Papillon & Phalène

Most of us know that the Papillon was so named because of its resemblance to the impressively large, erect ears that suggest the wings of a butterfly. The drop-eared variety of the breed, however, came to be called the “Phalène” which means “night moth.”

Image: Papillon by Carol Ratafia
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One thought on “Papillon & Phalène”

  1. And I believe the drop-eared came first- this from Wikipedia. “The “Titian spaniels” and those portrayed by later artists through Mignard and his contemporaries had the drooping ears characteristic of today’s Phalène; it was not until the end of the 19th century that the erect-eared appearance became fashionable[9] and gave the breed’s modern name, Papillon, French for “butterfly”.”

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