Breaking news: On July 2, 2025, Sotheby's "Four Thousand Years of Sculpture Master" officially raised the hammer. Anne Seymour DAMER's "Shock Dog" was estimated at GBP 200,000-300,000 and sold for GBP 500,000 plus commission GBP 635,000.About 6.22 million RMB, a new personal auction record(Breaking the record set by Christie’s London’s “A CARVED MARBLE DOG” GBP 106,050 on December 9, 2004).

The work is signed: ANNA. / ΣEIMOPIΣ. / ΔAMEP. EΠOIEI and is inscribed: 1795
Terracotta Height 30 cm, length 38 cm, width 31 cm; Height 11¾ in, length 15 in, width 12¼ in.
Condition Report: The clay is in very good condition overall, with minor stains and wear consistent with age. The crevices are particularly soiled. The clay shows a variable patina, including several lighter patches, especially around the signature area. The reverse of the base, which is inscribed 1795, has been restored. There are two original firing holes in the hair. There are several very minor chips in the height of the hair, and light scrapes on the edge of the base. There is white residue on the underside of the base. The interior of the statue is hollow, as can be seen from the bottom.
Inheritance: Bequeathed by the artist to his cousin, Louisa Johnston (1776-1852); has since been passed down in the family to the present owner.
Related Literature:
M. Whinney, English Sculpture 1530-1830, London, 1988, p. 320, fig. 232;
I. Roscoe, ed., Biographical Dictionary of English Sculptors 1660-1851, New Haven and London, 2009, p. 335;
R. Webb, Mrs. Dahmer: The Life of Anne Dahmer (1748-1828), Bruin, 2013, illustrations XII and p. 269.

It broke the previous record of GBP 106,050 held by Christie's London's "A CARVED MARBLE DOG" on December 9, 2004.

About the Artist

Anne Seymour Dahmer broke through the limitations of 18th-century female artists with her sculpture art. Her works not only demonstrated superb skills, but also reflected women's autonomy in the field of art through personal choices and social challenges. Despite gender bias and economic pressure, she achieved a balance between art and life through education, creation and social networks, becoming an indispensable pioneer in the history of female art.

Artistic achievements and style
Representative Works

A Seated Woman (c. 1780): Clay sculpture, now in the Yale Center for British Art.
Caroline Conway, Lady Aylesbury: marble relief, noted for its detailed anatomical representation.
Henley Bridge Sculptures: including stone columns over the Thames and Issos, showing her interpretation of classical themes.
"Damer's Apollo": The sculpture holding a chisel and hammer symbolizes the sculptor's creativity and power.

Artistic innovation and controversy
Anne broke through the conventional field of female artists in the 18th century and became the only woman in Britain famous for her sculpture. She rejected traditional gender norms, often dressed in men's clothing (such as hats and jackets), and even maintained an intimate relationship with her same-sex partner. Although female artists at the time were often limited to "feminine" subjects (such as flowers and still lifes), Anne proved the artistic potential of women through sculpture, a male-dominated field. Her works were once questioned as "disguise" or "actress", but most scholars believe that she has established a unique artistic status through professional training and continuous creation.

Social Impact and Legacy
Cross-cultural and social networking
Anne's social circle was wide, and she socialized with Napoleon, Marie Antoinette, Mary Berry, and others. She participated in the 1805 Royal Academy exhibition of William Henry West Beatty ("Young Rossius"), creating a head sculpture for him, showing her fusion of drama and art. In addition, she was active in the London art circle at the same time as Jane Austen, and her work was exhibited alongside Mary Moss and Angelica Kauffman in an exhibition visited by Austen in 1813.

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