What at first look seems to be an unexceptional canine, truly began out its life within the family of the Chinese emperor earlier than being looted by the English throughout their sacking of the Old Summer Palace in Beijing. The tiny Pekingese was then shipped again to England as a present for Queen Victoria , who flippantly named her Looty.
When Looty arrived in Queen Victoria’s family, she was a uncommon curiosity. While its historical past is a bit of murky, historians consider that Pekingese have been first bred to resemble tiny lions probably way back to 2,000 years in the past. A breed of toy canine, they have been reserved solely for members of the imperial family, whereas miniature Pekingese have been bred as “sleeve dogs” so they may disguise contained in the sleeves of robes.
According to legend, Pekingese canine originated from the romance between a lion and a marmoset monkey who fell in love regardless of their huge distinction in measurement. Associated with these tales of sacred origins, some declare that servants of the Chinese courtroom needed to bow once they handed a Pekingese.
The story of Looty is entwined with the political scenario between the British Empire and Imperial China through the Second Opium War, when Anglo-French troops returned to strain China into opening its borders to Western commerce and guarantee management over the profitable commerce in opium.
Photograph of Looty the Pekingese in 1865, described by Captain Dunne as “most perfect little beauty.” She died at Windsor Castle in 1872 and was buried in an unmarked grave. ( Public area )
After the Chinese Qing Dynasty captured and tortured an Anglo-French delegation, the British retaliated when James Bruce, Earl of Elgin, ordered the destruction and looting of the Old Summer Palace. (Incidentally, Bruce was the son of the brainchild who ordered the plunder of the Elgin Marbles .) Known as Yuanmingyuan, that means “the Garden of Perfect Brightness,” this sprawling complicated of palaces and gardens was a Chinese paradisiacal Neverland, crammed with priceless artworks representing hundreds of years of Chinese historical past.
During its rampant destruction, remembered by the Chinese as the final word humiliation, 5 Pekingese canine have been found. One was taken by a British Captain by the title of John Hart Dunne, who later penned the next letter to Queen Victoria :
“This little dog was found by me in the Palace of Yuan-Ming-Yuan near Pekin on the 6th of October 1860. It is supposed to have belonged to either the Empress, or one of the ladies of the Imperial Family. It is a most affectionate and intelligent little creature – it has always been accustomed to being treated as a pet and it was with the hope that it might be looked upon as such by Her Majesty and the Royal Family that I have brought it from China.”
Looty’s subsequent insensitive naming, and the proliferation of artifacts from the sacking of the Old Summer Palace , have turn into symbolic of brazen British imperialism and colonial looting throughout this period.
Top picture: Portrait of Looty the Pekingese lion canine, commissioned by Queen Victoria and painted by Friedrich Wilhelm Keyl. Source: Public area
By Cecilia Bogaard
