Charles Frederick Tunnicliffe, R.A. (1901-1979)

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FANCY PIGEONS BY CHARLES FREDERICK TUNNICLIFFE, R.A. Lots 189-193 In 1947 Tunnicliffe moved to Anglesey and his first meeting with Thomas Forshaw dates from around this time. Forshaw and Tunnicliffe shared a love of fine ale and ornithology, and Forshaw, who was Chairman and President of the local Burtonwood Brewery Company, commissioned Tunnicliffe to do promotional work for the Brewery which owned a number of pubs in Anglesey. Forshaw was an avid pigeon fancier and at one time is recorded as having as many as 400 birds in his aviary. It was in order to promote the knowledge and collecting of fancy pigeons in England, that Forshaw commissioned Tunnicliffe to record all the pigeons in his collection and as many breeds as he could obtain from elsewhere. Where Tunnicliffe was unable to paint the birds from life, sketches were supplied by H. Pyrzahouski, a pigeon breeder known to Forshaw, for Tunnicliffe to work from. Sadly the publishers of the intended volume pulled out before it was completed and the work was never printed. By this stage Tunnicliffe had filled three large folios with drawings, two of which are in the collection at the Tunnicliffe Museum, Anglesey. The present collection have been on loan at the Macclesfield Silk Museum. Mr John Sears, whose name also appears on some of the drawings was a noted aviculturalist. A previous collection of fancy pigeons by Tunnicliffe was sold in these Rooms, 16 March 1993, lots 18-36.

Charles Frederick Tunnicliffe, R.A. (1901-1979)

Two Blue Gazzi Modena Pigeons (both illustrated); A Red-Barred Schietti Modena Pigeon; and A Blue Argent Modena Pigeon

Details

Charles Frederick Tunnicliffe, R.A. (1901-1979)
Two Blue Gazzi Modena Pigeons (both illustrated); A Red-Barred Schietti Modena Pigeon; and A Blue Argent Modena Pigeon
inscribed as titles, two inscribed 'J. L. Sears', one inscribed 'T. Forshaw' and further inscribed with colour notes and with studio stamp (on the reverse)
pencil, watercolour and bodycolour, one watermark 'MICHALLET', one watermark '[MONT]GOLFIER FRANCE', one on buff paper, one corners cut, unframed
9 7/8 x 11 3/8 in. (25.2 x 29 cm.); and smaller (4)

Provenance

C.F. Tunnicliffe and by descent in the family.

Exhibited

Macclesfield, Macclesfield Silk Museum, on loan.

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis

Lot Essay

The Modena was originally used for kite flying. It originated in Italy in the town of Modena during the 1300s. In 1328 there was an statue in Modena, detailing the competion flying rules, for this breed. The breed was imported into Germany in 1876 and shortly thereafter into England and the United States.

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