Vulcan Ornament

This handmade ornament, crafted exclusively for Mount Vernon, is one of the unique ornaments made by the British company St. Nicolas.  St. Nicolas has worked with a small Christian charity in Thailand and India for 25 years helping disadvantaged rural women work in their own communities by sewing decorations at home.

George Washington imported a number of hounds from England in 1770, and then in 1785 he received French foxhounds from the Marquis de Lafayette. These hounds, carefully bred and maintained by Washington, are the founders of today's American Foxhound. Washington noted that he wanted to breed "a superior dog, one that had speed, sense and brains." Among Washington's nearly thirty canine companions were Sweet Lips, Tipsy, Tippler, Cloe, Searcher, Drunkard, and Vulcan. We know that Vulcan was famous for stealing one of Lady Washington's hams from a serving table. We also know that, unlike Lady Washington, General Washington found the episode highly amusing. Vulcan is one of the animal characters featured in the children's book "Mount Vernon's Magnificent Menagerie and the Very Mysterious Guest". 

“Vulcan” is stamped on the back side of the ornament and a gold thread allows for easy display. Size is approximately 4” H x 3" W.