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

Old Badge Hen & Holley Brothers Racing Pigeons British Sporting Oil Attributed to J. Brown Rare Early 20th Century British Folk Art Trophy Portrait with Racing and Breeding Inscriptions Highlights • British sporting folk art racing-pigeon portrait • Attributed to J. Brown • Early 20th century, circa 1930 • Oil on board • Two individually portrayed racing pigeons • Hen explicitly named “OLD BADGE HEN” • Historic breeding record includes “Dam of 1st Perth” and “Club & Fed. Grand Dam” • Further apparent results include Chester, Buxton and Craven Arms • Cock associated with “MESSRS HOLLEY BRO. BUTE” • Recorded “1st Whitley Bay 09” • Further performances from Tynemouth and Perth • Historic reference to Banff and Trehafod • Period racing-pigeon Club, Federation and pool terminology • Private London pigeon-fancier collection provenance • Curated Auctions, London provenance • Previously exhibited on private loan in Shropshire Introduction A rare and historically engaging British racing-pigeon portrait attributed to J. Brown, depicting two important birds together with extensive original painted inscriptions recording breeding pedigree and competitive achievements. Painted in oil on board, the composition places a chequered hen and a larger blue-bar cock within a broad landscape. Rather than merely identifying the birds, the inscriptions surrounding them preserve an unusually detailed record of their importance within the pigeon fancy. The hen at left is specifically named **“OLD BADGE HEN”** and is commemorated through the successful racing performances of her offspring and subsequent descendants. The cock at right is associated with **“MESSRS HOLLEY BRO. BUTE”** and carries an extensive competitive record incorporating Whitley Bay, Tynemouth, Perth and Banff. Catalogue Details Artist: Attributed to J. Brown School: British Naive / Folk Sporting School Date: Early 20th century, circa 1930 Medium: Oil on board Signature: Unsigned Subject: Racing pigeons / British sporting art Painting dimensions: approximately 44 × 41 cm / 17.3 × 16.1 inches Overall framed dimensions: approximately 57 × 52 × 2.5 cm / 22.4 × 20.5 × 1 inch Frame: Substantial carved period wooden frame Catalogue Note Racing-pigeon portraits represent a fascinating specialist area of British sporting art. Important birds could be portrayed together with the names of their owners, race results and pedigree information, creating a permanent visual record of their sporting reputation. This example is particularly interesting because each bird is celebrated for a different reason. **Old Badge Hen – Breeding Pedigree** The left-hand bird is explicitly named: “OLD BADGE HEN” Her accompanying inscription includes: “DAM OF 1ST PERTH” “CLUB & FED. GRAND DAM” Within pigeon-fancier terminology, “dam” denotes the mother and “grand-dam” the grandmother. The inscription consequently identifies Old Badge Hen as an important breeding hen whose offspring and later descendants achieved significant racing results. “Club & Fed.” is understood as Club and Federation competition, a Federation comprising a wider grouping of individual racing clubs. The lower inscription appears to preserve additional results that may be read as: **1st Chester** **3rd Buxton** **2nd Craven Arms** The Chester lettering remains partly indistinct and is therefore interpreted cautiously. Taken together, these inscriptions amount to a condensed painted pedigree documenting Old Badge Hen's reputation as a proven breeding bird. The Holley Brothers Cock The blue-bar cock at right carries the heading: “MESSRS HOLLEY BRO. BUTE” The precise significance of **“BUTE”** remains unresolved. Historical research establishes that a Bute Homing Pigeon Society was instituted on the Isle of Bute in 1895, demonstrating an organised period pigeon-racing context for the name. There is, however, presently no independent evidence establishing that the Holley Brothers were members of that society or that the word “BUTE” identifies their residence. The original inscription is therefore retained without inserting the word “of”. The cock's racing record includes: **“1ST WHITLEY BAY 09”** **“1ST POOL”** **“2ND TYNMTH”** **“5TH PERTH”** The first is interpreted as a victory from Whitley Bay in **1909**. “TYNMTH” is understood as **Tynemouth**. A further notation beside Perth appears to contain **“/10”**, possibly representing **1910** and suggesting that the inscription records achievements from successive racing seasons. Historic Telegraphic Reporting Another remarkable passage reads: “WIRED 6.45 DAY OF RACE” In the historical context of early pigeon racing, the wording is consistent with the telegraphic communication of a bird's arrival or race information. It appears therefore to record an arrival or result communicated at **6.45 on the day of the race**. Banff to Trehafod The most intriguing long-distance passage includes: “… BIRD TO FLY BANFF TO TREHFOD” “Trehfod” appears to represent **Trehafod in the Rhondda Valley of South Wales**. If this identification is correct, the inscription records an important long-distance flight from **Banff in northern Scotland to South Wales**. The exact ordinal immediately before “BIRD TO FLY” remains indistinct and is consequently not expanded into a definitive first- or second-place claim. Another passage appears to read either **“ALL STAGES TO BANFF”** or **“ALL STAGED TO BANFF”**, possibly relating to the bird's progression through increasing racing distances culminating in Banff. The concluding inscriptions appear to include: “1ST CLUB” “1ST 5/- POOL” The latter is consistent with the pre-decimal notation **5/-**, representing five shillings, and appears to record victory in a five-shilling racing pool. The painting consequently survives as considerably more than an attractive animal portrait. Its inscriptions form an exceptional **painted pedigree, racing résumé and sporting trophy**. The Artist The work is attributed to J. Brown on stylistic and comparative grounds. Works associated with Brown are characterised by carefully individualised racing pigeons, simplified landscape backgrounds and extensive painted inscriptions preserving owners and sporting achievements. As the present painting is unsigned, the attribution is deliberately presented conservatively. Dating The inscription's 1909 and possible 1910 references relate to racing achievements and do not necessarily date the execution of the painting itself. The multi-generational pedigree information suggests that the portrait was created retrospectively after the achievements recorded upon it had become established. The work is catalogued as early 20th century, circa 1930. Provenance Private London-based pigeon fancier collection. Curated Auctions, London, *Luxury Interiors: Including Exceptional Silver & Works of Art*, 6 December 2024, Lot 370. Acquired by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD® in 2024. Curated, researched and catalogued by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®. Exhibition History Privately loaned by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD® and exhibited at the Famous Lord Hill Museum, Shropshire. Dimensions Painting: approximately 44 × 41 cm / 17.3 × 16.1 inches. Overall framed dimensions: approximately 57 × 52 × 2.5 cm / 22.4 × 20.5 × 1 inch. Condition Report The painting is presented in good, honest condition consistent with its age and historic character. There is age-related craquelure and surface variation, together with scattered marks and spotting. A visible vertical area of staining or discolouration is present towards the left side of the painted surface. The substantial carved wooden frame displays age-related wear, scuffs, minor losses and evidence of historic repair and retouching. Please examine the accompanying photographs carefully, as they form an important part of the condition report. Shipping Worldwide shipping is available. Owing to the substantial dimensions and weight of the framed portrait, it will be professionally packaged using appropriate protective materials and dispatched fully insured. International buyers are welcome. Please contact us for a destination-specific delivery quotation or to discuss any particular shipping requirements. 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. Every artwork is professionally researched and catalogued using comparative scholarship, published reference material and more than two decades of experience within the international fine art market. 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