A Fine Mountain Landscape Painting, probably from the 1930's or earlier. Measures about 24" by 16", in its frame of about 26 1/2" by 18 1/2". Signed lower right by the artist, it looks like "Chas Lowe". Great look.

A watercolor titled on reverse "The Scow ALMA", Tauranga, New Zealand, signed lower right and again on the backing, by listed England-born, New Zealand artist RICHARD "Dick" BAKER (1928-2004), measuring 6 1/4" by 9 1/2" (14 1/2" by 17" framed). The work was created in 1986. Baker's work is included in Te Papa Tongarewa, the National Museum of New Zealand, in Wellington, and at the National Maritime Museum at Greenwich, England. He also exhibited widely and placed works in private collections...

Recently acquired from a Southern California German-American family liquidating a household, are twenty-one watercolor paintings by "Uncle Max" (Markus "Max" Hansen, 1898-), featuring mostly Old World landscapes and street scenes, with a few interiors in the mix. Some are framed in wood, some unframed, some have glass, some do not, some are signed, some are not. The artist was talented but is unknown outside of the family...

A scarce lithograph print, the sheet 10 3/8" by 6 3/4" (13 1/2" by 10 1/2" in inexpensive modern framing) signed in the plate and dated 1893 by the noted French artist PAUL-ALBERT BESNARD (1849-1934). The image is a self-portrait of the Paris-born artist, who initially worked in the academic tradition before changing over around 1880 to an impressionist style. Besnard was commissioned to execute a number of murals at significant venues around Paris...

An etching of a Native American brave on horseback, by important California and western American artist EDWARD BOREIN (1872-1945). The print is a restrike, likely made from the original plates at some point after the artist's death. Measurements are 7" by 8 3/4" inside the plate line (the sheet 11" by 15 1/4", and 16" by 18" as framed in worn black painted oak circa 1920 frame). Borein's place in the hierarchy of western American art is secure...

More than 10 detailed, fine pen and ink drawings, on one sheet measuring 19 3/4" by 16", most featuring male figures, signed at upper left center "Al Wiles". Wiles was active in the Seattle area at mid century. The style of the drawing takes from Jose Luis Cuevas, a little bit of Surrealism in spots from Salvador Dali, and Eugene Berman. The pen work is impressive up close...

An unusual, elegant "embossed relief" print on heavy grayish-tan earth-tone hand-made paper that appears almost like tooled leather, or parchment, featuring in the design organic forms such as leaves, signed at lower right in Chinese characters and in Roman letters by the artist, HA BICK CHUEN (1925-2009) (also known as XIA BIQUAN). The work, dated 1975 adjacent to the signature, is numbered at lower left 26/50...

Oil on canvas, 16" by 20", unframed, the subject a cut watermelon, peaches, grapes, a pear and strawberries, signed at lower right "Mabel Lemos" and dated there 1948. This appears to me to be a work by the noted long-time citizen of Santa Cruz, MABEL LEMOS, the wife of painter William Lemos and mother of artist Sydney Lemos...

An elegantly understated print featuring a bare foreground tree in a strangely empty landscape with just one small structure at the edge of a large clearing or field, signed in pencil at lower right corner and numbered 230/260 at lower left, by the noted American contemporary artist ROBERT KIPNISS (1931-). Kipniss is known for his graphic art and for his paintings, which have gone into five figures at auction...

A circa 1920 oil on canvas of apples and sprigs of blossoms on a tabletop, 18" by 27 1/2" (26" by 36" in original frame), signed at right center "A. Landsberger" (or, many variations thereof could be possible). The signature, in red in old Germanic hand, is on top of an apparently older, incised signature that is quite different (and, very difficult to make out). The work is very nicely executed by a trained hand, and is in excellent antique condition, with no tears or flaking...

"William Hogarth" The Sleeping Congregation The Works of William Hogarth" as published by Baldwin, Cradock and Joy in 1822 with the original plates restored by James Heath, engraver to His Majesty. The Heath edition was the last to print directly from Hogarth's original engraved plates. All William Hogarth prints appearing after this date are copies of these original graphic works of art. Heath edition 1822 An original copperplate engraving — over 195 years old. Sheet size: approx...

Gouache on paper drawing of a Baltimore Oriole and a blue jay, 12 1/2" by 16" (23 3/4" by 28" framed), signed at lower right by the noted Disney illustrator AUGUST CURLEY LENOX (1908-1986). This is a really nicely executed work, in the style of an illustrator like Lynn Bogue Hunt or William Schaldach or Rex Brasher. Colors are vivid and the realism is such that the viewer can almost "hear" these birds. I suppose it could have been executed as a book or magazine illustration...

A French painting on Masonite of orchids, in a detailed, "fool the eye" ("trompe l'oeil" as it's known in French) style, 9" by 7" (18 1/2" by 16" in circa 1950's quality closed-corner gold framing), signed rather illegibly at lower right in the wet paint...

Large watercolor painting of the famous formations at Monument Valley, Arizona, arguably one of the most iconic sights of the American Southwest. The work, signed at lower left simply "George", measures 20" by 27 1/2" inside the mat and 31 3/4" by 40" framed. The artist was obviously quite skilled, but he did not leave us a lot of evidence as to his identity. The painting probably dates to the 1970's or 1980's. Condition is generally excellent, though upon close examination it does appear th...

Pencil on paper drawing, 6 1/4" by 15", unframed, signed at lower right and dated there 1991, by the noted contemporary sculptor, ceramicist, designer and painter PETER SHIRE (1947-). This complex modern drawing is imaginative, three dimensional, and whimsical, and could only have been created by a true artist. Shire was becoming known on the art scene with his now famous teapot sculptures in the early 1980's, attracting the attention of Memphis figure Ettore Sottsass. He was invited to Italy, t...

A vintage oil on canvas painting of a river canyon of the west or Southwest, circa 1950's, good-sized at 24" by 32" (32" by 40" in the likely original old charming frame), signed at lower right by artist Charles Crowder. I do not see a "listed" artist name that would correspond. The work much resembles that of California impressionist landscape artist James Merriam (1880-1951). Condition is excellent.

This is a study in pencil by FERNAND LUNGREN (1859-1932) for an oil landscape of arid desert mountains of the American west. It measures 8" by 10 1/2". There's a mat but the work is not framed. This is a subtle work that is best viewed in person; it's very, very hard to photograph. The artist has made notations like "shaddow" (spelled like that), "all golden in warm sun", and "warm rosy gray".........showing the creative process. It would be interesting to locate the final oil with which th...

This is a beautifully painted work, oil on canvas, measuring 24" by 16" (images show as framed, but frame is now unaccounted for), signed at lower right by noted 20th century Hungarian artist Antal Janczak (1907-1985, also spelled as Janczek). The artist's works sell regularly at auction in Europe. This one probably dates to the 1960's or 1970's. Condition is good, with no flaking or holes/patches, though when viewed at an angle one can see some rumpling of the canvas, one looking almost like...