{"product_id":"sporting-oil-old-badge-hen-champion-holley-brothers-racing-pigeons","title":"Sporting Oil Old Badge Hen \u0026 Champion Holley Brothers Racing Pigeons","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAttributed to J. Brown – Old Badge Hen \u0026amp; Holley Brothers British Racing Pigeons Oil Painting\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eRare British Sporting Folk Art Trophy Portrait with Painted Pedigree and Racing Record. \u003c\/em\u003e\u003cem\u003eOil on Board | Early 20th Century, circa 1930 | Whitley Bay 1909 \u0026amp; Banff–Trehafod Racing Inscriptions\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHighlights\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e• Attributed to J. Brown, British Naive \/ Folk Sporting School\u003cbr\u003e• Rare double racing-pigeon trophy and pedigree portrait\u003cbr\u003e• Left-hand pigeon specifically named “OLD BADGE HEN”\u003cbr\u003e• Old Badge Hen commemorated as dam and grand-dam of successful racing pigeons\u003cbr\u003e• Painted pedigree records “1st Perth \/ Club \u0026amp; Fed.”\u003cbr\u003e• Further breeding-performance inscriptions appear to record Chester, Buxton and Craven Arms results\u003cbr\u003e• Companion blue-bar cock associated with the painted heading “MESSRS HOLLEY BRO. BUTE”\u003cbr\u003e• A Bute Homing Pigeon Society is independently documented as having been instituted in 1895\u003cbr\u003e• No documentary evidence presently establishes that the Holley Brothers themselves were members of that society or residents of Bute\u003cbr\u003e• Cock’s racing record includes “1st Whitley Bay 09”, interpreted as a 1909 victory\u003cbr\u003e• Further recorded race points include Tynemouth, Perth and Banff\u003cbr\u003e• “Wired 6.45 Day of Race” apparently records telegraphic reporting of racing information\u003cbr\u003e• Important long-distance inscription refers to a flight “BANFF TO TREHFOD”, apparently Trehafod in South Wales\u003cbr\u003e• Final inscriptions appear to include “1st Club” and “1st 5\/- Pool”\u003cbr\u003e• Extensive original painted racing, pedigree and breeding inscriptions\u003cbr\u003e• Private London-based pigeon fancier collection provenance\u003cbr\u003e• Curated Auctions, London, 6 December 2024, Lot 370\u003cbr\u003e• Privately loaned and exhibited at the Famous Lord Hill Museum, Shropshire\u003cbr\u003e• Supplied with a Certificate of Sale \u0026amp; Dealer Attribution\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIntroduction\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA remarkable early 20th-century British racing-pigeon trophy portrait attributed to J. Brown, depicting two distinguished birds surrounded by an unusually extensive painted record of pedigree and competitive achievement.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe chequered hen at left is explicitly identified as “OLD BADGE HEN”. Her inscriptions commemorate her principally as an important breeding or stock hen whose offspring and subsequent descendants achieved notable racing results.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe prominent blue-bar cock at right is associated with the enigmatic painted heading “MESSRS HOLLEY BRO. BUTE” and an extensive competitive record incorporating Whitley Bay, Tynemouth, Perth and Banff, together with Club and pool achievements and an important reference to a long-distance flight from Banff to “TREHFOD”, apparently Trehafod in the Rhondda Valley of South Wales.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExecuted in oil on board, the work combines the functions of sporting portrait, trophy, pedigree and permanent racing record, making it an unusually evocative visual document of the historic British pigeon fancy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCatalogue Details\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eArtist: Attributed to J. Brown\u003cbr\u003eSchool: British Naive \/ Folk Sporting School\u003cbr\u003eTitle: Old Badge Hen \u0026amp; Holley Brothers Racing Pigeons\u003cbr\u003eDate: Early 20th century, circa 1930\u003cbr\u003eMedium: Oil on board\u003cbr\u003eSignature: Unsigned\u003cbr\u003eSubject: Racing pigeons \/ British sporting art \/ folk art \/ pigeon racing\u003cbr\u003ePainting dimensions: approximately 44 × 41 cm \/ 17.3 × 16.1 inches\u003cbr\u003eFramed dimensions: approximately 57 × 52 × 2.5 cm \/ 22.4 × 20.5 × 1 inch\u003cbr\u003eFrame: Substantial carved period wooden frame\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCatalogue Note\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRacing-pigeon portraits occupy a distinctive position within British sporting and folk art. Successful racers and important breeding birds could be commemorated through commissioned portraits recording their physical characteristics alongside names, pedigree relationships, ownership and competitive achievements.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe present painting is particularly interesting because the two birds represent complementary aspects of the pigeon fancy: Old Badge Hen is celebrated through the performance of her descendants, while the cock is accompanied by what amounts to a painted competitive résumé.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn pigeon-racing terminology, a “dam” is a bird’s mother and a “grand-dam” its grandmother. “Club \u0026amp; Fed.” denotes Club and Federation competition, while names such as Perth, Whitley Bay, Tynemouth and Banff are consistent with race or liberation points from which pigeons were released to race back to their individual home lofts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOld Badge Hen\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe left-hand pigeon is explicitly named:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e“OLD BADGE HEN”\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHer accompanying inscription includes:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e“DAM OF 1ST PERTH”\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e“CLUB \u0026amp; FED. GRAND DAM”\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe wording identifies Old Badge Hen as an important breeding bird. She appears to be recorded as the dam of a pigeon achieving first from Perth at Club and Federation level and subsequently as the grand-dam of further successful racers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eClose examination of the difficult lower lettering suggests that it may preserve three separate results:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e“1ST CHES[TER]”\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e“3RD BUXTON”\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e“2ND CRAVEN ARMS”\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis interpretation accords with the conventional racing-pigeon formula of placing followed by race point, although portions of the historic lettering remain indistinct and the reading is therefore presented cautiously.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe inscription effectively functions as a condensed performance pedigree, demonstrating the sporting reputation of Old Badge Hen through more than one generation of descendants.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Holley Brothers Cock\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe right-hand cock is accompanied by:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e“MESSRS HOLLEY BRO. BUTE”\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe word “BUTE” is particularly intriguing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIndependent historical evidence establishes that a \u003cstrong\u003eBute Homing Pigeon Society was instituted in 1895\u003c\/strong\u003e on the Isle of Bute. Period county directories identify J. Rae as president and A. M'Tavish as secretary, treasurer and race secretary.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis establishes a genuine contemporary pigeon-racing context for the word “Bute”. It does \u003cstrong\u003enot\u003c\/strong\u003e, however, establish that the Holley Brothers were members of that society or that “BUTE” in this particular painting identifies their residence.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe inscription itself does not visibly include the word “of”. Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD® therefore retains the wording exactly as painted rather than converting it into the unsupported formulation “Holley Brothers of Bute”.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe word could represent a geographical association, racing or loft designation, provenance or breeding reference, or potentially another identification whose meaning has subsequently been lost.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe cock’s competitive record includes:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e“1ST WHITLEY BAY 09”\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e“1ST POOL”\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e“2ND TYNMTH”\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e“5TH PERTH”\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“1st Whitley Bay 09” is interpreted as a first-place result from Whitley Bay in \u003cstrong\u003e1909\u003c\/strong\u003e, while “TYNMTH” is understood as Tynemouth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA further notation adjoining the Perth result appears to contain \u003cstrong\u003e“\/10”\u003c\/strong\u003e. When considered alongside the explicit “09” following Whitley Bay, this may denote \u003cstrong\u003e1910\u003c\/strong\u003e, potentially preserving a chronological sequence of performances across the 1909 and 1910 seasons.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e“Wired 6.45 Day of Race”\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnother particularly evocative passage reads:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e“WIRED 6.45 DAY OF RACE”\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWithin the historical context of early 20th-century pigeon racing, “wired” is consistent with the telegraphic communication of a bird’s arrival or racing information.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe inscription therefore appears to preserve the fact that an arrival or result was communicated by telegraph at \u003cstrong\u003e6.45 on the day of the race\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis reading is considerably more consistent with period racing practice than the earlier interpretation that an adjoining “10” represented ten pigeons being recorded.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBanff to Trehafod\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePerhaps the most historically intriguing passage contains:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e“… BIRD TO FLY BANFF TO TREHFOD”\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“Trehfod” is very probably a variant or abbreviated rendering of \u003cstrong\u003eTrehafod\u003c\/strong\u003e, in the Rhondda Valley of South Wales.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf correctly identified, the wording records a substantial long-distance flight from \u003cstrong\u003eBanff in northern Scotland to Trehafod in South Wales\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is also why “BUTE” should not presently be treated automatically as the Holley Brothers’ home. The Banff-to-Trehafod wording provides a separate and potentially significant South Wales geographical association within the same racing record.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe ordinal preceding “BIRD TO FLY” remains difficult to distinguish conclusively and is therefore not expanded into an unsupported assertion that the pigeon was definitively the first or second bird to accomplish the flight.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA neighbouring passage appears to read either:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e“ALL STAGES TO BANFF”\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eor:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e“ALL STAGED TO BANFF”\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eand may refer to the bird’s progression through racing stages or distances culminating in the Banff event, although its precise contemporary meaning remains under investigation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe concluding inscriptions appear to include:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e“1ST CLUB”\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e“1ST 5\/- POOL”\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe latter is consistent with pre-decimal British monetary notation, \u003cstrong\u003e5\/- representing five shillings\u003c\/strong\u003e, and apparently records victory in a five-shilling racing pool.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTaken together, these inscriptions transform the work from a conventional animal portrait into what is effectively a \u003cstrong\u003epainted pedigree and race-performance archive\u003c\/strong\u003e, preserving breeding relationships, race points, placings, dates, monetary pool achievements and long-distance racing history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Artist\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe painting is attributed to J. Brown, an artist associated with a distinctive group of British racing-pigeon portraits from the early decades of the 20th century.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWorks associated with Brown are characterised by clearly defined birds, individualised plumage, simplified landscape settings and extensive painted inscriptions documenting sporting achievements.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe present work is unsigned. Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD® therefore conservatively catalogues it as \u003cstrong\u003eAttributed to J. Brown\u003c\/strong\u003e, based upon stylistic and comparative assessment rather than presenting authorship as definitively established.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDating\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlthough the inscription records a Whitley Bay achievement in \u003cstrong\u003e1909\u003c\/strong\u003e, and another notation may refer to \u003cstrong\u003e1910\u003c\/strong\u003e, these are racing dates rather than necessarily the execution date of the painting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe accumulated racing and multi-generational breeding information suggests that the work was conceived retrospectively after the achievements commemorated upon it had become established.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn current stylistic and comparative evidence, the painting is catalogued as \u003cstrong\u003eearly 20th century, circa 1930\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProvenance\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePrivate London-based pigeon fancier collection.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCurated Auctions, London, \u003cem\u003eLuxury Interiors: Including Exceptional Silver \u0026amp; Works of Art\u003c\/em\u003e, 6 December 2024, Lot 370.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAcquired by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD® in 2024.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCurated, researched and catalogued by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eExhibition History\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePrivately loaned by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD® and exhibited at the Famous Lord Hill Museum, Shropshire.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePainting: approximately 44 × 41 cm \/ 17.3 × 16.1 inches.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOverall framed dimensions: approximately 57 × 52 × 2.5 cm \/ 22.4 × 20.5 × 1 inch.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition Report\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe painting is presented in good, honest condition consistent with its age and historic character.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe substantial carved wooden frame displays age-related wear, scuffs, minor losses and evidence of historic repair and retouching.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlease examine the accompanying photographs carefully, as they form an important part of the condition report.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eShipping\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWorldwide shipping is available.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOwing to the substantial dimensions and weight of the framed portrait, it will be professionally packaged using appropriate protective materials and dispatched fully insured.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eInternational buyers are welcome. Please contact us for a destination-specific delivery quotation or to discuss any particular shipping requirements.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCertificate of Sale \u0026amp; Dealer Attribution\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe artwork will be supplied with a Certificate of Sale \u0026amp; 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAttribution and Research\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSpecialising in carefully curated British and European fine art, antiques and historic works of art.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEvery 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. We are committed to offering collectors works of artistic and historical merit accompanied by transparent provenance research, detailed catalogue descriptions and professional, client-focused service.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAdditional photographs and further information are available upon request.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54897659904378,"sku":"k1462","price":4500.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0201\/2227\/1808\/files\/oil-painting-northern-racing-pigeons-champions-old-badge-hen-cock-by-j-brown-c1930-780216.jpg?v=1734599628","url":"https:\/\/cheshireantiquesconsultantltd.com\/fr\/products\/sporting-oil-old-badge-hen-champion-holley-brothers-racing-pigeons","provider":"Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD","version":"1.0","type":"link"}