a) Large white chicken

Unlined, all keys present, a little slack. Quantity of dirt and debris behind bottom stretcher. Minor old damage to the tacking margins. Minor undulation and distortion top right corner. Old 2 1/2 inch patch bottom left corner from the reverse, from the face this a tear with a 2 1/2 inch vertical tear with a 1 1/4 inch horizontal arm running left from the top of the vertical in the black and white chick - retouched but the restoration has cracked. Slight stretcher bar marks. A few areas of minor stable cracking mostly from impacts. A few minor scattered retouched losses including one below the black and white chick. Some abraision to the delicate, thinly painted layers, reinforced by retouching including the top of the trees, the black and white chick, the wing and neck of the peacock, the ends of the tree leaves over the sky, the white chicken etc. See UV images. Some further abrasion to the sky, with further broad brushy overpaint. Matte, slightly yellowed varnish, surface dirt, matte patches on varnish are a whitish bloom of mould on the surface. Light surface dirt with a few minor scuffs and abrasion to the varnish.

b) Cockrel

Unlined, quantity of dirt and debris behind bottom stretcher. All keys present, lacking tension. A small filled puncture to the canvas bottom left quadrant from the reverse, this manifests as a 1cm loss in the tail feathers. There is a small retouched break below right of this too. Slight corner draw/undulation top right corner from lack of tension. Stretcher bar marks on all sides. Scattered minor retouched losses. Abrasion throughout the delicate thin paint layers, reinforced by retouching with some larger areas of retouching (see UV images) and around the pentiment of the beak of the flying bird. Patchy slightly yellowed varnish, with a little of the same powdery white mould. A little surface dirt and accretions including a tiny pale drip.

We are happy to provide Condition Reports to Prospective Buyers, but would welcome your request as soon as possible, preferably at least 48 hours before the Day of Sale.

We cannot guarantee a reply to any requests made within 48 hours of the start of the auction. The absence of a condition report from a lot does not mean that the lot is in perfect condition.

 A Condition Report is an honest expression of our opinion, not a statement of fact and is provided as a service to the Seller. All lots are available on public view ahead of an auction and we encourage people to see an item in person when possible.

Our Condition Reports are not prepared by professional conservators, restorers or engineers, and are prepared with the naked eye unless otherwise stated.

 Works are not examined out of the frame, unless specifically stated. We accept no liability for the opinions expressed in any Condition Report.

Tennants Auctioneers do not cover damage to gilded wood or plaster picture frames, or to picture frame glass whilst the item is in our possession.