Tunmer, Charles Frederick

Introduction:

Between 1817 and 1833, London-born CHARLES FREDERICK TUNMER (1798-N/K) produced profiles in Colchester, Ipswich and Chelmsford. All are neatly painted on card, all are bust-sized and some evidence a confident application of colours. Primarily a carver and gilder, profile-taking was likely a secondary source of income.

All extant likenesses are signed and dated on backing cards and McKechnie also records a printed trade label used in Colchester ca.1817-1823. Bust-line terminations show marked variations. More constant is the use of dark or mid-grey body colour with gum arabic highlighting each sitter's attire. Two works are noteworthy for the use of colours. A profile of 1817 picks out a boy's black peaked hat in shades of light brown; another depicts a woman's bonnet and collar with well-painted grey and Chinese white highlights, augmented by a pink bonnet ribbon tie. McKechnie records a further work in black with gum arabic detail. and embellished with gold.

Charles Frederick was the first-born child of John Tunmer (dates N/K) and Jane Molton (dates N/K) who married at St. James Piccadilly, London, in October 1797. Charles Frederick was baptised there in June the following year. In 1802, his seemingly sole sibling James Badger Tunmer was also baptised at St. James, though an absence of further records suggests he died young, and at some point after 1802, John Tunmer relocated his family to Colchester.

In THE SUFFOLK CHRONICLE 17th May 1817, Tunmer Sr appears as Secretary to the Provident Benefit Society at 9 Botolph Street, Colchester. As his son's first recorded profile, dated 13th December 1817, is signed with the same address, it appears, aged 19, Charles Frederick was still living under his father's roof. Another dated work has him still residing in the town in March 1822. However, by 1824 Tunmer had removed to Ipswich. Advertising in THE SUFFOLK CHRONICLE 1st January 1824, "C.F.Tunmer Carver, Gilder and Profilist..." of White Hart Lane, Ipswich, offered antique frames, patterns for others, prints of Suffolk views and "...Accurate Likenesses in Profile from 2s to 10s".

Profiles were also advertised on a recently sourced trade card depicting a decorative looking-glass which stated "C.F.Tunmer from London, Carver and Gilder, Picture Frame and Looking-Glass Frame Manufacturer, Tavern Street, Ipswich. N.B. Profiles Accurately Taken". Tunmer likely settled in Ipswich due to family connections, as though uncommon, the name Tunmer appears with frequency in contemporary town archives: a cabinet maker, engraver, tailor, inn-keeper and town gaoler are recorded. George Tunmer (1806-1864), a draper, also located in Tavern Street, appears to have had artistic leanings too, being recorded a member of the town's Society of Professional and Amateur Artists.

On 6th January 1825, Charles Frederick Tunmer married Dublin-born Emily Gardiner (1802 - after 1851) at St.Pancras Old Church, London. Within 3 weeks THE SUFFOLK CHRONICLE advertises his return to Ipswich "...from London with various specimens in his line". On 30th April, the same newspaper records his wife a milliner and dressmaker trading from the same address.

By 1826 he appears to have relocated with his wife to Park Street, St. Pancras, London. Son Charles Augustus Frederick (1826-N/K) is baptised at St.Pancras Old Church in December 1826 and Theodore Adolphus Henry (1827-1862) is christened there in May 1831. The baptismal register records Tunmer's occupation as "Carver and Gilder".

The last record of Charles Frederick Tunmer appears in THE CHELMSFORD CHRONICLE 26th April 1833. As a "Carver, Gilder and Profilist from London..." , he intended commencing business in the town, making looking-glasses, picture frames, regilding old furniture, resilvering looking-glasses, cleaning, lining and repairing paintings.

Tunmer's wife Emily is last recorded in the 1851 Census. Aged 49, Dublin-born and now a 'governess', she was visiting William Hulland, an 'Historical Line Engraver' and family in Moreton Street, St. Pancras. Though her status is given as 'married', research occasionally finds widowed spouses not indicating the fact on Census returns, and as no further records of Charles Frederick Tunmer have surfaced, it's impossible to know whether he was still alive in 1851.

Revised 13 August 2023 (Brian Wellings)