What characterises Victorian sporting and animal oil paintings?

Victorian sporting and animal paintings focused on depicting working dogs, hunting hounds, and livestock in realistic rural settings. Popularised during the 19th century in Britain, these works highlighted working dog breeds and country life through detailed brushwork and warm lighting.

What materials were traditionally used in 19th-century oil paintings and frames?

Paintings from this era were created using oil pigments on stretched linen canvas anchored to wooden stretchers. The surrounding ornate frames were constructed from wood and moulded composition, finished with hand-applied gold leaf over a gesso foundation.

How can authentic 19th-century oil paintings be identified?

Authentic period paintings show natural signs of age, such as uniform surface craquelure, oxidation of protective varnishes, and darkening on the reverse of the canvas. Period giltwood frames often present minor wear on raised surfaces, revealing red or grey bole beneath the gilding.

How can an antique dog portrait be styled in a modern interior?

Traditional canine portraits serve as narrative focal points when positioned above a fireplace, sideboard, or integrated into a gallery wall. Pairing classical gilded frames with contemporary furniture creates balanced visual contrast within both traditional and modern schemes.

How should historical oil paintings and giltwood frames be maintained?

Keep historical artwork away from direct sunlight, excess moisture, and direct heat sources to prevent canvas movement and varnish breakdown. Remove loose dust from the canvas surface and carved frame mouldings using a dry, soft camel-hair brush, avoiding moisture or chemical cleaners.

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19th Century Edward Armfield Oil Painting a Sharp Lookout Working Terriers

Name: 19th Century Edward Armfield Oil Painting a Sharp Lookout Working Terriers
Brand: Antique
SKU: SA1236491
Price: 3200 GBP
Availability: InStock

19th century

For Sale by Cheshire Antiques Consultant Ltd

Description

19th Century Edward Armfield Oil Painting A Sharp Lookout Working Terriers

A characterful signed 19th century British sporting oil painting by Edward Armfield depicting three working terriers keeping an intensely sharp lookout for unseen quarry within a rustic barn.

Traditionally titled A Sharp Lookout, the composition captures the instant immediately before action. The terriers have clearly detected something concealed nearby. Their alert expressions and differing poses create a compelling sense of anticipation while allowing each animal an individual character.

Warm browns, ochres and subdued natural tones establish the agricultural interior, with the lighter markings of the dogs emerging effectively against the surrounding shadow.

The Artist

Edward Armfield was a British animal and sporting painter particularly associated with terriers, working dogs and scenes of ratting and rabbiting.

Published sources differ concerning his precise dates and identity. Traditional auction cataloguing frequently uses 1817 to 1896, while other records describe him simply as Edward Armfield, 19th Century.

We therefore conservatively catalogue the artist as:

Edward Armfield

British, 19th Century

Comparative Research

Terrier ratting subjects recur within Armfield's documented oeuvre, with signed examples recorded by major auction houses.

A separate Edward Armfield composition has historically carried the title A Sharp Lookout. It is a different painting and forms no part of the provenance of the present work, but provides useful comparative evidence for Armfield's association with the title.

Signature & Inscription

Signed E. Armfield lower left.

Historically inscribed verso:

"a sharp lookout / by E Armfield"

Provenance

Subsequent private ownership.

acquired by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD at the Annual Buxton Decorative, Antiques & Fine Art Fair.

Dealer invoice No. 303 retained within our archive.

Medium

Oil on canvas.

Dimensions

51 cm high x 61 cm wide x 4 cm deep overall including frame.

Approximately 20.1 inches high x 24 inches wide x 1.6 inches deep.

Condition

The canvas has previously been relined. Age-related craquelure, aged varnish and associated tonal discolouration are present.

The antique decorative gilt frame displays age-related wear commensurate with its age.

Shipping

Worldwide shipping is available.

The painting will be professionally packed with appropriate consideration given to the historic oil-on-canvas support and decorative gilt frame. Insured delivery can be arranged according to destination.

Certificate of Sale & Dealer Attribution

The artwork will be supplied with a Certificate of Sale & Dealer Attribution issued by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®, recording the artwork’s catalogue details, attribution, provenance as stated, and details of the sale. This document accompanies the work as part of its ongoing ownership and provenance record.

Attribution and Research

The historical observations, provenance research, attribution analysis and contextual commentary presented within this catalogue entry represent the professional opinion of Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®. They are offered in good faith as informed scholarly assessments based upon the available evidence, comparative research, published reference material and our experience within the international fine art market.

These observations should be understood as professional opinions rather than definitive statements of fact or guarantees of authorship, attribution, date, origin, provenance or historical interpretation. As with all historic works of art, future documentary discoveries, technical examination, conservation analysis or advances in academic research may refine, expand or revise current interpretations.

Physical Dimensions

Height

51cm (20.08")

Width

61cm (24.02")

Depth

4cm (1.57")

Declaration

Cheshire Antiques Consultant Ltd has dated this Victorian Terrier Oil Painting to the 19th Century.

Reference Numbers

Sellingantiques Reference

SA1236491

Dealers Internal Reference

CAK-SK-5015

Dealers Notes

Delivery shipping information

Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD ship worldwide, using fully insured and online tracked delivery services like DHL, DPD, Parcelforce or Fedex also the British Shop. We offer Free national Delivery to England mainland, Wales mainland & Scottish lowland mainland areas only.

We offer Free UK mainland delivery only, international shipping to USA, Canada, Europe. All other countries rest of the world please get in touch for a shipping quote.

Great care and much time are taken over the safe transportation of the Fine Art & Antique pieces which we sell.

We bespoke pack & wrap extremely carefully, so you can rest assured that your piece will arrive with you in great as described condition.

For larger paintings, antique furniture pieces, and fragile items which can not be sent via the normal postal services, we use professional door-to-door delivery providers, who will always strive to deliver your piece promptly, within approximate. 2-5 working days for the United Kingdom mainland & International delivery between 5-14 working days.

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We offer a 14-day money-back refund policy

(excluding the cost of Postage & Packaging costs & any duties, taxes customs charges paid on buyers behalf or buy the buyer direct ).

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We have a friendly & professional team on hand who are here to help you with any queries you may have.

Tel: 07494763382

Outside the UK:

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Our primary payment method is by (BACS) & International bank wire transfer, we can email you an invoice with our banking details upon request. We no longer accept any Online Card or in person card payments due to payment providers charging us and not returning the processing transaction fee even if an order is fraudulent, cancelled or returned. All Item(s) will need to be settled by bank transfer only. We will email you a proforma invoice with our bank details.

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Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD operates on a Delivery Duty Unpaid (DDU) basis which means that the International buyer is responsible for any import duties, taxes & customs clearance charges and any other customs charges which may be necessary to release an order from international customs.

Following the UK leaving the EU on 1st January 2021 (BREXIT) there have been some changes to customs & duty charges for EU customers. Tax and import duty varies from country to country so we recommend you check with your local tax office to see if any fees will be payable.

If the customer refuses to pay any duty and customs charges and the parcel is returned to sender all shipping charges will be deducted from any refund.

Description

19th Century Edward Armfield Oil Painting A Sharp Lookout Working Terriers

“

A characterful signed 19th century British sporting oil painting by Edward Armfield depicting three working terriers keeping an intensely sharp lookout for unseen quarry within a rustic barn.

Cheshire Antiques Consultant Ltd

fig 1. A 19th-century oil painting depicting three working terriers inside a straw-lined barn, presented in an ornate giltwood frame with detailed corner embellishments. — fig 1. 19th Century Edward Armfield Oil Painting a Sharp Lookout Working Terriers

Traditionally titled A Sharp Lookout, the composition captures the instant immediately before action. The terriers have clearly detected something concealed nearby. Their alert expressions and differing poses create a compelling sense of anticipation while allowing each animal an individual character.

fig 2. A 19th-century oil painting depicting three working terriers inside a straw-lined barn, presented in an ornate giltwood frame with detailed corner embellishments. — fig 2. 19th Century Edward Armfield Oil Painting a Sharp Lookout Working Terriers

Warm browns, ochres and subdued natural tones establish the agricultural interior, with the lighter markings of the dogs emerging effectively against the surrounding shadow.

The Artist

Edward Armfield was a British animal and sporting painter particularly associated with terriers, working dogs and scenes of ratting and rabbiting.

fig 3. A 19th-century oil painting depicting three working terriers inside a straw-lined barn, presented in an ornate giltwood frame with detailed corner embellishments. — fig 3. 19th Century Edward Armfield Oil Painting a Sharp Lookout Working Terriers

Published sources differ concerning his precise dates and identity. Traditional auction cataloguing frequently uses 1817 to 1896, while other records describe him simply as Edward Armfield, 19th Century.

fig 4. A 19th-century oil painting depicting three working terriers inside a straw-lined barn, presented in an ornate giltwood frame with detailed corner embellishments. — fig 4. 19th Century Edward Armfield Oil Painting a Sharp Lookout Working Terriers

We therefore conservatively catalogue the artist as:

Edward Armfield

British, 19th Century

Comparative Research

Terrier ratting subjects recur within Armfield's documented oeuvre, with signed examples recorded by major auction houses.

fig 5. A 19th-century oil painting depicting three working terriers inside a straw-lined barn, presented in an ornate giltwood frame with detailed corner embellishments. — fig 5. 19th Century Edward Armfield Oil Painting a Sharp Lookout Working Terriers

A separate Edward Armfield composition has historically carried the title A Sharp Lookout. It is a different painting and forms no part of the provenance of the present work, but provides useful comparative evidence for Armfield's association with the title.

fig 6. A 19th-century oil painting depicting three working terriers inside a straw-lined barn, presented in an ornate giltwood frame with detailed corner embellishments. — fig 6. 19th Century Edward Armfield Oil Painting a Sharp Lookout Working Terriers

Signature & Inscription

Signed E. Armfield lower left.

Historically inscribed verso:

"a sharp lookout / by E Armfield"

Provenance

Subsequent private ownership.

acquired by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD at the Annual Buxton Decorative, Antiques & Fine Art Fair.

fig 7. A 19th-century oil painting depicting three working terriers inside a straw-lined barn, presented in an ornate giltwood frame with detailed corner embellishments. — fig 7. 19th Century Edward Armfield Oil Painting a Sharp Lookout Working Terriers

Dealer invoice No. 303 retained within our archive.

Medium

Oil on canvas.

Dimensions

51 cm high x 61 cm wide x 4 cm deep overall including frame.

Approximately 20.1 inches high x 24 inches wide x 1.6 inches deep.

fig 8. A 19th-century oil painting depicting three working terriers inside a straw-lined barn, presented in an ornate giltwood frame with detailed corner embellishments. — fig 8. 19th Century Edward Armfield Oil Painting a Sharp Lookout Working Terriers

Condition

The canvas has previously been relined. Age-related craquelure, aged varnish and associated tonal discolouration are present.

The antique decorative gilt frame displays age-related wear commensurate with its age.

fig 9. A 19th-century oil painting depicting three working terriers inside a straw-lined barn, presented in an ornate giltwood frame with detailed corner embellishments. — fig 9. 19th Century Edward Armfield Oil Painting a Sharp Lookout Working Terriers

Shipping

Worldwide shipping is available.

The painting will be professionally packed with appropriate consideration given to the historic oil-on-canvas support and decorative gilt frame. Insured delivery can be arranged according to destination.

fig 10. A 19th-century oil painting depicting three working terriers inside a straw-lined barn, presented in an ornate giltwood frame with detailed corner embellishments. — fig 10. 19th Century Edward Armfield Oil Painting a Sharp Lookout Working Terriers

Certificate of Sale & Dealer Attribution

The artwork will be supplied with a Certificate of Sale & Dealer Attribution issued by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®, recording the artwork’s catalogue details, attribution, provenance as stated, and details of the sale. This document accompanies the work as part of its ongoing ownership and provenance record.

fig 11. A 19th-century oil painting depicting three working terriers inside a straw-lined barn, presented in an ornate giltwood frame with detailed corner embellishments. — fig 11. 19th Century Edward Armfield Oil Painting a Sharp Lookout Working Terriers

Attribution and Research

The historical observations, provenance research, attribution analysis and contextual commentary presented within this catalogue entry represent the professional opinion of Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®. They are offered in good faith as informed scholarly assessments based upon the available evidence, comparative research, published reference material and our experience within the international fine art market.

fig 12. A 19th-century oil painting depicting three working terriers inside a straw-lined barn, presented in an ornate giltwood frame with detailed corner embellishments. — fig 12. 19th Century Edward Armfield Oil Painting a Sharp Lookout Working Terriers

These observations should be understood as professional opinions rather than definitive statements of fact or guarantees of authorship, attribution, date, origin, provenance or historical interpretation. As with all historic works of art, future documentary discoveries, technical examination, conservation analysis or advances in academic research may refine, expand or revise current interpretations.