Tunmer, Charles Frederick

Introduction:

Between 1817 and 1824, London-born CHARLES FREDERICK TUNMER (1798-N/K) produced profiles in Colchester and Ipswich. Though few are recorded, all are neatly painted on card, all are bust-sized and some show a confident application of colours. As Tunmer was also a carver and gilder, profile-taking was likely a secondary source of income which, as far as known, he abandoned after 1824.

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. The above descriptions suggest Tunmer possessed a degree of versatility.

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 of the 17th of May 1817, John Tunmer appears as Secretary to the Provident Benefit Society at 9 Botolph Street, Colchester. As his son's first recorded profile, dated 13th of 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. His sole newspaper advertisement offering profiles appears in THE SUFFOLK CHRONICLE of the 1st of January 1824. In it "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 the 6th of 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". No further advertisements are known.

By 1826 he appears to have relocated with his wife to Park Street, St. Pancras, London. Son Charles Augustus Frederick 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 a "Carver and Gilder". No further records have come to light.

However, Tunmer's wife Emily was located in the 1851 Census. Aged 49, Dublin-born and a governess, she was visiting William Hulland, an "Historical Line Engraver" and his 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)