Signed Snaffles Pig Sticking Print - Finest View In Asia
Signed Snaffles Pig Sticking Print - Finest View In Asia
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The Finest View in Asia by Snaffles - Pig-Sticking Lithograph.
A fine, signed Snaffles pig-sticking lithograph entitled The Finest View in Asia, by Charles Johnson Payne (1884-1967), better known as Snaffles.
This wonderful sporting print is a playful variation on one of Snaffles' earlier fox-hunting pictures, The Finest View in Europe, which depicts a rider's view approaching a cut-and-laid fence, with the foxhounds running across a Leicestershire hunting field. In The Finest View in Asia, Snaffles transports the viewer to the hunting grounds of British India, replacing the foxhounds and hedges of Leicestershire with the excitement of mounted pig-sticking.
The large central colour image depicts a rider's-eye view of a wild boar running through tall grass, with the horse's head and the pig-sticking spear in the foreground. The horse is identified as Carclew, whilst the hand holding the spear is that of Major Scott-Cockburn.
Surrounding the central image are three delightful remarques illustrating further scenes from the sport, with the accompanying captions:
"Steady chaps - give him some rope", "One of 'em out of it" and "Ride!".
The print bears the Snaffles pencil signature in the lower left-hand margin, together with the distinctive Snaffles blindstamp depicting a bridle bit. It is presented in its original black frame and is in good condition.
The History of Pig-Sticking
Pig-sticking, the hunting of wild boar on horseback with a spear, was a popular, exhilarating and sometimes dangerous sport amongst British cavalry officers stationed in India during the Victorian and Edwardian periods. Combining horsemanship, courage and skill, it was regarded not only as an exciting pastime but also as valuable training for mounted soldiers.
The sport was actively encouraged by military authorities, as noted in the 1911 Encyclopaedia Britannica. Organised pig-sticking competitions took place throughout British India, the most prestigious being the Kadir Challenge Cup, widely regarded as the highest honour in the sport.
One of the most celebrated winners was Sir Robert Baden-Powell, who won the Kadir Cup in 1883. Baden-Powell, later famous as the founder of the Scout Movement, was an enthusiastic pig-sticker and wrote extensively about the sport. His book, Pig-Sticking or Hog-Hunting: A Complete Account for Sportsmen - And Others, was published in 1924.
In his autobiography, Lessons from the Varsity of Life (1933), Baden-Powell reflected upon the sport with the words:
"Yes, hog-hunting is a brutal sport - and yet I loved it, as I loved also the fine old fellow I fought against."
Pig-sticking was a favourite subject for several leading British sporting artists of the period, most notably Lionel Edwards and Snaffles, whose lively illustrations captured the speed, excitement and occasional humour of the chase.
The Finest View in Asia is a characteristic example of Snaffles' sporting art, combining his keen observation of horses and riders with the humour and sense of movement for which his work is so highly regarded.
Dimensions:
1900-1949
Circa 1928
lithograph
United Kingdom
Snaffles
Print in good condition, frame with age related wear.
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, better known as Snaffles.This wonderful sporting print is a playful variation on one of Snaffles' earlier fox-hunting pictures, The Finest View in Europe, which depicts a rider's view approaching a cut-and-laid fence, with the foxhounds running across a Leicestershire hunting field. In The Finest View in Asia, Snaffles transports the viewer to the hunting grounds of British India, replacing the foxhounds and hedges of Leicestershire with the excitement of mounted pig-sticking.The large central colour image depicts a rider's-eye view of a wild boar running through tall grass, with the horse's head and the pig-sticking spear in the foreground. The horse is identified as Carclew, whilst the hand holding the spear is that of Major Scott-Cockburn.Surrounding the central image are three delightful remarques illustrating further scenes from the sport, with the accompanying captions:"Steady chaps - give him some rope", "One of 'em out of it" and "Ride!".The print bears the Snaffles pencil signature in the lower left-hand margin, together with the distinctive Snaffles blindstamp depicting a bridle bit. It is presented in its original black frame and is in good condition.The History of Pig-StickingPig-sticking, the hunting of wild boar on horseback with a spear, was a popular, exhilarating and sometimes dangerous sport amongst British cavalry officers stationed in India during the Victorian and Edwardian periods. Combining horsemanship, courage and skill, it was regarded not only as an exciting pastime but also as valuable training for mounted soldiers.The sport was actively encouraged by military authorities, as noted in the 1911 Encyclopaedia Britannica. Organised pig-sticking competitions took place throughout British India, the most prestigious being the Kadir Challenge Cup, widely regarded as the highest honour in the sport.One of the most celebrated winners was Sir Robert Baden-Powell, who won the Kadir Cup in 1883. Baden-Powell, later famous as the founder of the Scout Movement, was an enthusiastic pig-sticker and wrote extensively about the sport. His book, Pig-Sticking or Hog-Hunting: A Complete Account for Sportsmen - And Others, was published in 1924.In his autobiography, Lessons from the Varsity of Life (1933), Baden-Powell reflected upon the sport with the words:"Yes, hog-hunting is a brutal sport - and yet I loved it, as I loved also the fine old fellow I fought against."Pig-sticking was a favourite subject for several leading British sporting artists of the period, most notably Lionel Edwards and Snaffles, whose lively illustrations captured the speed, excitement and occasional humour of the chase.The Finest View in Asia is a characteristic example of Snaffles' sporting art, combining his keen observation of horses and riders with the humour and sense of movement for which his work is so highly regarded.){kind=link}