The East End Champion Chaffinches Print - By Anna Walsh
£25.00
High-quality digital print
On Bockingford inkjet watercolour 190g paper
Size - 29.7 x 42 cm (A3)
Open edition print
Champion chaffinches was a cult activity with working class bird fanciers in the east end of London in the late 19th century. It took place in pubs where wild chaffinches that had been captured were pitched against each other in singing contests. The winner was the bird that sang the most complete tunes during the 15 minute matches. Shoreditch Bobby and Kingsland Roarer were actual competitors, the rest are imagined other participants! (source 'Beastly London' by Hannah Velten). The style is based on collectable cigarette cards, which came free in cigarette packs, and are still popular decorations in English pubs today.
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