Old Badge Hen and Holley Bros Racing Pigeons Oil Painting Attributed J Brown

Attributed to J Brown Old Badge Hen and Holley Brothers Racing Pigeons Oil Painting

Rare British sporting folk art racing pigeon portrait attributed to J Brown, early twentieth century circa 1930.

Painted in oil on board, the work depicts two racing pigeons with original inscriptions recording breeding and racing achievements.

The left hand bird is named OLD BADGE HEN. Her inscription records DAM OF 1ST PERTH and CLUB AND FED GRAND DAM, identifying her as an important breeding hen whose offspring and descendants achieved notable racing results.

Further lettering appears to record 1ST CHESTER, 3RD BUXTON and 2ND CRAVEN ARMS, although part of the Chester inscription remains indistinct.

The blue bar cock is accompanied by MESSRS HOLLEY BRO BUTE. The meaning of BUTE remains unresolved. A Bute Homing Pigeon Society is historically documented from 1895, although no evidence presently proves that the Holley Brothers were members or residents there.

The cock's racing record includes 1ST WHITLEY BAY 09, 1ST POOL, 2ND TYNMTH and 5TH PERTH. Whitley Bay 09 appears to record a first place result in 1909. TYNMTH is understood as Tynemouth. A further notation may refer to 1910.

Another inscription reads WIRED 6.45 DAY OF RACE, apparently referring to the telegraphic reporting of a racing pigeon's arrival or result.

A further passage refers to a BIRD TO FLY BANFF TO TREHFOD. TREHFOD is probably Trehafod in South Wales. If correct, this records an important long distance racing connection between Banff in Scotland and Trehafod. The ordinal before BIRD TO FLY remains indistinct and is not claimed as first or second.

The final wording appears to include 1ST CLUB and a five shilling pool result.

The work is therefore both a sporting portrait and a painted pedigree and racing record.

Artist Attributed to J Brown

School British Naive and Folk Sporting School

Medium Oil on board

Date Early twentieth century circa 1930

Painting approximately 44 by 41 cm

Framed approximately 57 by 52 by 2.5 cm

Unsigned

Provenance Private London pigeon fancier collection. Curated Auctions London 6 December 2024 Lot 370. Acquired by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD in 2024.

Exhibition Privately loaned and exhibited at the Famous Lord Hill Museum Shropshire.

Condition Good honest condition consistent with age. Craquelure, surface variation, scattered marks and spotting are present, with an area of discolouration towards the left. The carved wooden frame has age related wear, minor losses and historic repair and retouching.

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The historical observations, provenance research and attribution represent the professional opinion of Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD and are offered in good faith based upon available evidence, comparative research and published reference material.

These observations are professional opinions rather than guarantees of authorship, attribution, date, origin, provenance or historical interpretation.

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