In the style of masters like William Harnett, John F. Peto, Otto Kaye and others, this is a painting of an ink bottle, old style fountain pen, pipe and matches, stamped envelope and calendar, signed at lower right "Roy Fay". The letter, in the trompe l'oeil" (French for "fool the eye") tradition, is addressed to himself, in "Pasadena, Cal", and is interestingly postmarked in Kansas. The calendar is from the "Ohio Grocery", of Pasadena, and the calendar sheet reads November 1912...

French late 19th century oil on canvas still life of flowers in various vessels on a tabletop, signed at upper right corner "J. Billou" (the "J" could be a "G" or "T"). Oddly I do not see a listing that would correspond with this name, but this is clearly a talented artist. The work measures 19 1/2" by 24" (22 1/2" by 27" framed). The colors and handling remind of some Renoir still life paintings. This was found "as-is" in northern New Jersey...

A contemporary painting featuring the streets of Paris' famous Montmartre, the dome of white Sacre Coeur cathedral towering over narrow streets filled with pedestrians. The work measures 10 1/2" by 8 1/2" (12 3/4" by 10 1/2" as framed in black). The work is signed at lower right "Georges" and on reverse is written "Georges---Paris---2010/Montmartre". Condition of painting is excellent but lower left corner of frame shows some damage and there is scuffing elsewhere. Paint it black or reframe.

A most unusual modern painting----oil and sand on canvas, 48" by 32" including the frame, which, painted on all edges, can be considered an integral part of the work. The subject is most impressively complex---abstract yet suggestive of perhaps a central fish, or primitive ethnographic art imagery....all in a controlled palette of gray, muted rust red, white, black, and a touch of yellow...

Oil on board landscape, unsigned, the subject a panorama of red rock cliffs and distant butte, likely in Arizona, or possibly Utah, the scene framed by tree at right. The work has some age, a guess would place this circa 1955 to about 1965. Certainly it is good enough to have been painted by a listed artist. The condition is acceptably good...

A scarce oil on canvas PAINTING (not the usual prints seen), signed at lower left by the noted French 20th century impressionist painter CHARLES BLONDIN (1913-1991). Blondin was active in Paris in the post war years, painting and creating very popular editions of prints which he numbered and hand signed, and oil paintings as well. This work measures 8 3/4" by 10 1/2" (14 1/2" by 16" in appropriate mid century frame). Condition is excellent. Probably dates to late 1950's or early 1960's...

Haitian art is rightly popular for its color and exotic subject matter. This little painting, 9 1/4" by 7 1/4', set into a larger quality frame/mat, 22" by 19 3/4", depicts a thatched roof hut, figures carrying items on their heads, and lush tropical mountains and vegetation. The artist signed his name "Serge Louis" and the date 1995. The painting is exceptionally clean and ready to hang on the wall.

Oil on canvasboard circa 1960 painting of a variety of flowers in a ceramic yellow vase artistically placed on a textile with another ceramic vessel nearby, signed at lower left "Betty Way". The work, which measures 24" by 18", also bears a label on the reverse with the artist's name and address in Springfield, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Philadelphia. To date I have not located a known artist by this name. A Betty Way of Harrisburg, PA was a newspaper circulation manager...

Oil on panel painting of pink desert mountains and flowering dunes in the foreground, 16" by 20" (25" by 29" in wood carved frame), signed in the paint at lower left with a signature that appears as "Bo W(xxxxxxx)". The circa 1960 oil is by an artist who certainly must have been familiar with the palette knife California desert scenes, with rich impasto, of John Hilton (1904-1983). The style and feeling is similar. The painting could benefit from a cleaning, after fifty years...

Oil on canvasboard painting, 14" by 18" (17 1/2" by 21 1/2" in simple wood frame), signed on the reverse by artist James E. Carson of Andover, Massachusetts and titled there "Lobster Cove". This is a peaceful scene, most likely of the Lobster Cove near Annisquam and Gloucester, MA, but I see there is also a Lobster Cove in Maine. Regardless of the exact location, this is a classic scene of New England, captured by a talented artist...

The pair of antique paintings will make for a highly decorative addition to a home. One of the apparently unsigned and undated works features mostly vegetables, with a game bird and possibly a fish, while in the other work, fruit predominates. The rustic paintings were executed by a competent though not highly refined hand. Measurements are similar but not identical...

Oil on canvas painting of pears and glass vase with flowers arranged artistically on white and striped cloths, signed at lower right and again on the reverse side of the canvas by listed American woman artist SUSAN CROOK INGERSOLL (1908-)...

An oil on canvas painting of a young prince or son born of a noble family, 30" by 24 3/4", unframed, unsigned. The boy's face to my eye reminds of Goya, so perhaps this could be of Spanish origin (though, "FRANCE" is written on the stretcher in modern hand). The painting was relined sometime in the mid 20th century. There are some scratches at upper right which appear as white marks in the photos, some minor edge losses at lower left, and there is an even craquelure over much of the surface.

An 18th or early 19th century painting of a noble gentleman, oil on canvas, 30 1/2" by 23 1/2" on the stretchers 35" by 27 3/4" framed. This work does not appear to be actually signed, though there is much writing in blurred old ink on the stretcher in old German hand, seemingly identifying the sitter. The old style script and the way the ink has spread into the wood makes it all difficult to read. I do see, I think, "Franz Joseph Augustin von Stichner" or similar, and elsewhere the word "...

A contemporary painting in semi-abstract style, the image apparently of a horse and his flowing mane, staring at the viewer. The work is unsigned. Acrylic on canvas, 16" by 20" (a regular size, easily framed). A twist on equine art.

An oil on canvas painting of a clipper in full sail on the high seas, 16" by 20" (19 3/4" by 23 3/4" framed), signed at lower right in red by artist PAUL MASON and dated there with what appears as 1936. The work features attractive impressionist technique and colors. A search for information on the artist was not productive. There is a framer's label from Boston's Beacon Hill area, so we can likely assume that the artist was a New Englander. The surface is dry and there are some tiny losses ...

An old "cabin art" oil on soft paper board primitive style painting of Northern California's famed Mt. Shasta, towering over a rugged landscape including waterfall, tall trees, steep gorge, and a charming log house at left with smoke coming from the chimney. The painting measures 24 1/2" by 19 1/2", unframed. The board is warped, the surface uneven, and there is a snaking 8" crack in the board at right and small puncture at lower center. The work is delicate and requires very careful handling...

Painting on canvas of urban skyline with foreground boats, painted in modern and stylish grays, black, white and red, signed at lower right "LF Mark" or similar. The piece, in strip typical late sixties or early seventies frame, measures 18 1/2" by 26". Condition is very good save for a small puncture at lower left that actually blends in with the design and is not all that easy to find. Frame at left and lower right is also ever so slightly askew. Would make a tasteful addition to your Mid ...

A small tight little contemporary acrylic or oil on canvas painting for that small wall, 7 7/8" by 7 7/8", unframed, with reverse dedication "For Shell Sam and Mina", and signed there on stretcher by artist Warren Boothby. Condition is excellent. Found in the Pacific Northwest; the style resembles that of the influential, famed artist associated with that area, Mark Tobey.

A work by the noted California plein air artist RALPH HOLMES (1876-1963), featuring a stark arid landscape of the Southwest: a scene from Capitol Reef National Park in southern Utah (previously Capitol Reef National Monument), one of Holmes' favorite locales for painting. ***The 24" by 30" (28 1/2" by 34 1/2" in the probably original frame) painting is in need of restoration; there are numerous cuts and tears in the canvas, but it is hardly beyond recovery. I have received an estimate of $120...

A vintage still life oil painting of yellow daffodils and other spring flowers in a tall silvery jug on a table top, 32" by 25", 37 1/2" by 30" as framed, signed at lower right by listed Southern California artist BERTHA TOWNSEND COLER (1865-1948). Coler was born in Ohio and studied with Robert Henri and William Merritt Chase in New York City. By 1928 she had moved to Santa Monica, California and for the next two decades was a prolific painter in watercolor and oil, concentrating on portraits a...

Oil or acrylic on canvas painting, measuring 30" square, unframed/unsigned, the subject a young woman, painted in the style of famous twentieth century artist Patrick Nagel (1945-1984). This is offered as a decorative "style of" work. The only information on the frame is the word "Mexico" (as in, origin of the frame I would imagine) and the number 30, the dimension. The painting is wrapped around the stretcher so that the edges are all therefore painted. The surface could be described as dul...

Oil on canvas laid against panel, 10 1/2" by 13 1/2" (14" by 17" framed), signed at lower right by mid-century artist A. R. NOULIN. The beautifully painted little work reminds of Maurice Utrillo's 1920's paintings of the famed quarter around Sacre Coeur's white church. The shutters on all the buildings, the other details, all so nicely crafted. There are three tiny figures in the street. The painting is on a coarse weave canvas and is laid against a panel (not laid down onto it permanently)....

Oil on canvas painting of a small structure surrounded by a beautiful autumnal forest, 16" by 31 1/2" (21" by 36 1/2" as framed), signed at lower right "C. Jonnevelt" (or Sonnevelt), suggestive of a Scandinavian, Dutch or Belgian artist. The painting, in the tradition of earlier works, was probably executed by a Northern European artist circa 1960 to 1970. Note the skilled handling of the reflections at left. The work has a few condition issues, as shown---a bit loose on the stretchers, a pre...

Oil on canvas, unframed, 15 3/4" by 11 3/4", unsigned, the subject a colorful Indonesian or Chinese traditional dancer in elaborate costume, complete with extra long fingernails and fierce-looking mask. The work was likely executed in the past twenty years or so. A Chinese ad for cigarettes is used as backing paper (a tear in that). This is a most decorative piece that took a long time to create.

A late 20th century oil on canvas painting of a landscape, 30" by 30", unframed, signed at lower right "M T O'Brien". The colors used are light and airy----pinks, light blues, whites predominating. The creek or pond is very impressionistically presented. Great for a beach house or other sunny abode.

Oil on canvas scene of a flower-bedecked coastline, 24" by 30", unframed, signed at lower right by the noted, popular, prolific California contemporary artist, GARY RAY (1952-). This is an impressive example of Ray's work, with a thick, rich impasto, and size larger than most. The scene reminds of the Santa Barbara or Laguna Beach regions. Ray is a 4th generation Californian, born in Venice near Santa Monica. He paints in a highly impressionist style which resembles that of Edgar Payne and H...

A most decorative painting: a contemporary oil on canvas laid on board, 17 1/2" by 23 1/2", (26" by 31 1/2" in really beautiful and unusual contemporary hand carved silvery frame in Art Nouveau style), the painting and possibly frame also by noted Chicago artist and antiques restorer DMITRI RYBCHENKOV (1959-), who has signed the work with his initials at lower right. The painting is poetic and classic, two women and a fountain in a Mediterranean sunny landscape. The frame with its iris motif i...

Painting of two children hugging tenderly, 24" by 20", unframed, signed at upper left by the noted Brazil-California 20th century artist OZZ FRANCA (1928-1991). Franca is perhaps best known for his paintings of Native American women, and "Big Eye" children, but he also painted a wide range of other subject matter. The Askart listing says he painted, among other subjects, fantasy, dreams/mystery, female figure, still life, cityscapes, seascapes, and pure abstraction. The artist grew up in Sao ...

Large impressionist painting of violet mountains, pond and green meadow with white fence, 24" by 30" (31" by 37" framed), signed at lower left by artist HENRIETTA S. RUDDER, further titled "Mountains" on reverse where there is a label of the 1989 Artists Guild of the Norton Gallery Fifth Annual Exhibition (probably West Palm Beach, Florida), providing the artist's name, and the original price of $500. The painting is created primarily with palette knife, the paint richly and generously applied....

A vintage still life oil painting of flowers in a white vase against a dark background space, 24" by 18", 32" by 25" as framed, signed at lower right by listed Southern California artist BERTHA TOWNSEND COLER (1865-1948). Coler was born in Ohio and studied with Robert Henri and William Merritt Chase in New York City. By 1928 she had moved to Santa Monica, California and for the next two decades was a prolific painter in watercolor and oil, concentrating on portraits and still life, with some lan...

Lovely impressionist oil painting of trees bordering a small river or lake, painted on canvas, 22" by 18" (26" by 21 1/2" framed), signed at lower right "Michael Kawasaki", and signed again on the reverse and dated there 1997. I have not located information on the obviously talented and trained artist. The work's impressionistic brushstrokes, the handling of light and color, is just fabulous, reminiscent of the French impressionists of the late 19th century. Condition is superb; ready for the...

As suggested by the contradictory title "colorful vintage folk art painting....by Brazilian modernist", this is a very unusual, difficult-to-describe, interesting oil on canvas painting of Christ on the cross, the background a complex mix of bright primary color and modernist forms, signed at lower right by artist "Edelweiss". On the stretcher is written apparently in Portuguese, "Cobia alada da guita" or similar, along with the original $1520 USD price. The work measures 36" by 28 3/4" on the...

A soothing contemporary oil on canvas painting of a mule-drawn cart and its rider on a dirt track in the tropical forest, 19 1/2" by 27 1/2", unframed, signed at lower right by artist Fernando Danni or "Darni". I do not see a listing for this name but the artist displays here a skilled impressionist technique. Note the purple, and yellow, blooming trees at right and the fine handling of light and shadow. Condition is excellent.

An impressionist still life of vase and flowers on a table top in an interior, 23 1/2" by 17 1/2" (29" by 22 3/4" framed), signed at lower right by artist HAIG ALTOUN and dated there 1940. The work is beautifully executed by a trained hand but strangely I do not see a listing for an artist by this name, which is of Armenian extraction. Condition is excellent.

Oil on canvas, 20" by 27 1/2" and 25" by 32 1/2" in gold frame, the subject a glass vase on a tabletop, the vase and surrounding area filled with various flowers including asters and roses of various colors, as well as unidentified blue flowers in background. The work is signed at lower right "G Cocco" (GIUSEPPE COCCO 1879-1963), a listed painter from Naples, Italy. Cocco's signature can occasionally be hard to decipher and as a result he is less known than he should be. This is the third work b...

By the hand of well listed California artist ARNOLD BRAY (1892-1972), a small unframed oil on canvasboard (16" by 12") titled on reverse in pencil "Show Girl", signed and dated at lower right 1948. Bray was born in Odessa, Russia and came to San Francisco with his family at age 10. He studied at the California School of Fine Arts and later taught there. Bray assisted San Francisco artist Lucien Labaudt when the latter artist was commissioned by the WPA in 1936 to create a mural for the Willi...

Oil on canvas laid on board painting of the Grand Canyon, 17" by 21" (20" by 24" as framed), apparently unsigned, circa 1940's, possibly earlier, executed in a naive manner that borders on or crosses the line to folk art. I think the technique is intentionally naive and primitive, as opposed to just the less-refined work of an amateur artist. The frame (see close-up) adds to the folk art aspects. This is a fine addition to your Southwest or Southwest folk art collection.

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...

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...

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...

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 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 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...

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 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...

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...

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. The painting is reminiscent of Italian Renaissance imagery and strongly suggestive of Italian origin.. I acquired the work at an estate sale held at the Los Angeles home of E! Entertainment, Comcast CEO, and most recently NBC Broadcasting Chairman, Ted Harbert. The piece ...

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. Hanging on the wall none of this is ...

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. This is a work by the talented wife of another talented artist, Roy Brook...

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. Mex Yuccas" on the board...

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. The tall ship flies the flag of Portugal and it has been suggested to me, that it is in...

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. In recent years pai...

A nicely painted oil on Masonite work featuring pears and apples arranged in a still life that is quite colorful and harmonious, the fruit softly modeled. The work measures 16" by 11 3/4" (19 1/2" by 15 1/2" in bright gold framing) and is signed at lower right with a signature that appears to be "Ardi T. Santi" or similar. The painting is very decorative and attractive in its gold frame.

This is a marriage of a circa 1880 gold American Victorian frame with distinctive and unusual diamond patterns in the gilt, the frame rabbet 14" by 18", the framed item total 19 1/2" by 23", a mid 20th century still life signed "Olenick" set into it. It makes for an interesting combination but doesn't have to necessarily stay that way. The antique frame itself is very attractive and could potentially house any number of 19th century paintings. There is some wear on the frame especially at rig...

A colorful oil on canvas of two women and a donkey or horse in a tropical village setting of Haiti, probably executed circa 1960's or 1970's. The little work, 10" by 8", unframed, is signed at bottom center "Mme Brunise", for "Madame Brunise". The "Madame" is interesting as I have not seen that before on a Haitian work. Condition is generally good with exception of a hairline diagonal abrasion just below the hut, but it is kind of lost in the busy scene, and there is some general light soilin...

A quality work, the medium watercolor on a very thin linen type canvas, framed behind glass, 14 1/4" by 18 1/2" (22" by 26" framed), signed at lower right and bearing there a monogram cypher in an oriental art style, by San Diego artist and collector ELSIE STEWART KIMBERLY (1882-1966). There is little information on this talented woman artist, who was evidently most known around the San Diego area. A 1966 newspaper notes her gift of over 100 works of Asian art to the Fine Arts Society of San D...

In the style of famous American abstractionist Sam Francis (1923-1994) is this abstract oil (acrylic?) on canvas "splatter" or "drip" painting, unframed, 25" by 23 1/2", unsigned. The work appears to have some age, to perhaps the 1970's. Note the width of the stretcher (almost two inches). The painting is very clean and would make a smashing decorative work for the most modern of interiors. The pattern of splatters and lines/drips is seemingly effortless and random, making for a fine work of...

A small painting on canvas, 12" by 9" (15" by 12" framed) titled on reverse "Hermit Home", by listed artist GEORGE EUGENE SCHROEDER (1865-1935). The scene is a modest rustic cabin in a forest clearing. The artist signed at lower right and again on reverse, wrote his name and "Heyburn, IDA". Heyburn is in the southern part of the state, between Twin Falls and Pocatello, on the Snake River. Written more faintly on the reverse under the name is "Near Hailey" (which is more northerly, on the ro...

A finely painted work on canvas, 16" by 20", unframed, signed at lower left and dated there "60" or "69" by the Scottish-born artist who worked much of his life in England, JOHN PETTIE (1839-1893). The scene is a lavishly appointed bedroom chamber fit for a castle or manor house, a lone female figure at right and her faithful black dog adding an element of interest and mystery. The subdued light in the chamber and another room to the rear is handled masterfully, as are details such as the bed ...