A vintage portrait painting of a red-haired, middle-aged lady in circa late 1930's to 1940 style hat, 13" by 10", (22 1/2" by 19" framed), signed at lower right by listed Southern California artist BERTHA TOWNSEND COLER (1865-1948). The painting, oil on canvas laid on Masonite, exudes a very spontaneous, free, sketchy feeling that is quite appealing, demonstrating the skill of the artist...

A large unframed oil, 34" by 46", unsigned, a vintage mid-century work ***AFTER*** a DEAN CORNWELL (1892-1960) painting which was executed in 1953 for a New York Life Insurance Co. calendar, in commemoration of the 300th anniversary of the incorporation of New York City. The painting is meticulously painted and I contacted auctions dealing with illustration art to see if it might be a study for the finished work...

A fine example of California plein air art by listed woman artist MARY MAISON (1886-1954), unframed, 16" by 20", signed at lower right. The work is painted directly on wood panel. Image is of a high mountain, like Mt. San Jacinto or Mt. San Gorgonio near Palm Springs, seen in early spring when snow remains on the summits as the desert blooms far below. The former Mary Cox was born in Bethlehem, PA and studied art in Paris and Philadelphia...

Antique oil on canvas of cherries on a table top, 8" by 11 3/4" (11 1/2" by 15 1/2" as framed), signed indecipherably at lower left; name could be W C Hammond, Hammons, or Higgins, or? The work is in the tradition of American 19th century still life and likely dates to about 1880. Some very old patches on the reverse attest to old battle scars the painting acquired in its some 150 years of existence...

Oil on board painting of autumnal trees, (California sycamores?), hazy mountains in the distance, unsigned, circa 1930's or 1940's. The work measures 9" by 12" and 11 5/8" by 14 1/2" in old probably original frame. The lack of a signature frustrates an effort to identify this talented artist, who might well be listed. The ornate frame is in good condition save for a missing chip at upper left. Painting is a bit soiled consistent with its age...

A 30" by 40 1/2" work on canvas, featuring a large barn in a tawny presumably California landscape, an early car housed interestingly in the structure, signed at lower right by noted Utah-born, western American artist DONAL JOLLEY (1933-). Jolley was born in Zion National Park, Utah, and settled in Rim Forest, California, high in the San Bernardino Mountains, in 1970. He remains there, creating watercolors and the occasional oil or acrylic work. Jolley showed a very early affinity for drawing...

Oil on canvasboard painting of a lonely rutted dirt track in the California desert, 16" by 20" (21 1/2" by 25 1/2" framed), signed at lower right by artist Helen Hausman. I think the painting probably dates to the 1950's or very early 1960's. It is very dirty with yellowed varnish and grime. A cleaning would work wonders.

Naive, or slightly primitive, almost folk art painting of clapboard 19th century style buildings next to an inlet of the sea, signed at lower right by artist Martha Crosmer. I see a listing for an artist by that name, born 1909, deceased 1995, last known address in Monrovia in Southern California, with earlier roots to Montana, but this painting does not resemble the desert plein air works that artist apparently painted...

An antique oil on canvas landscape of a distant snow capped mountain range framed by bright late autumn foliage, 15 1/2" by 30" (21 1/2" by 35" in likely the original frame), signed in red at lower right by artist ADELE BRACY and dated there what appears to be 1898 or 1896 (or, in that vicinity towards the earlier side). This is apparently a copy by a talented amateur of an image well-known in the mid 19th century...

Oil on Masonite painting of one of the dramatic red eroded formations in Monument Valley, in far northeastern Arizona. The impressionist work is good enough to be by someone listed but there is no signature. Probably dates to about the early 1950's. Measures 9 1/2" by 11 1/2" (16" by 18" nicely framed, with some wear on the frame that could likely be smoothed out).

An interesting contemporary painting of a middle-aged man sitting on a stool in a homey, cozy interior, a fireplace, paned window and painting set off by orange pastel colored walls. The unsigned work, by a trained hand, reminds of some of the interior paintings with figures by David Hockney. The oil on canvas, unframed, measures 30" by 24". It is in excellent condition. A silvery, or simple blond wood strip frame might be complementary.

A scene of an adobe with the classic protruding wooden beams, a low wall, springtime pink/white flowering trees and a split rail fence completing the composition. The work is apparently unsigned. It is laid down (glued) to Masonite panel. It shows signs of having been rolled in the past--long parallel vertical cracks in the paint, as shown in several images. Most certainly it is by a listed artist but this one is a mystery...

In the style of popular Thomas Kinkade or Marty Bell, this is an original oil on canvas, 11" by 14" (17" by 20" framed), the subject a cozy cottage-like house set in a flowering garden, the welcoming lights all on. The painting is signed at lower left "N LaFond". If you enjoy the Kinkade style but would like an original work instead of a print, you may well like this piece. Condition is excellent, frame has a little wear.

Oil on canvas painting of a mill adjacent to a pond, 28" by 22", (33 1/2" by 27 1/4" framed) possibly signed at lower right, but affixed on reverse is an old handwritten slip of paper, with name of artist, subject identification ("Red House, Milltown"), her addresses, and 1924 Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts 119th annual exhibition info, apparently item #95 in that exhibition. The artist is identified thereon as IRENA FRANKEBERGER...

For your Mid Century interior, a really well-crafted oil on canvas painting, 22" by 28" (30" by 36" in wood frame, possibly the original), signed at lower center "Robert Anderson" and dated nearby "52". On the reverse the artist wrote "Robert P...

Oil on canvas painting of pink roses in a vase, circa 1890's, signed at lower left in red by listed American artist OSCAR MILLER (1867-1921). The 17" by 14" (27" by 24" framed) painting is beautifully executed by a talented hand. Oscar Miller was born in Manhattan and died in Providence, Rhode Island in 1921. He is known for a variety of subject matter including portraits, marine scenes, genre and still life. This painting has an 8" horizontal tear in the upper portion. It will need to be c...

Found in far northern Vermont in the course of an art buying trip some years ago, is this unframed 20" by 16" oil on canvas portrait of a man, apparently signed "Shoelman" at lower right and signed again and dated on the reverse (possibly, 1806, though, more likely, 1846, considering the style---the digit likely a "4"). I acquired the painting near Cambridge/Jeffersonville not far from the Canadian border. At the time the seller said there had been speculation by a previous owner that this wa...

An interesting Mid-Century abstract on paper, 12" by 16" inside the mat, 18 3/4" by 23" framed, unsigned. The work could well date to the 1960's, the paper thin and slightly browned. I am not clear on the type of paint used; it is not simple watercolor. Could be a mix of some sort; the gold is metallic and the darkest portions have a gloss when viewed at an angle. Final photo is from the reverse side through the paper seepage. Drawing is loose, will be protected for shipping, needs to be re...