Welcoming in the Year of the Dog

Detail of cover illustration for the Black and Tan Polka-Music by Caroline Lowthian [1860-1943] published ca1885. Detail of cover illustration for the Black and Tan Polka-Music by Caroline Lowthian [1860-1943] published ca1885_Rouse Hill House collection Sydney Living Museums.
Today marks the start of a new Lunar New Year, known as the Year of the Dog in the Chinese calendar. To celebrate we've had a look at dogs portrayed in our collections.
This striking portrait of a dog is from “The black and tan polka”, just one piece from the important collection of 19th century sheet music at Rouse Hill House & Farm.
Nicole Forsyth, who is currently studying the music collection, tells us that this piece of music belonged to one of the Terry family, who lived in a house called 'The Lilacs' at Ashfield when they purchased this music.
Perhaps they had a black and tan dog just like the one on the cover?
The music sounds just like a dog trotting along.