Elsie de Wolfe, the leader of the pack when it came to style & design, had plenty of company when it came to her passion for the Pekingese.
Edith Wharton & Pekingese Dogs, 1920’s.
Image: Yale Collection of American Literature
Celebrities, Royalty, Fifth Avenue matrons and high society on both sides of the Atlantic embraced the little furry beasts making the Pekingese the fashionable accessory of the day.
Fleurette, Lady Duff Gordon’s Pekingese
Image: Randy Bigham / Genthe, 1919. IDH
From the 1910’s to the early 1930’s, the Peke’s paw prints could be seen all over the glamorous worlds of design and fashion.
Plantinum & Diamond Dog Brooch, Janesich.
The Pekingese often appeared in print, in both advertisements and editorials.
Peke Stehli Silks Ad. Image: Vogue, 1927. IDH
Dorothy Parker, who was never without a Dog herself, described the Pekingese in one of her first features for Vogue magazine in February of 1917 titled: Love Fashion, Love Her Dog.
“No woman who owns that lily of the field, a Pekingese, can be accused of selfishness; she simply hasn’t the time to think of herself. His Serene Highness demands unceasing attention.”
Like Elsie de Wolfe’s beloved French Bulldog Fauvette, a Pekingese made an appearance on stage in 1928.
Tullulah Bankhead starred in the theatre production of Jacque Deval’s The Cardboard Lover with the first of her many Pekes, Napoleon.
Cecil Beaton illustrated the Diva & her Dog in Vogue wearing a “motoring coat of scarlet and chinchilla.”
Interior Design Hounds take note:
Vogue reported the Pekingese “matched the ivory color scheme of her Mayfair flat” in London. How chic.
In her memoirs, Tallulah described her love of the Pekingese:
“I’ve been Pet-drunk for as long as I can remember. For thirty years I’ve been over-Pekingesed. Those little flat-faced, bow-legged, soft-coated Dogs enchant me.”
In the roaring 20’s there were no limits to the extravagant pampering bestowed on the Pet Pekingese.
But then again, what price is beauty?
Image: Interior Design Hound Collection
It appears as if straight hair was out of style in 1926.
W O W.
Would your Dog sit for that?
But wait, I L O V E this one…
In 1912, Mrs. Arthur Holland set tongues & tails wagging when she hosted a lavish banquet for her Pekingese pup at the Vanderbilt Hotel in New York City.
Image: The New York Times, 1912. IDH
The celebration was held in the Vanderbilt Hotel’s Chinese Buffet room. (Of course!)
The black lacquer and gilt interior of the Chinese Buffet was chinoiserie splendor to behold.
Vanderbilt Hotel. Image: Good Furniture, 1916
An Oriental accent could be seen upon entering the lobby of the Hotel.
Two rugs of a Chinese design were specially woven for the foyer in “Royal Chinese Blue.” The rugs were enormous: 27’ x 48’!
The lobby’s cigar and candy counters were also designed in the Chinese style.
Vanderbilt Hotel. Image: Good Furniture, 1916
“An imposing black lacquer screen” divided the Chinese Buffet room from the Hotel’s entrance according to Good Furniture Magazine.
Vanderbilt Hotel Chinese Buffet.
Image: Architecture & Building, 1912
Mrs. Holland’s guests, along with their “scubby, longhaired little escorts” arrived at 2 o’clock.
Seven invited Pekingese Dogs pranced into the Chinese Buffet to celebrate the 51 ribbons won by Vi Sin.
The tables were elaborately set with floral arrangements and baskets of “spiced candies & celestial nuts.”
Image: The New York Times, 1912. IDH
Each setting had a hand-lettered place card with the Dog’s or Guests name and the likeness of the award winning Pekingese Vi Sin.
The guests were seated in teakwood chairs while their four-legged friends sat beside them on matching teakwood stools.
Image: The New York Times, 1912. IDH
The menu of appetizers, trout, squab, salads, cake and ice cream were all given Pekingese names.
“Chur Ehr of Alderbourne” on the menu referred to a Pekingese bred by Mrs. Ashton Cross. It was rumored that J. Pierpoint Morgan offered her a staggering $30,000 for the Dog!
Where was Vi Sin, the Pekingese party’s guest of honor, purchased?
Why, the same Mrs. Ashton Cross of Engham, England.
Image: Library of Congress, 1908
One of Mrs. J.P. Morgan Jr’s. Pekingese, Pou Sa, is pictured above.
The woman holding the Dog is Mrs. Morris Mandy, the founder of Downshire Kennels.
Did you read my post about Elsie de Wolfe’s Passion for Pekingese?
Her beloved Dog Wee Toi was also from Mrs. Morris Mandy’s Downshire Kennels.
Elsie de Wolfe really was the leader of the pack!
Later, I’ve got to let the Dog out,
Taffy, our charming 
Your posts are simply fabulous!
I meant to include you today but jetlag messed with my brain.
I’ll do another dog post soon no doubt..
merci Cynthia
Carolg