Impressionist painting signed at lower right with conjoined initials "MP", unframed, 24" by 18", the subject three female black dancers, two wearing festive hats. There is considerable energy in the scene and the stylized figures are by a trained hand. The painting likely dates to the 1960's or possibly 1950's. There are some light abrasions at lower left, a flaked area near the extreme lower edge there and another small edge loss at top, and light overall soiling.

Pastel drawing of architecture and figures, 18" by 14 3/4", 23" by 19 1/2" as framed, signed at lower right "Frederick Millson". The architecture could be Spanish, as would be found in Southern California, or possibly more exotic, such as Islamic North Africa. This is an accomplished drawing in fine condition by an elusive artist about which there seems to be little to know. This and two other works by him came out of a San Fernando Valley estate (the others listed here)...

This is an atmospheric fine little watercolor on paper painting of mountains and water such as might be found in the idyllic Lakes District of the northwestern part of England, or the famed Scottish Highlands, unsigned, late 19th century most likely, measuring 4 1/2" by 6 1/2" (14 1/2" by 17 1/2" in the present framing). The work is in very fine condition...

Dramatic linocut print, the sheet 13" by 20", unframed, numbered at lower left 6/12 and pencil signed at lower right and dated there 1971, the "HB" blind stamp adjacent, by the important and still highly underrated Swiss-California modernist HANS GUSTAV BURKHARDT (1904-1994). The subject is somewhat uncertain; perhaps a look at a catalogue raisonne of the artist's graphic works would provide the title, but skulls and other references to death seem to predominate, and the ink is black...

A vintage (mid century) illustration of a pink orchid blossom, the background airbrush and the flower hand painted, 14 1/2" by 14 1/2" inside the attractive double mat, the piece 22 1/2" by 22 1/2" as framed in silvery complementary framing, signed at lower right by artist "Childs". The name being a common one, I searched but did not immediately tie this to a listed, known artist. Nevertheless he/she was talented...

Oil on canvas painting of a fetching young red-headed girl with a doll, 24" by 18" (34" by 27 1/2" in old attractive frame), signed at lower left "P. Harwood", not dated but circa early 20th century. This is a really beautifully executed work, reminding of some of the vigorous portraits by masters like Robert Henri; but, efforts to identify the artist have not borne fruit...

BARTON STONE HAYS (1826-1914) was born in Ohio, and he came to be associated with the Midwest throughout his life, becoming a leading portrait painter in Indianapolis, and finally, coming to be known for his still life works, based out of Minneapolis, after 1882. Early in his life he was a Daguerreotypist, diorama painter and portrait painter, and there are some rare and sought-after genre paintings, some even of African-American subject matter...

PAIR of ink and watercolor/gouache drawings of pink and white dogwood blossoms (commonly seen in the spring in Connecticut), each 10" by 8" inside the mat, 14 1/2" by 13 1/4" as framed, signed at lower right by the noted Darien, Connecticut craftswoman artist DOROTHEA WARREN O'HARA (1873-1972). O'Hara was born in Missouri but settled in the New York area, where she was educated at the Chase School...

Watercolor on paper, 12" by 17", unframed (white mat only, in protective sleeve), executed in a modernist style reminiscent of famous Swiss artist Paul Klee, the scene including three figures and several Old World style stone towers and other suggested architecture depicted in an almost cubist manner, signed at lower right and dated there "62" by the listed Swiss artist ROMOLO ESPOSITO (1913-1991). This work is hard to describe but easy to appreciate...

Finely executed pastel on paper drawing of bridges spanning a major river, presumably the Rhein in Germany, 11 1/2" by 15 1/2" (15 1/2" by 19 1/2" as framed), signed at lower left by listed German artist RUDOLF MULLER-GERHARDT (1873-1962) (and sometimes spelled as GERHARD). Though listed the artist is apparently not well known...

Modernist still life of wine bottle, coffee pot, pan, flagon and other objects on a table top, arranged artistically and painted with a cubist feeling, unsigned, framed in strip framing, no glass, circa mid 20th century. If you admire Cezanne but can't quite afford one of his masterpieces, this might just be for you. The artist is unidentified but likely created this in the middle years of the century...

Oil on canvas painting of a tabby cat, 7" by 5" (12" by 10" framed), circa 1970 to 1980 judging from the framing, signed lower right "Jody". The artist was certainly talented; the likeness of the cat to reality is well above average. Condition is excellent. Needs to be nailed more tightly into frame.

Oil on canvas painting of fruit, painted in a most attractive unusual style, the artist intentionally blanching the image through an intricate technique, 20" by 24" (26" by 30" as framed), signed at lower right "DORIS BLATE" and dated there 1956. Amazingly, considering the quality of the art, I am unable to find to date any information on the artist; an internet search does though find a Doris Blate (1907-1994) who lived in Queens, New York; possibly the artist considering the unusual name...

Painting on panel of a young Egyptian youth, 15 3/4" by 12" and not especially complementary, modern day framing, signed at lower right, with reverse original label from Schwartz Freres, of Cairo and Alexandria. The painting is signed at lower right corner, the name appearing as "Thor......". To date I have been unable to decipher the full signature. The work certainly dates to the early years of the century, judging from the label...

Charcoal drawing of two nude women bathing, 6 1/4" by 8 7/8" inside the mat, 13 1/2" by 15 1/2" framed, signed a lower right center "Mayrshofer Max". This is a work by the German artist MAX MAYRSHOFER (1875-1950), likely created around the time of World War I. Mayrshofer, the son of a baker, was born in Munich and it is with that Bavarian city that he is closely associated...

Etching of a Florida river landscape, titled at lower left margin "Peace on the Anclote", (actually misspelled on the reverse side official label as "Amelote"), and pencil signed at lower right and dated '37 by listed artist WALTER RONALD LOCKE (1883-1949). The Anclote river is just north of the Tarpon Springs area on Florida's Gulf coast...

Original impressionist pastel drawing of a French (I believe) street, (10 1/2" by 13 1/2" (17 1/2" by 20 1/2" framed), with outdoor tables under umbrellas, a fountain, cars, and cropped trees, signed with initials at lower right and dated there '86. This looks like a Mediterranean or southern scene, the shutters and little windows suggesting that to me. The word "Libre" is visible at right so that suggests France and not Italy. The artist knew how to handle a piece of chalk. There is a wealt...

An unusually fine watercolor and ink drawing of palms adjacent to what appear to be Mediterranean-architecture buildings in a landscape, signed at lower right with what appears to be "Ed. Gilmond" and dated there 1926. The artist is actually Belgium-born Edgar Gilmont (1887-1949). The drawing measures 20" by 15 1/2" inside the mat. Interestingly, there is affixed on the reverse of the card an early label from the highly important, early Los Angeles art gallery Stendahl Galleries, giving the nam...

Mid 20th century painting of a vessel containing a plant with interesting leaves and orange tightly closed flowers, executed in an impressionist style with a modernist feel, on a 16" by 20" canvasboard, unframed, signed in black capital letters at lower left "Chatterton". Neither the signature nor subject matter resemble those of noted artist Clarence Chatterton, who was a student of Edward Hopper. I am offering it simply as an interesting still life painting. Condition: some light abrasions ...

Oil on canvas, 20" by 30", 27" by 37" as framed, apparently unsigned, the scene of (possibly) gypsies or other peasant folk in the splendid countryside, with their animals, wagons and household goods. In the far distance at left there is a view with another small wagon and house. I suppose this could be by any number of artists, but, I have not been able to identify any particular painter, and specialists at Sotheby's and Christie's British Art departments in London have been unable to suggest...

Larger sized gouache on paper laid on board painting of the dramatic world-renowned coastal Italian island of Capri, unframed, 17" by 24 1/2". The work is signed at lower right "G. Corelli" and is titled at lower left "Isola di Capri". Note the stillness of the scene, and the handling of the haze and reflection. This is a classic work from the school of painters that specialized in views of Capri, Naples, and the Amalfi Coast. Despite the lack of a frame the work is in excellent condition wi...

Early 19th century Swiss drawing titled on reverse "paysanne", 7" by 5 1/2" (12 1/4" by 10 1/2" as framed), unsigned. This is a fine drawing by a talented hand. I imagine that the artist would be listed were it signed. Condition is excellent. It is taped at top only to the underlying matting materials.

Watercolor with touches of gouache painting, on heavy grade watercolor paper, the subject a small ranch on a coastline, 18" by 29" (26" by 39" framed), unsigned, the subject I feel possibly in Hawaii or Australia, given the scenery and the obvious tropical touch (the plantation-shutters and banana trees, and the detail of the front of the structure). Unfortunately I have not been able to locate a signature anywhere. The frame is simple wood, (not pictured) but possibly available, at no extra c...

Lithograph on paper of a World War I soldier, 12" by 9 1/4" inside the mat (20" by 17" framed), signed and dated in the plate 1915, by the important Swiss-born artist THEOPHILE-ALEXANDRE STEINLEN (1859-1923). Steinlen was born in Lausanne on Lake Geneva in 1859. After training at a textile mill in eastern France, he moved to Paris and the Montmartre literary and art scene. He found the scene creatively nourishing, and went on to spend most of the rest of his life there. Steinlen interacted w...

Watercolor on paper painting of a large sailboat off a lighthouse at the coast, some industrial looking electrical towers completing the scene, 9 3/4" by 13 1/2" inside the mat, 16 1/2" by 21" framed, signed "DNadson" or similar at lower right. This is well painted by a skilled but unidentified artist. Found in Los Angeles. Condition is excellent.

Watercolor on paper painting of classic buttes and mesas of the great Southwest, possibly Arizona or Utah, 22 1/2" by 28" as framed, the work signed in very small writing at lower right with what appears as "E. T. Bell" and dated there July 4, 1933 (or, possibly, 1935). The painting is a strong watercolor by a talented hand but if I am reading this correctly, there does not appear to be a known artist of that name. The work's sky area might be faded; I cannot determine if it was painted that w...

Found in Phoenix, Arizona, this is a striking and unusual modern work by a talented but so far unidentified hand, 20" by 24" plus narrow simple wood frame, signed at lower right and dated there 1981. The scene is buildings, depicted in a semi-abstract, even cubist manner, all in various earth tones such as cream, tan, brown, and yellow. A pale blue sky and foreground makes for a cooling, interesting contrast. The Christian cross towering over it all adds a mysterious element. The painting wo...

This is a small watercolor on thin card of a young woman with peaches and cream complexion and ringlets in her hair in the style of the 1820's through about 1860, unsigned, 5 3/4" by 3 3/4" plus narrow late 20th century frame, At first glance I thought this English or American, or Canadian, considering the Toronto gallery stamp on the framing paper, but upon opening it I discovered a stamp in old German script on the reverse, as shown. Condition is generally very fresh, I note a very minor abr...

Watercolor and gouache on paper laid on thin card painting of a typical street scene in an Austrian city, 12 1/2" by 8 1/2" (17" by 13" in circa 1920's black frame), signed at extreme lower left corner and dated there 1917. I have spent considerable time trying to determine what the signature says....I tried Seiler and other similar combinations but so far seem to be unable to link this to a listed artist, though the quality is undeniable. There is lots of detail in the figures walking or stan...

Pencil on paper drawing of a young man, in true 1930's American Scene style. The work measures 12 1/4" by 9 1/2" inside the present mat, the full sheet extending under the mat (some of the drawing is hidden by present mat) 14 1/2" by 11 3/8". The work is unsigned. I would imagine that the artist would be someone listed, judging from the quality and sensitivity of the portrait. The paper has yellowed with time, and the area under the present mat is a different shade from the exposed area, so ...

Oil on canvas painting of a woman in a verdant landscape, 30" by 24", unframed, titled on the stretcher "NUDE HOLDING FLOWERS", and also signed there, "by Greg Harris 1981 Feb.". This is a quite early work by an artist now firmly established in the contemporary impressionist art scene nationally, GREGORY FRANK HARRIS (1953-). Harris was born in Southern California to parents that included a painter mother. He showed precocity in art and music and other creative pursuits, and by 1977 was begi...

Here is a classic old painting on gray academy board, the subject roses in a vase, 20 1/2" by 14 1/4" as framed, signed at lower right "M Say" or similar. It likely dates to circa 1900, at a time when young ladies were expected to take up painting as a domestic skill, and still life of roses was always a most popular subject. Today these works are sought after by those decorating in the shabby chic style. The work has some flaws typical of century-old works, including soiling, minor scuffs, ...

Oil on canvas painting of a peaceful eastern scene including distant pyramidal mountain peak, luminous sky, feathery trees and rock formation, the only sign of man an idle rowboat in center foreground, 12" by 20" and 2 1/2" wide period frame, signed with the conjoined initials of the artist at lower left (in red) and dated there 1882. The artist is JOHN WHITE ALLEN SCOTT (1815-1907), an accomplished Boston artist who was active in New England and the Catskill Mountain region of New York from th...

Pastel on paper laid on board drawing of trees and fields, a shed providing a human element, 7" by 9" (11" by 12 3/4" framed), signed at lower right "R. Nourse". This is a very fine little drawing with a touch of post-impressionist Van Gogh and other artists especially in the branches and trunks of the tall trees. The only listed artist with the name Nourse is Elizabeth Nourse. I see there is a Rebecca Nourse but the time period does not correspond to the drawing which likely dates to the mid...

Oil on canvasboard painting of a greatly simplified vase with flowers, unframed, 16" by 12", signed at lower right "Dieter" and bearing on the reverse the title "Spring Bouquet" and "W. D. ZANDER/25 EAST END AVE/N.Y N.Y 10028". This is a work, possibly circa 1970's or 1980's, by a long-lived gentleman with an extraordinary life history, who happens also to have been a very talented artist. Zander was born in Germany in 1915, and educated in Neuchatel, Switzerland. He was drafted into the Germ...

Watercolor on paper laid on thin card painting of a fetching, dark-haired young woman, apparently in Venice (tiny gondola/architecture at far right), holding spring flowers at the water's edge, " by ", and signed at right center "E. LARRI". I do not see a listing by this name but he/she worked squarely in the tradition of 19th century Italian watercolor art. The piece was in a nondescript frame when found, and backed by curling old acidic wood. I have removed it from the frame for photography...