Victorian Salesman Sample "Charley" Dog Gravestone Paperweight

In the 19th century, elaborate funerals weren't just held for people, they also held them for dogs! A touching tribute for a loyal friend and companion, canine funerals saw a rise in popularity in the 1880s with the opening of the first public pet cemetery, The Hyde Park Dog Cemetery, in London, followed by the Hartsdale Canine Cemetery in New York just a little more than a decade later.  Dog funerals often had the same degree of pomp and ceremony as that of a lost (human) family member or loved one. While some were kept simple and informal, others were over the top -- complete with funeral cards, sacred music and even funeral processions with coaches and servants! Grieving owners also spared no expense when it came to denote the final resting place of their beloved companion. Graves were marked with simple to elaborate headstones, which often included the animal's name, date of birth and death, as well as a touching epitaph.  Some headstones were designed to capture the animal's liken