(Afghan Hound Database and Breed Information Exchange)
Crown Crest Afghan Hounds USA Page 1 (by Steve Tillotson, 2014)
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT - AHT (Steve T) wishes to thank Rik Mcdowell (Panache) and Natalie Rowntree for many of the photographs contained in this article. Natalie kindly provided Rik with original photographs from Kay Finch's personal collection. Rik has worked very hard to produce digital copies of the originals, some of which were marked/scratched and required considerable Rik skill and effort to produce the digital copies used herein. Many of these photographs are largely unseen, perhaps not seen for several decades since Kay used some (slides) in her presentation at breed events. So the Rik/Natalie photos in this article provide a rare and treasured, and often candid/personal view of Kay and her Crown Crest Afghan hounds, Thank you Rik and Natalie. PHOTO TOP OF PAGE Of all the Afghan hound artwork I have seen over the years, the work above by Kay Finch has to be right up there as one of the most spectacular and beautiful ever created. The terra cotta work is huge - 19.5" x 46". Kay produced this masterpiece c 1950 and it is pictured on page 42 of the 1997 Frick/Martinez Collectible Kay Finch Book. This piece was recently offered at auction in a price range of $11000 -= $16,000. Kay also carved the names of the dogs on a small plaque, so we know who the models were - Left to right: 1. Ch. Felt's Thief of Bagdad "Thumper", born 1946. 2. Ch. Five Mile Banu of Rebel Hill, born 1945 3. Ch. Jubilee Julian of Crown Crest, born 1947. 4. Ch. Zanya Elcoza, born 1945. 5. Ch. Egypt's Echo of Crown Crest, born 1949 This work of art was kept outdoors and the weathering has added additional character to it KAY BIO/BACKGROUND Kay Finch (maiden name Katherine Seamon) lived as a child in El Paso, Texas, later as a teenager she was sent to live with relatives in Nashville Tenessee. Kay met her husband Braden Finch who was a student at Vanderbilt University.In 1922 Kay returned to El Paso, Braden folowed, and they eloped to Las Cruces, New Mexico, and married on December 5, 1922. The parents of Kay and Braden were apparently happy with the marriage and welcomed Kay and Braden into the Finch family home in Memphis.
Kay owned various breeds of dogs in this era including Chihuahuas, Airdale Terrier, Wire Fox Terriers. In 1929 Kay and Bradrn moved to California. Braden was a reporter and worked for ther Ventura Star, then as editor at the Santa Paula Chronicle, then the Santa Ana Journal. Kay kept herself busy breeding dogs, and attending art classes.. The Santa Ana Journal closed down, Braden received a goodly sum on termination and he and Kay decided to take a trip around the world. Upon their return Braden decided to help develop Kay's sculpture hobby into a professional business .After their trip around the world, Kay and Braden returned to California and bought the property and some adjacent lots at Corona del Mar, which became the home of Crown Crest afghan hounds. in 1939.. Afghan hounds inceasingly became Kays focus. Kay was a close friend with Marion Florsheim (Five Mile) which undoubtedly fueled Kay's enthusiasm for the breed.
Kay's first Afghan hound was a pet. The beginnings of Crown Crest Afghan hounds start with the black bitch Ch Five Miles Banu Of Rebel Hill. In Kays own words - "My first litter was sired by Int Ch Rudiki ex my beautiful black Ch Five Miles Banu Of Rebel Hill. Guess what? The expensive litter consisted of one golden puppy girl named E Z T U L U V, whelped May 1947. In six months the same bitch, Banu, was mated to the Thief (Felt's Thief Of Bagdad) and we got a lovely litter of 5 males and 4 females, which was happily more like it. Blues, brindles, blacks, creams and solid white, litter whelped 12/3/1947." Kay repeated the breeding three years later and a liter of 8 resulted with a similar mix of colours to the first litter. The second breeding whelped on 10/23/1950
Shortly after Kay bred her first litter she received a surprising 25th Wedding Anniversary present from her husband Braden - an Afghan hound - Felt's Thief Of Bagdad. We'll explore Thief's story on the next page. Related content Claire Race (Rifka, UK) Marion Florsheim (Five Mile, USA) Lauer Froelich - (Elcoza, USA) Mrs Leo Conroy (Rudiwin, USA) Library Of Articles/Main Menu Toolbar |
