague (and thus becomes one of the few survivors of the all-star cast disaster film). Finally, bassets appear in such other mainstream films as The Lost Treasure of Sawtooth Island (where it prominently appears alongside star Ernest Borgnine on the film poster/DVD cover); An American Werewolf in Paris, Nanny McPhee, Spider-Man 2 and Kit Kittredge: An American Girl.
Television programs have used Basset Hounds as characters as well. In the early days of television, Elvis Presley famously sang "Hound Dog" to a Basset Hound named Sherlock on "The Steve Allen Show" on July 1, 1956. One of the most famous Bassets on television was Flash, the dog owned by Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane in the 1980s TV series "The Dukes of Hazzard". A life-sized replica named "Flush" was used in dangerous situations. Other Bassets on television include Cleo, the doggie femme fatal from "The People's Choice", which starred Jackie Cooper; Pokey, a canine friend of Lassie early (1954–57) in the "Lassie" television series ; the Basset Hound named simply "Dog" from "Columbo", Henry from "Emergency!", Governor from "The Governor & J.J.", Quincey, from "Coach", Sam from "That's So Raven", Chips from "EastEnders", Arthur in "Our House" and Socrates in "Judging Amy".
Basset Hounds have also been featured in advertising. The logo for Hush Puppies brand shoes prominently features a Basset Hound whose real name is Jason. Basset Hounds are occasionally referred to as "Hush Puppies" for that reason. A Basset Hound also serves as the companion to the lonely Maytag Man in Maytag appliance advertisements. Tidewater Petroleum advertised its Flying A Gasoline using a Basset Hound named Axelrod. In the 1990s, a handsome red/white Basset Hound called SIGMUND featured in a several advertisements including one for Domestos bleach.
In June 2007, a realistic life-size Basset Hound mascot began to make appearances at various nightclubs and music festivals in the UK and across Europe. Ulysses the Basset Rave Hound was photographed with festival goers and famous DJ's at the Renaissance "Wild in the Country" festival, The Big Chill 2008 festival and famous Ibiza super-clubs Pacha, Space and Amnesia. Ulysses has his own fan page on the social networking website Facebook entitled "We love Ulysses".
Real Radio in the UK uses a basset hound in advertising. 'Barry' is used in TV ads, newspaper ads, and is referred by presenters on Real Radio itself.
Beginning on Oct. 12, 1986, the now out-of-print comic strip Bloom County introduced a new character called Rosebud the Basselope, a creature part basset hound, part antelope. Running gags included basselopes love for Pop Tarts and the desire of the US military to use basselopes as ridiculous weapons in satire of Reagan's SDI, also known as "Star Wars." It would later be revealed that Rosebud was, in fact, a female after the Congressional ruling that all-male clubs were unconstitutional in a run in 1988. The character would continue to be a part of the comic strip until its end in 1989.
|
CATS
Several in each category:
|