A Frenchie of 70 Years Ago

CH Spiecker’s Objet d’Art

Early in 2008 a gentleman in New York contacted a club member requesting information regarding Frenchie-related material that he had bought at a sale. This included show ribbons (with rosettes from Westminster KC and the FBDCA 1941 National Specialty at Morris and Essex), photos and an AKC championship certificate, all related to Ch. Spiecker’s Objet d’Art, a Frenchie bitch from the World War II era.

The club Historian contacted him and the board approved the purchase of the items which were featured in a special exhibit at our 2008 National Specialty in Lawrence, KS. We are very fortunate that we have this collection that gives us a snapshot of a Frenchie champion from the time when our club was quite small and struggling to survive and the French Bulldog was considered to be one of the rarer breeds.

Spiecker’s Objet  d’Art was bred by Alice B. Seebald of New York City and was whelped November 22, 1937.  She was later owned by William and Edythe McDonald of Edgewater, NJ and earned her championship in August, 1941.  She  died in whelp, late 1942 or early 1943.

We are fortunate that the club was able to obtain this material, and urge all who have any French Bulldog materials that they think might be historically significant, such as old pedigrees, show photos, ribbons, etc., to consider giving the FBDCA the opportunity to obtain them for our archives.

The images below of this Frenchie’s Championship certificate and show ribbons are a great treasure that constitute a rare look into our past.  We hope that you enjoy it!

Reserve Winners Bitch at 1941 FBDCA
National Specialty Show, held at the famous
Morris and Essex Show.  The photo below (from a personal collection) shows the Open Bitches Under 22 lbs at that show, which was Spiecker’s Objet d’Art’s class.