Where did Montgomery's inspiration for these dogs stem from?
L.M. Montgomery's inspiration came from a pair of green spotted china dogs owned by her grandfather. She saw them at his home in Park Corner, P.E.I. where she frequently visited her paternal Grandparents at the Macdonald house. This location is a museum today run by the Montgomery family as the "Lucy Maud Montgomery Heritage Museum." There, you may still see Gog today (Magog has suffered some damage). I visited this museum this summer and it was my favorite L.M. Montgomery site, since there was so much interaction with the LMM's relative who runs the museum. I encourage any fan visiting P.E.I. to stop in and see Gog and Magog there, along with the rosebud tea set, Grandfather's clock, and more!
She purchased two pairs of china dogs for herself on her honeymoon, one pair with golden spots. These dogs are now located in the University of Guelph library archives, where you can also see L.M. Montgomery's O.B.E According to my Guelph pal Beth, these dogs had hand-painted gold spots, and were glued back together after an apparent accident, rather messily, and the glue is yellowing. Their spots are not round, rather dabbed with a paintbrush and were surprisingly large, standing around a foot high. You can read an article about the second pair at Guelph:
It's Been a Dog's Life for Gog and Magog
Kind thanks to Beth for agreeing to be interviewed.
Quotes:
Anne of the Island
"
...and just behind each sat a large white china dog, with round green
spots all over it, a green nose and green ears. Those dogs captured Anne's
fancy on the spot; they seemed like the twin guardian deities of Patty's
Place. ....
"
Will you leave the china dogs?" asked Anne timidly.
"
Would you like me to?"
"
Oh, indeed yes. They are delightful."
A pleased expression came into Miss Patty's face.
"
I think a great deal of those dogs," she said proudly. "They are over a hundred
years old, and they have sat on either side of the fireplace ever since my
brother Aaron brought them from London fifty years ago... I shall leave the
dogs where they are, if you will promise to be very careful of them," she said. "Their
names are Gog and Magog. Gog looks to the right and Magog to the left. "
Anne's House of Dreams :
"
...she asked if I would take her gift to you. What would you wish most from
Patty's Place Anne?"
"
You can't mean that Miss Patty has sent me her China dogs?"
"
...We are sending you the china dogs. I intended to leave them to you in my
will, because you seemed to have a sincere affection for them. But Maria and
I expect to live a good while yet (D.V.), so I have decided to give you the
dogs while you are young. You will not have forgotten that Gog looks to the
right and Magog to the left."
"
Just fancy those lovely old dogs sitting by the fireplace in the house of my
dreams," said Anne rapturously. "I never expected anything so delightful."
The History of Gog and Magog (information from
ENCYCLOPĘDIA BRITANNICA)
in the Bible, a hostile power that is ruled by Satan and will manifest itself
immediately before the end of the world (Revelation 20). In the biblical passage
in Revelation and in other Christian and Jewish apocalyptic literature, Gog
is joined by a second hostile force, Magog; but elsewhere (Ezekiel 38; Genesis
10:2) Magog is apparently the place of Gog's origin.
An independent legend of Gog and Magog surrounds two colossal wooden effigies
in the Guildhall, London. They are thought to represent survivors of a race
of giants destroyed by Brutus the Trojan, the legendary founder of London (Troia
Nova, or New Troy), and brought there to act as porters at the gate of the
royal palace. Effigies of Gog and Magog have existed in London from the time
of Henry V. The first figures were destroyed in the Great Fire (1666) and were
replaced in 1708. The second pair was destroyed in an air raid in 1940 and
again replaced in 1953. In the legends recounted by the medieval English historian
Geoffrey of Monmouth, Gogmagog, or Goėmagot, was a giant chieftain of Cornwall
who was slain by Brutus' companion Corineus.
Reference:
"Gog" Encyclopędia Britannica
<http://www.britannica.com/eb/article?eu=37937&tocid=0&query=gog%20and%20magog>
[Accessed April 15, 2002].
Last Updated 10.01.06
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