A most interesting circa 1960's work featuring a group of older, mostly one story buildings in a town, those buildings apparently of stone, judging from the earthy colors. A dark blue sky elegantly sets off the earth tones, making for an interesting play of light and color. Brush strokes are vigorous and sure. The painting is oil on canvasboard, measuring 9" by 13" (12 3/4" by 16 1/2" framed), signed with initials that could be "CB" at lower right...

Circa 1950's European oil painting of purple and white lilac in a vase, signed at lower right by artist "A. Teder" (likely German or Scandinavian). The painting is in good condition, with just old slightly discolored varnish and a tiny loss or two at left. I have looked in vain for a listing for this talented mid century painter. The frame is in good condition but the liner is shredded and missing. You will want to either replace the liner or reframe entirely...

Oil on canvas laid on board painting of San Juan Capistrano mission in Orange County, California, 5" by 5", 7" by 12 1/4" in period pie crust frame. Written in pencil in old hand on the tattered framing paper is "San Capistrano Mission". Although unsigned, the handling, subject matter and color palette are unquestionably of the hand of the noted California prolific painter RICHARD DETREVILLE (1864-1929)...

A PAIR of watercolor paintings of scenes of Los Angeles' "South Bay" cities, one featuring the Manhattan Beach Pier (6 3/4"by 9 1/2"), the other the Palos Verdes General Store (6 7/8" by 9 3/4"), one signed by and both bearing the label of talented local artist Sharon Towle. Both are in gold metal frames of identical size (13" by 16"). The artist worked for the commercial side of the art market in graphic design and illustration...

MISS CHI

Vintage anonymous oil painting on canvas, "MISS CHI - 3-years old Toy Poodle, 1980". 41 x 31.7 x 2 cm (16.14 x 12.48 x 0.78in)...

This is an oil on board painting of a small house in a forest landscape, apparently unsigned, in the general tradition of the Hudson River School, 13 1/2" by 21 1/2" plus gold framing about 1 1/2" on a side. The work could date from about 1900 to maybe the mid 1920's, I would think. It is a decorative work that gives the feeling of a more expensive painting, when viewed from a distance...

Watercolor on heavy watercolor paper, 8 1/2" by 11", unframed and with old mat still attached, signed at lower right "B. Singer" and dated there '53. This is a work of noted California painter BURR SINGER (1912-1992). Singer is an important California woman artist, fine oil works bringing to the upper four figures at recent auctions. Born in St...

Watercolor on paper, 15" by 11" inside the mat (21" by 17" as framed), signed at lower right by listed American artist GUSTAVE A. BRAND (1863-1944). This is a nicely crafted work of an overly ardent suitor chasing his classically dressed prey in an overgrown garden setting. The artist is not well known but he is listed and was apparently known in Chicago and the Midwest as a muralist...

For the fans of the "Big Eye" paintings, here is a pair of mid century retro style works in oil on board, each 23 1/2" by 11 1/4", and each signed at lower right. The signatures are hard to decipher; I'm guessing "Balmiani" or "Dalmiani". If I am reading them at all correctly, I am not able to tie these names to any of the listed, recognized big eye painters. Regardless of authorship, these are sure to please the devoted big eye collector...

A vintage still life oil painting, unframed, 30" by 24", signed twice at lower right (one, very faint) 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 landscapes in the mix...

Oil on canvas landscape with a home and small out building, possibly but not at all necessarily a California scene, measuring 10" by 14" (12 1/4" by 16 1/4" as framed), signed at lower right (I think in ink) ".........

Oil on canvasboard painting titled on backing paper "LAVISH FALL PALETTE/LONGS PEAK", signed at lower right by artist RUTH ERWIN (1904-1994). The work, featuring flaming aspen in the Colorado high country in high autumn, a view to monumental Longs Peak in the distance, measures 10" by 8" (18 1/2" by 16" framed). I've gathered a few nuggets of information on the artist through the net. One person wrote what she found on a label attached to the back of an Erwin painting she owned: "....the "pa...

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). The family said tha...

An impressionistic palette knife painting of dramatic, high, already snow-streaked mountains in peak autumn season, signed in the paint at lower left "W HARISCH". This 14 1/2" by 19 1/2" work (18" by 23" as framed) is by listed Canadian artist WILLIAM HARISCH (1914-1967). Harisch painted in a style that appears clearly European, and indeed works of his native country (one titled "Heidelberg") have come to market. Information is scant but he appears to have been in Canada at least by 1950 and ...

Watercolor on paper painting, each 9 1/2" by 7 1/2" (17 1/2" by 14 1/2" in shiny black inexpensive frame), signed in pencil at lower right by the California artist and fashion illustrator ESTHER WYNN, who passed away in 1990 according to recent information acquired from relatives. So far there is no askart listing for this artist but I imagine that will change. She was a talented illustrator, often, of vintage fashion design, and created designs for cards as well. A web search reveals other wate...

A decidedly modern watercolor painting of five liquor bottles, painted in mid century colors, 11" by 15" inside the mat, 23" by 30" in interesting, vintage rubbed reddish gray wood framing, signed at lower right by artist "Linahan". I have been unable to link this to a known artist. The black outlining style of the imagery and, especially the colors chosen by the artist suggest a late 1950's or early 1960's date. Mat could use a refresher, but the art itself and the frame are in excellent co...

Found in southwestern New Hampshire is this charming drawing, 7 3/4" by 5 3/4" (9 5/8" by 7 3/8" framed), the subject a lady with a slight neoclassical profile, standing isolated against an extensive landscape. There's no signature nor other information but it would appear to be an American drawing dating to the 2nd quarter of the 19th century. Condition is very good save for a 3/8" by 1/4" disturbed area in the sky that appears at first glance to be a drip of some kind but which appears to ac...

Circa 1960 oil on canvas painting of the familiar and oft-painted Moulin Rouge night club in the Montmartre section of Paris, 12" by 16" (18" by 22" in the pleasant period frame), signed at lower right by mid century Parisian artist H. PIERREL. I do not see a formal "listing" for the artist, although I have encountered other works by this talented hand. The painting should bring back memories of voyages past, and should please any true Francophile. The condition is good overall, with some min...