Papillons, Phalenes & History of the Lap Dog

Papillons and Phalenes are a Toy Breed, and considered as a Lap Dog.
Lapdogs are not a specific breed, but most dogs within the Toy Breed category are lapdogs.
A Lap Dog, or Lapdog is a small dog, which fits easily on your lap, and comes with a friendly disposition, and (some) with a "watchful" eye, to warn you of intruders.
Historically these little dogs where kept by many societies around the world.
History tells us that Lapdogs are one of the very earliest specific dogs bred.
And history tells us that lapdogs where used not only as pets, but for

• Status Symbols
• Fashion Accessories
• Providing warmth on one's lap

And:

• To attract fleas away from the owner!!! 

There where a few lapdogs developed as a "working" dog; mostly out of the Terrier group.
The Pekingese is one of the oldest lapdogs, bred in  ancient China to fit inside the sleeves of a man's robe.

Two women playing with a lap dog, China, 8th century, Beauties Wearing Flowers by Tang Dynasty painter Zhou Fang

Papillons (Phalenes) appear in portraits of European royalty, painted by the Old Masters as early as the 13th Century.

Related links:
http://www.roadsend-papillons-phalenes.com/search/label/Old%20Masters
http://www.roadsendpapillons.com/History.html
http://www.roadsendpapillons.com/OldMasters.html

Papillon Origin

Excerpts from "Brief History of the Papillon" by Rachel D. Kemmerer(as it appears in the 1963 Papillon Handbook.)
The origin of the Continental Toy Spaniel, of which the Papillon is the modern representative, can be traced through the paintings of the Old Masters of every country in Western Europe as far back as the earliest years of the 16th Century. Beginning about 1500, Vecellio, called Titian,painted a number of tiny spaniels, rather similar to the hunting spaniels of the day.  In this century and the next, dogs – so like the Titian spaniel that it is safe to assume this was a pure breed – made their appearance in Spain,France and the Low Countries.The continued popularity of the little spaniel in court circles gave the breeder's ready market for their dogs.  Evidently they conducted an intensive breeding program for its refinement.  Over the years it developed finer bone, more abundant coat and profuse feathering. The most characteristic change,however, was in the shape of the head.  Titian’s spaniels had relatively flat heads with little stop ; a type of toy spaniel painted shortly after by Veroneseand others had high-domed, sometimes bulging heads.By the time of Louis XIV, French and Belgian breeders had perfected the type they sought. Mignard, the official court painter, in his portraits of the child Marie de Bourbon, the Dauphin and His Family, and several paintings of Henrietta d’Orleans, shows us a little spaniel that could scarcely be improved upon today.From Titian through Mignard and his contemporaries, all of the Contintenal ToySpaniels had drooping ears.  The ears were set high, although far enough apart to show the curve of the skull.  They were of medium size, hanging, as one writer has expressed it "lightly".  There may, however, have been an occasional dog with leathers of sufficient strength for the ears to stand erect.  Two 18th Century paintings suggest this.

Photo of a Papillon (Phalene) 1850/1860

Cette photo d'un papillon prise dans un studio de Genéve date des environs 1850/1860

Papillon/Phalene History, Paintings of Phalenes (Papillons)from Old Masters

Antoine Pesne ,Berlin 1757
Friedrich II

Antoine Pesne 1726
La Reina Sofia Dorotea de Hannover

Papillon, Phalene History: Old Masters: Paintings of Phalenes, the original Breed of the Papillon

Let's remember where our beloved Butterflies come from.
 Here you see a few paintings of  Phalenes, done by Old Masters.
The Phalene is the original breed of the Papillon. Phalenes have dropped ears; they are a Spaniel breed, also known as Continental Spaniel. The erect ear version of the Phalene, called Papillon, was much later developed. .
At that time, they called the drop-down version: Phalene, and the erect ear version: Papillon.
Phalene translates from French to: Moth
Papillon translates from French to Butterfly.
In the USA they are considered as one breed
(Click on an image to see all in a much better version, without leaving this blog!!)

Old Masters, Papillon/Phalene History

" Livia Colonna " ( 1580 )
Paolo Veronese, Italien Painter
ca 1528-1588

Henry III Papillons, History of Papillons, Phalenes, Toy Spaniels

Continental Toy Spaniels (Papillons, Phalenes)came actually from a very small region of this world: it was Western Europe.
The dogs lived mostly in the palaces of kings, and the breed was nick-named: a dog of kings.
From the XV century on, the Toy spaniels became very popular in all the royal courts in Europe, as in Poland, Sweden, but reaching the highest popularity in France. This breed remained unchanged the courts favored dog for centuries to come.
Henry II, Henry III, Louis XIV, and XV; Marie Antoinette, Madame Pompadour-, they all loved and adored these tiny Spaniels.

King Henry III, 1570, by Jean de Court

French King Henry III.
There where apparently Toy Spaniels everywhere, around King Henry III.
His favored pets, 3 Spaniels,  even slept on his bed, and he took them to the State Council, in a basket, hanging from his chest.
Henry III often traveled to Lyon, the town, where the Spaniels where bred, and purchased another Spaniel pet for an incredible amount of money (in 1576, 100.000 crowns must have been something).
One of his favored pets was named: Lilin
On 1st August 1589, Henry III met with his army in Saint -Cloud, to prepare an attack on Paris.
A monk, named Jacques Clement was granted to appear in front of Henry III to deliver important documents to the king.
Lilin, his favored Spaniel, he took along,  showed a strong hostility toward the monk, and had to be left back in the lobby.
The monk, asking for privacy, to give the king a important, secret message, along with the documents, was now alone with the king; and as he whispered in his ear, he plunged a knife the kings abdomen.
Clement tried to flee, but Lilin, the Spaniel, along with her other companions back in the lobby, raised an alarm, and the monk was killed on the spot.
King HenryIII could only say: "If I only had listened to Lilin".
King Henry III died the following morning.

 A Lady Wearing a White and Gold-Embroidered Dress
Santi di Tito

Italian painter ( 1536 - 1602 )

You Ask: Name of Louis XIV Papillon. (History of Papillons)

Your question of what the name is of King LouisXV Papillon, needs a little bit of further historical explanation:
It is thought that both Marie Antoinette and Madame de Pompadour helped the Papillon become fashionable and they both admired and owned this breed.

Madame de Pompadour

 Madame de Pompadour was the mistress of King Louis XV, and owned Inez and Mimi which were her two pet Papillons.
Marie Antoinette had a Sevres porcelain model of a Phalene (Papillon with drop ears) in her room that was only found after her death..

Marie Antoinette

Marie Antoinette is said to have walked to the guillotine clutching her small dog under her arm  . 
Marie Antoinette's dog was a small spaniel that had been brought to the French court from Spain on the back of pack mules. According to the story, her pup was spared and cared for in a building in Paris still called the Papillon House.
Marie Antoinette's dog was said to have descended from a very old drop-eared breed known as the Epagneul Nain Continental, or Continental Dwarf/Toy Spaniel that appeared in church frescos and paintings as early as the 13th century .
 Her house in Paris, France is known today as The House of the Papillon.

 Toward the end of the 19th century, breed fanciers bred a version of the spaniel whose ears stood up. This dog was said to have been nicknamed papillon based on the impressively large, erect ears that resembled the wings of a butterfly. The drop-eared variety of the breed came to be called the Phalène (which means "night moth"). Both types may today appear in the same litter..

Old Masters

Jacob Ochtervelt
Family Group (1670)

History of the Phalene

It is said, that the actual Phalene was originated in Spain; even though his name is a french name and stands for "Moth".
The Phalene belongs to the Spaniel Group, and is the original dog where the  Papillon later developed from.
A Phalene carries his ears down, a Papillon's ears are up.
Not too many people know that all the way to the 19Th century, there where almost exclusively Phalenes.
They where then known world wide, and only from the 19Th century on the Papillons became a known breed.
In the Renaissance, there where many painters/artists, who painted the Phalenes.
Many famous people owned a Phalene:
Henry II of France bought a Phalene for 100.000 Krone.
Marie Antoinette, Madame de Pompadour, and Henry III of France also had a big love for Phalenes.

Porträt von „Clarissa Strozzi“ mit kleinem Spaniel Hund (Tizian, ca. 1542)





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Old Masters

" Madame de Pompadour " ( 1763 - 64 )

Old Masters

" The story teller "

Jean-Antoine Watteau

French Painter ( 1684 - 1721 )

S Babes

Strammer Max + Snickers Delight @ 8.5 Weeks

Strammer Max is so far is a Phalene. (that can still change)

Snickers Delight is a Papillon.

The Phalene Dog (History)

There is a gaining interest in the US in the Phalene dog, the "drop-ear variety of the Papillon.
Phalene is the french word to  "moth", vs Papillon to "butterfly".

Marrics Kaleidoscope PH @ Road's End

So, here we are talking about our sweet little "moth" dogs, also known as "Continental Toy Spaniel".
As you know: they are Spaniels!!
And , the fact is, that the Phalene is the first variety of the two dogs; the Papillon with his erect ears was developed and bred much later.
Their precise origin is somewhat unknown. It could have been in France,Belgium,  Italy, or even Spain.
But we do know, that they where companion dogs to the Royal, as many paintings tell us.
Some estates used them also to keep their hallways and rooms free of rats and mice and other varmints.

CH/BA Road's End Strammer Max PH

In the US, the AKC club registers Phalenes and Papillons in the same group. They also show up in the same ring, and a Papillon will win over the Phalene more often, due to the fact, that the Phalene is so much less popular, and  judges often do not know this variety very well.
In Europe, there are a lot of shows who follow the rules of the FCI (Federation Cynologique Internationale). They judge and list them separately. But the Phalene, with the exception of the drop ear, is authentically to the Papillon.

Marrics Blitz (Phalene Puppy) @ Road's End

We have in the US the International Shows (IABCA), who represent the FCI and follow their rules.
I can highly recommend you to go to these shows, with your Phalene, or Papillon.
The ears are set higher on phalenes than any other Spaniel type .
The ears of the adult Phalene should be firm, no too thick, round, with fringes .
Right in line of the Phalenes eyes, there should be a slight lift under those drop ears.
Do not mistake a Papillons "lazy ear", weak ear leather, or one ear erect, the other down for a Phalene variety. These are all faults.

Old Masters

Phalene, von Franz Krüger 1797-1857 (above)
Goja 1746-1828 : Spanischer Prinz mit seinem Phalene Hündchen. (below)

o.li.: Antoine Pesne

Friedrich II.von Preussen (der Große) 1712-1786, K�nig von Preussen 1740-1786, als Kind mit Zwerghündchen, Phalene, gemalt um 1714.

o.re.:Antoine Pesne

Friedrich II. als Kind mit seinem Phalene Hündchen, gemalt 1716.( 2 images above)
u.li.:Antoine Pesne


Königin Sophie Dorothea von Preussen mit Zwerghündchen, Phalene, gemalt um 1740.

u.re.:Portrait mit Zwergspaniel-Phalene.

gemalt um 1725 (2 Images below)

Tizian 1489-1576

Bildnis der Clarissa Strozzi mit ihrem Phalene Hündchen, gemalt 1542 (above)

Tobias Stimmer 1539-1584


Bildnis der Elisabeth Lochmann, Gattin des Jakob Schwytzer, gemalt 1564, links unten ist ein Phalene zu sehen. (below)

Old Masters

Antoine Pesne. French Painter (1683- 1757): Queen Sophie Dorothea (1737)

Old Masters

William Hogarth (Brittish Painter 1697-1764)

" Portrait of a Young Girl " ( 1742 - 45 )

Old Masters

La-Belle-Strasbourgeoise

Nicolas de Largilliere 1656-1746

Papillon's Ears

Someone searched for the  following statement the appropriate answer:
"My Papillon's ears fell down"
Yes, this situation does happen occasionally: a Papillon puppy can develop first regular erect ears, and then some months later drop those ears down to be a Phalene.

Remember, there was first the Phalene, the Papillon breed was mastered much later, but there are  Phalene genes in all of them. Some litters get born from a Papillon sire and dam, but the pups are Phalenes, or vice verse.

If you want to make relatively sure to get a Papillon or a Phalene, you must look at the pups relatives several generations back. If they show a strong line of Papillons, you most likely have a Papillon puppy. If you see some Phalenes, and some Papillons in the grand parents, you can be surprised with either one.

The Phalene Dog

The Phalene is the first and earliest form of the Papillon.
His origin is believed to be from Belgium around the 1400s. The Phalene was very popular in the French and Italian royal courts at that time. His popularity peaked in the 17Th century at the French court of Louis the XIV.
The dwarf spaniel found his way to England and later on to the U.S.
The AKC Kennel Club accepted the Phalene in 1935 in the registry.

The Phalene is also named:

• Drop eared Papillon
• Espagneul Nain
• Continental Spaniel

The  body type is the same as of a Papillon.
See Papillon Standards

Jan Verokolje 1675

Paolo Veronese 1560-70

Papillons and Phalenes may be born in the same litter.