Before I get into the importance of this incredible photo I want to first thank Wendy Saunier of Moonbear Chows for her generous donation of this image to the Chowtales archives and to Love Banghart (Rebelrun Chows) for providing the lead to Wendy. This image above (original is below) could very well be the only photo of the often mentioned albeit never seen, Chow of Queen Victoria or possibly Queen Alexandra’s chow “Plumpie” who I have written about at THIS LINK “ Plumpie” bears a remarkable likeness to the “Palace Chow” and the dates coincide with both Victoria’s reign and Alexandras time at the palace as Princess, beginning in 1863.
It was important for me to bring out the details in the restored version to get a closer look, but it is of equal importance for archival sake to display the original, just as it was sent to me. Below you will find the writing on the back of the photograph
The top part easily reads – THE TENANT WITH THE PALACE CHOW DOG
WHICH BELOW WENDY TRANSCRIBES THE BEST SHE COIULD MAKE OUT
“I cannot make out the second part of the words on the back. I believe it refers to Dress,(for)? November weather—-cool but not —-?” ~Wendy Saunier
SINCE PUBLISHING THIS ARTICLE MY GOOD FRIEND JAN LOCKHART GAVE HER INTERPRETATION OF THE LAST PART OF THE TEXT
“Some of the bottom part of the notation on the reverse of the original is, “Dress for warm weather drill order.” I can’t get the last word, either. (Perhaps my military background helped with something.)”~Jan Lockhart
UPDATE APRIL 14, 2017- JUDITH-ANN ROBERTSON CONTACTS ME WITH WHAT IS MOST LIKELY THE CORRECT INTERPRETATION
Hi Miz Sandra, Doing some research for an lecture on Chow history and was looking at the Palace Chow page – here’s my translation of the inscription (military family): The Tenant with the Palace Chow Dog Dress – hot weather Drill order, cool but not smart. Here, smart meaning stylish, fashionable, elegant…
Judith Ann
BELOW: Queen Victoria had a great passion for dogs and pets of all kinds. There is little information on her chows other than numerous articles referring to several Chows were” housed in London Zoo in the Wild Dog area and in 1865 Queen Victoria was presented with some Chows which were kept in cages at Windsor.” Queen Victoria passed in 1901, so if this “Palace Chow” was indeed one of her pets, it would have been late in her life as the photo is dated 1897.
ABOVE: As for the important dates for Queen Alexandra, in 1863 she married Albert Edward, Prince of Wales and she reigned as Princess of Wales from 1863-1901, the longest time anyone held that title. When Queen Victoria died in 1901, Albert Edward became King Edward VII, and Alexandra his queen-empress from 1901 to 1910.
My best guess from the information I have at this point is that THE PALACE CHOW photo, is most likely a chow that resided at the royal palace, and I am leaning toward the possibility that this could be “Plumpie”. Why? Take a look at the dog’s jawline, eyes and ear placement . They are very distinctive and the dates fall right in line with the last photo in the Plumpie article (see below) dated 1892, The PALACE CHOW photo is dated 5 years after that. With documentation in my archives of chow lifespans reaching 15 years or more back then, it is a good possibility.
BELOW- THIS ARTICLE WOULD NOT BE COMPLETE WITHOUT MENTIONING THE QUEEN VICTORIA TEDDY BEAR LEGEND- Source Charlotte Wilcox THE CHOW CHOW
This is ongoing research so I will be updating this article as I find anything new and I welcome all additions or corrections with documentation to keep the archives as accurate as possible.
IF ANYONE HAS ANY MORE INFORMATION THAT PERTAINS TO THIS TOPIC I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU . CONTACT ME AT [email protected]
“chow lifespans reaching 15 years or more back then….” Just want to correct the impression that there are no long lived chows,a great number of, mine seem to last 14 and 15 years with a few making it to 16 and are active and enjoying life till the very last. I am thoroughly enjoying my visits to your Chowtales.com. Love it all and I keep coming back, it is wonderful entertainment, very thoughtful and professionally done, a pleasure to visit.I will make up a package for you on the smooths and other interesting stuff about our chow friends. The first printed book in the East was the Heart Sutra with a chow pictured lying at the feet of the Budha. Also, It was not unusual for a bronze to have chows siting at the feet of and guarding the Budha , I never could afford one but I have seen 3 of them, dated 500 and 600 Northern China. Only one in a museum is at the Freer in Washington, others in private collections. Good work my friend, thank you. Zola
The last line looks like “cool but not smart.” In any case the last letter is definitely “t” (compare it with “but not”).
It sure does look like “cool but not smart” Seebee. Thanks so much for reading the article and for the great input!
Sandra