An unusual item...a portion of a birthday or other festive cake on a plate, make of some kind of ceramic material, hand painted very realistically and capable of "fool the eye" (trompe l'oeil), painted in colors reminiscent of the colors used by famous contemporary artist Wayne Thiebaud. Measurements are approximately 8 1/2" across the plate, by 8" in height. The artist has hand signed her name on the bottom of the plate, in black marker...

A framed PAIR of framed color prints, one (Place de la Concorde, central Paris) 8 3/4" by 12 1/2" (13 1/2" by 17" framed, no glass), the other (Notre Dame and bookstalls along the Seine) 8 1/2" by 12" (15" by 18" framed). Each is pencil numbered at lower left out of editions of 500, and signed at lower right in pencil, by the noted French 20th century impressionist painter CHARLES BLONDIN (1913-1991)...

This is an interesting very old monochromatic watercolor, circa late 18th century or very early 19th, measuring 4 1/2" by 8 3/4" (11" by 14" framed). The drawing has the feel of an old master drawing. The scene includes tiny figures, buildings, a willowy tree at right, and what appears as an isolated hill or butte-like feature in the distance...

Large oil on canvas painting of traditional sailing craft on the ocean, 24 1/2" by 34", 26 3/4" by 34 1/4" as framed), painted in an impressionist manner with palette knife, signed at lower right with the familiar "C Buenaventura" signature and "Manila 1964". The artist is CESAR BUENAVENTURA (1922-1983). Cesar was a son of well listed artist Teodoro Buenaventura Fernando Amorsolo the great Filipino artist was Cesar's godfather. The painting is in excellent vintage condition...

Contemporary (late 20th century) oil on canvas painting of a lighthouse, and coastal rocks and sea birds, a tall ship at right, signed at lower left by American gallery artist CRAIG SMITH. The work measures 24" by 30" (31" by 37" framed). The scene resembles Portland, Maine's famous lighthouse, but a business card of the artist affixed to the reverse appears to say that this is a Nova Scotia, Canada scene...

A pair of framed watercolors, each signed by the artist, GEORGIA LEE, circa mid 1960's, the subject being familiar scenes of San Francisco: one, a pink hillside Mediterranean-style mansion most likely in the city's tony Pacific Heights section, (possibly on Divisadero, or Broderick or Fillmore); the other a downtown view towards the Ferry Building and the Embarcadero Freeway, (which was built in 1959---thereby helping us to date the works)...

Oil on canvasboard painting of flowering yucca ("Spanish Bayonet") in a landscape, signed at lower right by Barbara White, a talented artist from Silver City, New Mexico, who was elected first president of the organization in 1968. There does not seem to be much other information readily available on the net, but one reference does indicate that she is deceased. The painting measures 9" by 12" and 15" by 18" framed. The artist wrote her name, address and the title "N...

By noted Scottish artist FRANK COLCLOUGH, a PAIR of gouache drawings of landscapes in Scotland, one of a country lane, 7 1/2" by 11 1/4" (15 1/2" by 19" framed), the other of a harbor, 12" by 7 3/4" (20" by 15 1/2" framed). These are very obviously the product of a talented hand. Colclough was painting as early as 1981. Earlier works are in watercolor (or, presumably, gouache, as in the case of these works), while later efforts are more likely to be in oil or acrylic...

A Dutch 17th century etching of a standing horse near a humble abode, 6 3/4" by 7 3/4" (14" by 15 1/2" in 20th century appropriate black frame), unsigned, and with no initials or other indication as to authorship. The work bears old pencil notations on the reverse side of the mat; there appear to be names of potential artists that were pondered by a previous observer in my position (including, it appears, question marks to himself)...

Large colored etching, posthumous printing, after the circa 1914 original print of the famous Austrian landmark on the Danube west of Vienna, the 18th century-built Melk Abbey (sometimes called Melk Monastery), signed in pencil at lower center by the son of the artist, Robert (the actual signature is preceded by "nl" which indicates Nachlass, or Studio, of the artist). The image is by the well-known painter and printmaker LUIGI KASIMIR (1881-1962)...

Oil on canvasboard landscape of Southern California including distant oil derricks, 12" by 16", unframed, not signed on front but on back signed and with artist address at the time in Sunland, CA, a Los Angeles suburb. The forest of oil wells could be in a place like Signal Hill, or Long Beach, near Huntington Beach, or, any number of other points in Southern California or the southern Central Valley west of Bakersfield...

A landscape painting with feathery trees silhouetted against a luminous sky, a female figure walking at right with brown cow on the path which borders a creek, signed illegibly at lower right and dated there 1852. Someone invested some money in preserving the work, as it has been relined in recent times. The original stretcher was retained. The work is now stable. It is not perfectly flat however, there being some roll to the canvas especially at bottom...

An oil on canvas painting, 36 1/4" by 26", (44 1/2" by 34" framed), relined circa mid 20th century, no apparent signature present, nor attribution available. The weave of the canvas suggests a work pre-dating the 19th century...

A contemporary impressionist landscape of the hills of Texas in the spring when the famous bluebonnet bloom, signed at lower left by artist "Julienne". This is a work of a talented artist, the signature of whom might well be a take-off on the famous and important Texas bluebonnet artist Julian Onderdonk (1882-1922); conversely, the artist may just happen to be named "Julienne". The undulating landscape is quite green, and the bluebonnet in the foreground carpet the ground, so the season is lik...

A very decorative, fan-shaped painting on canvas of winged putti, in Old Master style, 27" by 45" as framed, bearing a signature at lower left center, appearing as "Maffei A.". The work likely dates to about 1970, and is likely the work of a quality workshop producing decorative pieces for visitors to Italy. The style is convincingly 18th century, the workmanship impressive. The frame has gold leaf on the decorative portions. The painting even has a craquelure pattern that makes it look genu...

An unframed circa late 1600's or early 1700's oil on wood panel painting of old ruins in a poetic Italianate landscape that includes a distant bridge over a river, more ruins, and several tiny foreground figures with their animals. The 9 3/4" by 12 5/8" oak panel shows great age; it is ever so slightly bowed. I do not see a signature although there may have been one at one time at lower left, where others have rubbed perhaps with saliva, to try to bring up a signature. The work carries with i...

A color propaganda poster from the 1960's or 1970's Mao-Tse-Tung era, 19" by 29 1/2" inside the current matting, 28" by 41" in present simple black framing behind Plexi. The paper is of a less-finished type that may be akin to newsprint. Print has slight creases in places but overall is in good clean condition. There are very minor edge tears and skins in a few places where this was crudely taped in the past and small moisture stain as shown. There is type in Chinese characters near the bott...

An antique red chalk European drawing on laid paper, sheet 8 1/4" by 6 3/4" (15 3/4" by 12" in 20th century frame), unsigned, the subject an aristocratic woman formally dressed, with upswept hair of the period. One wonders if this might be Marie Antoinette herself, or someone else who might have been caught up in the 1789 storming of the Bastille and the infamous Reign of Terror. There is a watermark in the old paper. Taped at top edge only. The drawing could also be German, or Austrian, or ...

PAIR of old watercolor paintings of ceramic and metal objects on table tops in an interior, the first 21" by 28" framed, the second 19" by 24" framed, the larger work signed at lower right by European (French?) artist Joanny Rec. These are beautifully executed fine watercolors in excellent condition. I have found little information on the artist after an extensive online search. The name suggests a Belgian or French nationality, I would think, but I would not rule out another. The vases, pl...

A good-sized example of the scarce work of Nagasaki, Japan-born artist JUNJI YAMASHITA (1940-), featuring Sacre Coeur church in Montmartre. The work is painted in a monochromatic palette of grayish brown, and a palette knife is used to spread around the paint. Note the skilled use of the palette knife in the lower right portion. Yamashita is known for his landscapes and still lifes, the most recent painted in a Post-Impressionist style. This is an early work, (it is signed at lower left "Jui...

A vintage watercolor by an unknown amateur artist, titled at bottom "Santa Barbara Mission", unframed, measuring 14 1/2" by 11 3/4". The work on old paper would appear to date to maybe the 1930's or early 1940's at latest---think the "Route 66" era of travel in the American West (though this site is not on or near Route 66). It was likely created by or for a tourist. Note the Native Americans at center in the reflecting pool or fountain. A classic piece of vintage Californiana that just need...

Watercolor painting of a street and pedestrian promenade on Union Street, in Bath, England, signed by artist Tim Fish. The work is dated December 9,1998 and signed there. Measurements are 7 3/4" by 11 3/4" inside the mat (13" by 17" in simple wood frame). There is presently no glass, but the work is in excellent condition. A nicely executed work by an artist who obviously is familiar with watercolor technique.

Oil on canvas laid on a card, unstretched, signed at lower right corner "C Vianello". The subject is an older lady seated in a darkened interior, obviously deep in thought. The work measures 13" by 10 1/4". It is sorely in need of some restoration, as it was laid long ago on a card which is now bent and cracked. The surface though stable is dry, and there is soiling and no varnish present. A restorer could likely avoid the higher expense of totally removing the work from the card, by simply ...

A hand-painted oil on canvas of two ladies in elegant 19th century garb chatting in an intimate sun-dappled small garden, 16" by 12" (23" by 19 1/2" in dark red simulated wood frame), unsigned. The contemporary work is painted in the style of the grand French impressionist masters of the later 19th century, such as Renoir. This is a highly decorative work in excellent condition. There is a small area of loss on the frame at lower right; you can fill/color it in yourself, or find a new (easy, ...

By the highly underrated Japanese-born artist most closely associated with Minnesota, YAMADA BASKE (1869-1934), this is an early, ethereal 1904 watercolor landscape with tiny figures on a Japanese-style foot bridge, and nearby trees, in the spring, painted in a dreamy, reverie style with delicate light colors. Being so light and intentionally blanched in style, it is very difficult to photograph. The work measures 17 1/2" by 11 1/2" (24" by 17 1/2" framed). On the reverse in pencil it is titl...

A fine soft pencil drawing of a young Asian man with white head cloth, inscribed at lower left "JAIRONG Boy from drawing by Graham Peck", and signed at lower right by well listed California artist JADE FON (WOO) 1911-1983. Graham Peck (1914-) was a Yale-educated, Derby, Connecticut illustrator and writer; he illustrated and wrote "Through China's Wall" in 1940. Fon has created a sensitive portrait of an individual which the "Jairong" word and Peck's biography suggests was from eastern Tibet/so...

Signed charcoal drawing of a nude female seen in profile, arms over her head, an unreadable signature at lower right. The work measures 12" by 8 3/4" inside the mat and 20" by 16" simply framed. I opened the backing and other than a few numbers in pencil there is no other information. At some point there was a little moisture exposure at the bottom. This affected just the thin white card upon which the sheet of brownish paper was at some point laid, and not the drawing itself, although ther...

An accomplished watercolor of a spooky old Victorian house on a city block, signed at lower left by artist JOHN W. ATTERBURY and dated there 1944. The work measures 14" by 20" (24" by 29 1/2" in old stained oak wood frame). Titled in pencil "Yellow Windows" at lower center, the artist has created a work with very American qualities, and reminiscent of Edward Hopper's strangely empty and lonely structures, or perhaps those of Charles Burchfield. In this case some figures hurry by the venerable...

An old watercolor of a street scene in Alsace (the portion of eastern France that borders Germany), featuring a well for water and a half timbered house wall, along with a pretty window with flowers in pots. The artist, AMELIE FOLEY-RISLER (1870-1947) signed at bottom left and the town is identified there as Niedermorschwihr, Alsace. The unframed watercolor, 14 3/4" by 11", is in excellent condition. The artist was primarily a watercolorist, but there does not seem to be an available biograph...

A very old, very well executed detailed antique painting of currants, grapes, raspberries and plums on a platter, apparently unsigned, measuring 11" by 12 1/4" (17 1/2" by 19 1/2" in an older, attractive frame). The oil on canvas is laid down on Masonite. It is difficult to determine the exact age, but early 19th century or even earlier would not be unreasonable. This is in the style of old Dutch still life of the 17th century and so forth, with some amazing realism such as the underside of t...

Oil on canvas landscape of steep red rock cliffs bordering a canyon in which a lone rider and his horse are to be seen at lower right, 20" by 24" (24" by 28" in white frame), signed at lower left by well listed Texas and New Mexico-associated artist (JOHN) GAITHA BROWNING (1912-1992). The painting is titled on the reverse canvas in pencil "Red Rocks Country". Browning was born in northern Mississippi and moved to Texas with his family as a youth, where he studied art with Harry Anthony DeYoung...

An antique soft pencil drawing of a young woman, unsigned and unattributed, 9 3/4" by 7 1/2", likely dating to the very early 19th century at latest, and more likely, well into the 18th century. The drawing would probably be of French origin. The paper has been affixed long ago to a thin card. Condition is excellent. The number "17" in old hand appears at lower right corner. Simple strip frame is of inlaid wood and is attractive.

A vintage circa 1930's oil on canvas still life of various kinds of flowers in a blue vase on a table top, signed at extreme lower right "N B Wise" or "M B Wise". There is a fragment of a gallery label on reverse and last letters indicated ".......ati", so I believe this might have Cincinnati, Ohio in its past. I do not see a listing for an artist by this name. The work measures 26" by 22" (29 1/2" by 25" in old appealing gold frame). The painting has soiling consistent with its age and a di...

A heavy bronze mid-century sculpture on a wood base, signed (incised) J. Soriano, measuring approximately 14" by 9" by 8" (bronze itself), the wood base about 10 1/2" high.  Note the fine lustrous brown patina. The signature is spurious, the work not by the famous Mexican artist sculptor Juan Soriano (so determined by correspondence from the representative/expert of his estate), but the anonymous work stands on its own merits, and it is likely to be of Mexican or South American origin. The m...

A large felt tip marker drawing of a fetching nude woman pictured against a patterned background, 29" by 19 1/2" inside the linen liner, signed at lower right and dated there 1960 by the noted Romanian-born American film director, and talented artist, JEAN NEGULESCO (1900-1993). The line drawing (in the style for which Negulesco is known) has the feeling of Matisse. The drawing was part of the extensive collection of famous West Coast interior designer TONY DUQUETTE (1914-1999), and was sold a...

A large oil mixed with sand painting on canvas, signed on reverse by artist "Durrant", titled there "Rombosity" and dated there 1965. This is an unusually large work by the noted English modernist artist ROY TURNER DURRANT (1925-1998), works of whom sell with some regularity in the United Kingdom. Paint is very thickly applied and is wrinkled in some areas. The work measures an impressive 46" by 33 1/4". The piece has seen some abuse in its 50-some years; it was likely in a smoky room, and m...