Oil on canvas landscape of country cottages and feathery trees on the banks of a small pond or marsh, 9" by 12" (13" by 21" in its modern frame), signed at lower right "S. Clark", the subject given on the framing label as "On the Arun--Sussex". This is a painting by SAMUEL JOSEPH CLARK (1841-1928), a noted 19th century painter of rural landscapes and genre. Sometimes he is listed as Samuel JAMES Clark--there appears to be some confusion in the auction record...

An attractive plein air oil on canvas painting of the desert in spring with blooming pink verbena on the dunes, 13" by 15", unframed, signed at lower left by listed California artist GRACE T. HOWELL (1876-1966). Howell was born in Denver and showed early art talent. Married in 1897, she moved to Southern California in 1927, living in La Mesa, near San Diego. She painted the California deserts and coast. This oil could use a light cleaning to bring it to optimum condition...

Small oil on canvas laid on board painting of a desert, mid to late 20th century, 4 1/2" by 6 1/2" (11 1/2" by 10" framed), signed at lower right by California desert painter KENNETH WALFORD. This is a rather typical example of the work of this artist. I have handled a number of Walford's works. Most feature desert landscapes. Biographical information on the artist seems to be scarce at this time. The painting is lightly soiled, linen liner is stained at upper right.

An impressionistic palette knife painting of dramatic, high, already snow-streaked mountains in peak autumn season, signed in the paint at lower left "W HARISCH". This 14 1/2" by 19 1/2" work (18" by 23" as framed) is by listed Canadian artist WILLIAM HARISCH (1914-1967). Harisch painted in a style that appears clearly European, and indeed works of his native country (one titled "Heidelberg") have come to market...

An original panoramic photograph of San Francisco, circa 1950, the view appearing to be south and west from the Coit Tower at the top of Telegraph Hill. The photo is laid to a card. Measurements are 9 1/2" by 7" inside the existing mat and 16" by 13" in blond wood strip frame. The photo has come loose inside the frame. You might take the opportunity to re-frame with acid-free materials. An old Kearny Street, San Francisco framer's label remains on the backing...

A rare, finely crafted woodblock print in the Arts and Crafts style of the early 20th century, titled at lower left "Marigold", by German artist ILSE KOCH-AMBERG (1869-1934), measuring 6 1/2" by 6 1/2" in side the mat and 12 1/2" by 12" framed. The work features her monogram in the image, and is signed in pencil by the artist at lower right; in addition, the paper features a blind stamp including the word "Berlin" at lower left margin...

Watercolor on paper, unsigned, 15 1/2" by 11 3/4" and a 1/2" wide narrow modern frame, no glass, probably dating to circa 1950, the subject a fluted column 19th century style American framed mirror with flowers in a vase placed before it. This is a simple composition but the anonymous artist was obviously skilled in the use of watercolor and also had a sense of composition. There is a modernist touch, in the way the flowers are stuffed into the foreshortened space...

An etching on paper, 7 1/4" by 5 1/4" inside the mat, 12 1/2" by 9 3/4" framed, signed at lower right in pencil by well-known New Orleans artist EUGENE F. LOVING (1908-1971). The print is titled at lower left, "Bourbon Street Patio", and bears the artist's notation "Ed/100" at lower center. Loving was a familiar figure on the New Orleans art scene for decades, painting and executing prints as well. A teacher as well, he was something of a father figure of sorts to other artists in the region...

Titled at lower left "Seven Sisters", numbered lower center 54/180, and signed at lower right by the artist, this is a serigraph print consisting of a commonly seen motif of the Pacific Northwest Coast art, a stylized orca killer whale, surrounded by also stylized human faces. The artist is HEBER REECE (1955-) of the Tsimshian peoples of northern British Columbia, Canada. Reece was born near Bella Bella, B.C...

By the hand of renowned American painter AUGUSTUS VINCENT TACK (1870-1949), this is a beautifully worked portrait of a dark-eyed young woman wearing a lovely blue-white lacy dress, nervously fingering her pearls. The work is signed on the reverse and dated there 1904. Measurements are 24" by 18" (28" by 22" in what is likely the original frame). The painterly impressionist work in the dress area is masterful, as is the obviously skilled depiction of her hand...

Oil on unstretched canvas painting of a traditional temple's courtyard, signed at lower left "Pociecha", "Nikko", and dated 1920. This is a rare, very early work by a painter known commonly as STAN PORAY (Stanislaus Pociecha Poray, 1888-1948), and most associated with California art. The work measures 15 1/2" by 12 1/4". Poray was born into nobility (his father a count) in Krakow, Poland and was educated in art there and in Paris...

A pencil drawing on paper, 5 1/4" by 7 3/4", (12 1/2" by 15" in modern frame), featuring studies of humped cattle lying down near an early wagon, unsigned, by the noted London-born artist GEORGE CHINNERY (1774-1852). Chinnery is known as the only western painter who was a resident of South Asia from the early to the mid 19th century, and a leading artist of the British community in India. After Royal Academy training he took at ship to Madras (Chennai) in 1802. Chinnery sketched actively, rec...

A rare opportunity to own something once handled by one of America's most famous artists, THOMAS MORAN (1837-1926). Some years ago, one of his oils brought over $17 million at auction. His paintings of the American West and Long Island are highly sought after and he is considered an iconic American artist. Much more affordable yet relatively scarce are his handful of etching images, and chromolithographs after his work. This is the print "A Tower of Cortes" (sometimes spelled "Cortez") of th...

Oil on canvas spring country landscape complete with peasant goose herder, two houses by a pond or small lake and flowering trees at right, 24" by 36", unframed, signed at lower left by listed Hungarian artist JOSEPH DANDE (1911-1969). Dande seems to have painted in the style pioneered by better known artist Laszlo Neogrady. Neogrady painted very similar spring country landscapes, as well as his signature snow-laden mid winter trees----and Dande has also painted those winter landscapes. I see...

Original etching on paper, pencil signed at lower right margin, titled on mat "Portuguese Fishermen", the subject the wharf at Provincetown, Massachusetts where the artist spent considerable time in the famous art colony. The work measures 3 3/4" by 5 1/4" inside the mat and 8" by 8 3/4" framed. This is by the noted American artist MORGAN DENNIS (1892-1960). Born in Boston, Dennis spent much of his life in Massachusetts, though he did live elsewhere including Key West, Florida. He became known...

This is a small California painting on board of the sequoia or redwood forest, 8 1/4" by 11" framed, unsigned, protected behind glass. Condition is excellent. Frame is wood. Though small, the artist captures the majesty of the cathedral-like groves for which the state is famous.

Oil on canvas painting of a marketplace in a Sumatran landscape, unframed, 15 3/4" by 21 1/2", signed at lower right by Indonesian impressionist artist MUSLIM SALEH (1927-). This signature was difficult to decipher but a little research on the net established the identity of the artist. He was born in West Sumatra and learned from Japanese painters during the World War II occupation years. Subsequently he participated in the Indonesian Revolution. In the early 1950's the artist worked for th...

For years, I have seen these gouache paintings of cockatoos, in the Art Deco style, circulating around Southern California, but I didn't know the identity of the artist, as there seemed to be no listing. Now, with his death in 2012, there is some information online. This drawing is 23" by 17" (28 1/2" by 22 1/2" framed), signed at lower left center in the image, by former child actor-turned artist BILLY SEAY (1922-2012). He was one of the biographers of Sascha Brastoff. The following was tak...