Vintage sculpture "Saint Bernard". Made of faience with excellent, almost detailed, elaboration of all elements. Italy, XX century.

The name of its breed, back in the 17th century, this dog received in honor of the monastery of St. Bernard, located in the Swiss Alps, which stood in one of the highest, at that time, inhabited places in Europe. Due to strong winds and frequent avalanches, these dogs were used to save people. Thanks to their endurance, thick skin and unusually developed sense of smell, the St. Bernards were perfect for the role of rescuers and, almost always, found buried travelers under snowdrifts. These dogs are often and now we see on the snowy slopes.

Serbernar - has become a living symbol of Switzerland. The most legendary and famous dog of this breed is Barry. At the beginning of the 19th century, this dog rescued and pulled out from under avalanches more than forty people, including an almost frozen little boy, whom she alone dragged on her back for more than five kilometers to the nearest village. According to legend, a barrel of rum hung around her neck, and that is why most of the images of this dog have survived to this day with this attribute, as a tribute to the courageous, faithful and noble dog Barry.