Old Badge Hen & Champion Racing Cock - British Folk Art Attributed to J. Brown

Old Badge Hen & Champion Racing Cock – British Folk Art Attributed to J. Brown Rare Early 20th-Century Pigeon Racing Trophy Painting with Original Sporting Inscriptions Oil on Board, circa 1930 | Curated Auctions London & Exhibition Provenance Highlights • Early 20th-century British sporting folk art • Attributed to racing-pigeon portraitist J. Brown • Individually named “Old Badge Hen” • Companion racing cock associated with Messrs Holley Brothers • Painted record includes 1st Whitley Bay 1909 • Breeding history records Old Badge Hen as dam and grand-dam • Further references to Perth, Tynemouth, Buxton, Banff and Trehafod • Extensive original painted inscriptions • Curated Auctions, London provenance • Famous Lord Hill Museum exhibition history • Certificate of Sale & Dealer Attribution supplied Introduction A rare and highly documentary British racing-pigeon painting depicting Old Badge Hen and a champion racing cock associated with Messrs Holley Brothers. The work belongs to the specialist tradition in which successful racing pigeons and valuable breeding birds were immortalised in painted portraits. Here the extensive inscriptions are fundamental to the composition, preserving an accumulated record of breeding and competitive achievement. Catalogue Details Artist: Attributed to J. Brown School: British Naive / Folk Sporting School Title: Old Badge Hen & Champion Racing Cock Date: Early 20th century, circa 1930 Medium: Oil on board Signature: Unsigned Frame: Carved period wooden frame Catalogue Note: The two pigeons are portrayed as distinct individuals rather than generic birds. Old Badge Hen stands at left with strongly patterned chequered plumage, while the lighter blue-bar cock occupies a prominent rocky ledge to the right. “OLD BADGE HEN” is painted directly beneath the left bird. The associated wording records “Dam of 1st Perth”, “Club & Fed” and “Grand Dam”, with further references to Buxton and Craven Arms. This terminology demonstrates the importance attached to her breeding legacy and to the success achieved by subsequent generations of her bloodline. The cock's inscription begins “MESSRS HOLLEY BRO. BUTE” and records “1st Whitley Bay 09”, “1st Pool”, “2nd Tynmth” and “5th Perth”, together with references to Banff, Trehafod and club success. The painting consequently operates simultaneously as animal portrait, sporting trophy, pedigree record and historical document. The Artist J. Brown is associated with a distinctive group of early 20th-century British racing-pigeon paintings in which carefully differentiated birds are combined with extensive handwritten records of their competitive histories. The direct handling, distinctive plumage and documentary inscriptions of the present picture provide the basis for the attribution. As no signature is presently visible, the work is catalogued conservatively as Attributed to J. Brown. Dating The painting is dated stylistically to the early 20th century, circa 1930. The recorded Whitley Bay success of 1909 is understood as part of the bird's historical racing record rather than the date the picture was painted. Provenance Private London-based pigeon fancier collection. Curated Auctions, London, Luxury Interiors: Including Exceptional Silver & Works of Art, 6 December 2024, Lot 370. Acquired and subsequently curated by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®. Exhibition History Privately loaned by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD® and exhibited at the Famous Lord Hill Museum, Shropshire. 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. Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD® Specialising in carefully curated British and European fine art, antiques and historic works of art. 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