My Maltese jewelry was designed from a wonderful photograph of a Maltese all decked out in show regalia, the way I usually think of these dogs.
It is said that the Maltese dog was brought to Malta from Asia in about 1500 B.C. Not only that, but Greek and Roman art sometimes depicts a little white dog that looks suspiciously like the Maltese! They’ve been popular for a long time.
During the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, Maltese dogs were so desirable among the court ladies that they were priced at several thousand dollars. Let’s see, what is that in today’s conversion? Probably about a million bucks. Makes a purebred puppy sound like a bargain now!
Maltese dogs are very small, 8 to 10 inches in height and weighing only 61/2 to 9 pounds. They have a beautiful coat- especially great for those who like to brush hair, since you have to comb them every day. That reminds me of a Dr. Suess book that talks about a special animal with very long hair that is good for “girls who like to brush and comb”. I don’t think that would be me. But I can imagine that would be a satisfying activity for some.
I’ve created this Maltese design in more of a show coat, but you never know when I’ll revisit this one with a new version! |
