Thrush Song Bird Watercolour signed by Charles F. Tunnicliffe OBE RA
Charles F. Tunnicliffe OBE RA (1901–1979) Song Thrush on a Flowering Branch, Circa 1950s Initialled “CT” Mid-Century British Ornithological Watercolour
Highlights
• Original mid-20th-century British ornithological watercolour by Charles F. Tunnicliffe OBE RA.
• Depicts a song thrush perched upon a flowering branch and captured in song.
• Initialled “CT” within the lower margin.
• Executed with translucent watercolour washes, controlled linework and delicate dry-brush detail.
• Restrained natural palette of warm browns, soft greys and gentle blossom tones.
• Combines precise ornithological observation with a balanced artistic composition.
• Provenance includes early private ownership in Lancashire.
• Subsequently offered by Rogers Jones & Co. in The Welsh Sale as Lot 224.
• Privately exhibited at The Famous Lord Hill Museum, Shropshire, during January 2026.
• Retains auction and exhibition labels upon the reverse.
• Presented within a sympathetic wooden frame with a cream double mount.
• Supplied with a Certificate of Sale & Dealer Attribution from Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®.
Introduction
A finely observed mid-century British watercolour by Charles F. Tunnicliffe OBE RA, depicting a song thrush perched upon a flowering branch and captured at the moment of song.
The bird is presented in an upright vertical composition, its alert profile and open beak evoking the distinctive repeated phrases for which the species is known. The flowering branch introduces diagonal movement and a gentle seasonal quality, balancing close ornithological observation with an elegantly resolved decorative arrangement.
Initialled “CT” within the lower margin, the watercolour reflects the qualities for which Tunnicliffe’s mature wildlife studies are particularly admired: disciplined draughtsmanship, natural colouring and a sympathetic understanding of the living bird.
Catalogue Details
Artist: Charles Frederick Tunnicliffe OBE RA
Artist’s dates: 1901–1979
Title: Song Thrush on a Flowering Branch
Date: Circa 1950s
Period: Mid-20th century
School: British School
Country of origin: Great Britain
Medium: Watercolour on paper
Subject: Song thrush, Turdus philomelos
Signature: Initialled “CT” within the lower margin
Orientation: Portrait
Frame: Later wooden frame, believed to be oak
Mount: Cream double mount with a fine line detail
Verso: Auction and exhibition labels
Presentation: Framed, glazed and ready for hanging
Catalogue designation: By Charles F. Tunnicliffe OBE RA
Catalogue Note
The composition places the song thrush prominently against an open, pale background, allowing the bird’s silhouette, feather structure and characteristic markings to remain the principal focus.
The flowering branch rises diagonally through the composition, counterbalancing the bird’s upright stance and introducing a natural rhythm. Small blossoms provide restrained areas of softer colour without distracting from the ornithological subject.
Layered translucent washes establish the bird’s volume and tonal modelling. Fine lines and delicate dry-brush marks articulate the feathers, beak, eye and surface of the branch, while the warm brown plumage is balanced by softer grey and cream passages.
The bird is not presented as a static specimen but as a living creature observed during one of its most characteristic behaviours. Its open beak, alert eye and elevated position communicate the act of song with economy and conviction.
The result combines the descriptive clarity of a natural-history study with the compositional balance of an independent work of fine art.
The Song Thrush
The song thrush, Turdus philomelos, is among the most familiar and distinctive British songbirds.
Its warm brown upper plumage, pale spotted breast and upright posture make it readily recognisable. Its song is particularly notable for the repetition of short, clear musical phrases, often delivered from an exposed branch or elevated perch.
The species has long appeared in British literature, poetry and natural-history art. Its seasonal song has traditionally been associated with spring, renewal and the persistence of nature.
In the present watercolour, the open beak and elevated position capture this familiar aspect of the bird’s behaviour. The flowering branch reinforces the seasonal character of the composition without overwhelming its closely observed ornithological detail.
The Artist
Charles Frederick Tunnicliffe OBE RA was one of the most accomplished and widely admired British wildlife artists of the 20th century.
Born near Macclesfield in Cheshire in 1901, he studied at the Royal College of Art in London. His early career encompassed printmaking and book illustration, and he became particularly celebrated for his ability to combine disciplined observation with artistic sensitivity.
Tunnicliffe illustrated numerous publications, including Henry Williamson’s Tarka the Otter, and worked across watercolour, drawing, wood engraving, etching and oil painting.
In 1947, he moved from Cheshire to Anglesey, where the landscape, estuary and abundant birdlife surrounding his home at Malltraeth provided lasting inspiration.
He became an Associate of the Royal Academy in 1944 and was elected a full Royal Academician in 1954. He was later appointed OBE for his contribution to British art.
Tunnicliffe’s bird studies are admired for their precision and vitality. Rather than presenting wildlife as stiff scientific specimens, he portrayed birds as living creatures observed within their natural surroundings, combining anatomical understanding with an acute awareness of posture, movement and behaviour.
A substantial body of his studio work, including drawings, sketchbooks and watercolours, is preserved by Oriel Môn on Anglesey.
The present watercolour, initialled “CT”, exemplifies his ability to unite ornithological accuracy with refined composition and restrained natural colour.
Provenance
Early private collection, Lancashire.
Rogers Jones & Co., The Welsh Sale, Cardiff, Lot 224.
Subsequently acquired and curated by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®.
Original auction tagging and verso labels accompany the work.
Exhibition History
The Famous Lord Hill Museum, Shropshire — privately exhibited during January 2026.
An exhibition label is retained upon the reverse.
Dimensions
Visible painting:
Height: Approximately 25 cm or 9.8 inches
Width: Approximately 22 cm or 8.7 inches
Overall framed dimensions:
Height: Approximately 46 cm or 18.1 inches
Width: Approximately 40 cm or 15.7 inches
Depth: Approximately 1.5 cm or 0.6 inches
All measurements are approximate.
Presentation
The watercolour is presented within a sympathetic later wooden frame, believed to be oak.
A cream double mount with a restrained line detail provides visual depth while complementing the natural colouring of the bird and flowering branch.
The work is professionally backed and secured. Auction and exhibition labels remain attached to the reverse, preserving evidence of its ownership and display history.
The painting is glazed and ready for hanging.
Condition Report
The watercolour presents in excellent vintage condition.
No active foxing, significant staining or obvious pigment loss has been observed through the current glazing. The colours remain fresh, and the principal details are clearly defined.
The mount and glazing appear secure. The wooden frame displays age- and use-related wear, including scuffing and scratch marks along the upper section.
The work has not been removed from its frame for examination. The condition of the entire sheet, its margins and the areas beneath the mount therefore cannot be confirmed.
For prolonged display, particularly in a brightly lit environment, the future use of conservation-standard ultraviolet-filtering glazing may be considered.
All photographs form an integral part of the condition description and should be examined carefully.
Shipping
Professional insured delivery is available throughout the United Kingdom and internationally.
The framed and glazed watercolour will be carefully protected and securely packaged for transit. Delivery will be tracked and insured wherever available.
Please contact us for further shipping information or an international quotation.
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.
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.
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