CH. YANG FU TANG SKETCH

This wonderful sketch of a very famous chow, was found at a garage sale in St Louis and I purchased it  from the seller who discovered it.  A dog who is the holder of a record for the day of 22 Bests in Show, with only one image of him to be found besides this sketch..  Below find the photo of Yang Fu Tang and achievements

  •   I couldn’t help but wonder who the artist might be, as many named dog drawings usually  have some  personal connection between the artist and the dog owner.  I went on a scavenger hunt and possibly found my answer.
  • I began my search by looking at breeder and owner names of dogs shown at the same time as Yang Fu Tang
  • After a frustrating time working with the name “Mel”, I researched what Mel could be short for….Merle..of course!!!
  • Now back to the stud books and AKC Gazettes from 1930’s -50’s  TA DA…I found Merle Thompson referenced a number of times
  • The clincher….Merle Thompson was from ST LOUIS where the sketch was found at the garage sale

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COULD MERLE THOMPSON BE THE YANG FU TANG ARTIST. ?
The 1954 National winner in Wisconsin was CH FLAGG’S CHUBBY CHINAMAN who is pictured above   Owner: E.Merle Thompson of St Louis.   

 

1932 Ch. Yang Fu Tang
The above image is the ONLY photo I have found at the time of this writing of this very famous boy. When I found the drawing I was over the moon excited!   I find the most famous dogs many times are the most elusive in photo searches

“Certainly the most outstanding Chow of the 1930’s was Champion Yang Fu Tang (Oct. 10, 1929-July 12, 1936), bred by the Hoffmans of Yang Fu Kennels, Milwaukee, Wisconsin  –Sired by Champion Yang Fu King X Yang Fu Queenie”

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CH.YANG FU KING WAS CH.YANG FU TANG’S SIRE

CH. YANG FU TANG WAS THE AMERICAN CHOW NATIONAL BEST OF BREED WINNER IN 1932
New York City, NY – 167 entries; Judge: Mrs Wm Fitzgerald
Ch.Yang Fu Tang was bred by Richard Hoffman, Yang Fu Kennels and was sold to Louise Seamer to be campaigned

Yang Fu Tang was the grandson of the very influential dog,
English and American Champion Choonam Brilliantine of Manchoover                                                                                                         

Above is the sketch after I cleaned it up some in photoshop to better show the details.  See below a note sent to me December 2015.  CORRECTION below is from the daughter of Yang Fu Tang’s breeder. This sketch was done by Richard Hoffman .   See her comment below. What a treasure to find the real artist identity.

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Hello, ch.Yang Fu Tang was my fathers show dog, Yang Fu kennels were my father Arthur Hoffman and my mother’s kennels we bred and raised that chow and sold him to louise. I am now 90 yrs old and its fascinating to see some one so interested. Also Mel Thompson was not the artist of Yang Fu Tang’s picture that was my uncle Richard Hoffman who drew that picture, just fyi. Any way, nice to come across someone who had such an interest it was a big deal in my family while I was growing up.

 

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Yang Fu Tang was born in 1929 and reached only seven years of age.  He died of heat prostration.   Yet in that time he amassed the amazing total of 22 Bests in Show (all-breed).  He held the record for 28 years until it was broken by Ah Sid The Dilettante