Catalog (164)

A original antique Chinese Stoneware with white glaze (Cizhou ware) jar let from the Song Dynasty (960-1279) Measuring approximately 2.5" high and 3" wide. In very good antique condition. This fine quality Chinese celadon jarlet was probably exported to South East Asia from mainland China to Southeast Asia from mainland China. This particular piece has a good shape and glaze. The glazed ware was made extensively in China by the fourth century AD, and it was exported to South-East Asia from the time of the Song Dynasty (AD 960-1279).

Original N.C. Wyeth oil painting on art board title "Lumber" commissioned by Coca Cola company in 1943 for a series of posters in American industry. Signed lower right measuring 21 x 31 inches in excellent condition. A fine addition to any collection of American Art.

Biography

N. (Newell) C. (Convers) Wyeth (October 22, 1882-October 19, 1945), is one of the most celebrated illustrators in the history of art. He grew up on a farm in New England, and studied at the Massachusetts Normal Arts School where he attended classes taught by illustrators Eric Pape and Charles W. Reed. During 1902-04 he studied with the great illustrator Howard Pyle in Wilmington, Delaware. Wyeth accepted a commission from Scribner's and the Saturday Evening Post to paint western scenes, and traveled in the west to gain first hand knowledge of subjects. He worked as a ranch hand in Colorado and rode mail routes in New Mexico and Arizona. In 1906, Wyeth and Carolyn Brenneman Bockius were married in the Wilmington Unitarian church, and they made their home in nearby Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania. The focus of his painting soon shifted to the land and people of the region in which he lived. In 1911, Wyeth won a commission from Charles Scribner's Sons to illustrate a new edition of R. L. Stevenson's Treasure Island, a work that made him famous. He provided illustrations for dozens of other classic books, including Kidnapped (1913), The Black Arrow (1916), The Legends of Robin Hood (1917), The Last of the Mohicans (1919), and The Yearling (1939).

Portrait of a woman by French artist Jean-Jacques Henner (1829-1905). Board: 9.25"L x 12.9"H framed 18.5" L x 14.75" w. Henner entered the École des Beaux-Arts and won the Prix de Rome in 1858. He exhibited paintings in the Salon, many now in the Musée d'Orsay. In 1889, he became commander of the Legion of Honour and succeeded Cabanel in the Institut de France. In 1900, he won a Grand Prix for painting at the Paris Exposition Universelle. Excellent condition minor age wear.

Beautiful original antique oil painting of a mountain sunset and waterfall by William Keith c.1890 oil on artist panel signed lower left. Presented in a quality contemporary gallery frame 16.5ʺW × 3ʺD × 19ʺH. Good antique condition very fine age craquelure very minor touch ups.. Biography: A native of Scotland, William Keith became in the late 19th and early 20th centuries a leading Northern-California landscape artist. In fact, he was so well known that he is referred to as the "Dean of California painters." His romanticized views of nature found much favor among the culturally aspiring citizens of San Francisco and hung in many foyers and dining rooms in their elegant homes. He completed thousands of paintings and drawings, and many of them were lost in his studio in the fire of 1906. His early works are dramatic mountainscapes in a realistic style adopted from the Dusseldorf School of Germany. The paintings of the last two decades of his life are looser and obviously influenced by his exposure in France to the Barbizon School of landscape painters, who were the first colony of painters to complete paintings "en plein air," or directly from nature rather than in studios. A forerunner of Impressionism, this style also included Tonalism espoused by Barbizon painter Camille Corot [1796-1875] and also apparent in Keith's later works, which are darker, smaller, and much more intimate with emphasis on mood. He married artist Elizabeth Emerson and did watercolor painting with her guidance. In 1868, he became a full-time painter, and that same year was commissioned to paint scenes along the Columbia River including Mount Hood. By August 1869 he had sold enough paintings to finance an extended journey to the East Coast and Europe including Dusseldorf, Germany throughout most of 1870, studying with Albert Flamm. After a visit to Paris, he expressed great admiration for "the modern school of French landscape painting including the Barbizon School. During the winter of 1871-1872, the Keiths lived in Boston where they shared a studio with William Hahn. Keith's work received critical acclaim there and in New York at the National Academy of Design. In 1872, he returned to San Francisco. A friendship with naturalist John Muir exposed Keith to many remote places and in-depth knowledge of nature. During the 1870s, he painted several "epic" eight by ten-foot High Sierra views. He also visited Alaska, and his paintings of Alaska were exhibited upon his return to San Francisco in a show at the Bohemian Club, titled 'Dreams of Alaska'. Keith's Alaska works are significant because they are not close transcriptions of actual scenery, but rather are fantasies inspired by Alaska. They are important as they represent a major break from the documentary tradition in landscape painting of Alaska, as they show an interest in capturing its spirit versus just the topography. In 1891, he shared his studio for several weeks with East Coast Tonalist George Inness, Sr. [1825-1894]. Both men painted in a similar style and were followers of the mystical teachings of Swedenborg. Among the locations where Inness and Keith painted together were Monterey and Yosemite, and it was reported they discussed art from every possible angle. Under Inness' influence, Keith painted more than ever in a Barbizon-influenced vein with many sunset and twilight scenes. By the early 1900s, Keith was likely one of the wealthiest artists in the United States and certainly earned the most money of any California-based artist. People from all over the world sought out his studio where it was said that he would specially select a painting for a client from behind a black velvet curtain, order everyone to be quiet, part the curtains, and set the work on a easel, flooded in light. It was unthinkable not to buy a painting on these occasions. Many of his paintings were shown in New York at the Macbeth Gallery, and in 1898, he had a special exhibition in New York. Keith died April 13, 1911, and his work is in most of the institutions representing major California artists

Oil painting Madonna of the Finch after Raphael. An 18th century old master copy of the great masterpiece by Raphael. Presented in a fine hand carved 24K gold leafed antique frame. Image 25.5"L x 18.5"W. Overall framed size 34 x 28".

Modern charcoal drawing of a cosmic abstract. Signed indistinctly lower right and dated 2003. Presented in a minimalist blonde wood frame. Image size: 22 x 30”, overall dimensions: 27 x 34”.

Harriet W. Frishmuth (American, 1880-1980), titled Crest of the Wave, signed and dated 1925 on bronze base and with QFHL stamp and Gorham Co Founders foundry mark on bronze base; ht. 21.5, wd. 5, dp. 5 in. In excellent condition with a beautiful original patina.

Harriet Whitney Frishmuth was born on September 17, 1880 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. A student of such renowned artists as Auguste Rodin and Gutzon Borglum, Frishmuth's reputation and career grew steadily throughout the first several decades of the twentieth century, with exhibitions at the National Academy of Design, the Academy of Fine Arts in Philadelphia, the Salon in Paris, the Golden Gate International Exposition (1939-1940) and the National Association of Women Painters and Sculptors. Her favorite models were dancers, especially Desha Delteil - immortalized in Frishmuth's most famous work, The Vine - a model particularly popular with artists for her ability to hold difficult poses for long periods of time. The final exhibits of Frishmuth's work took place in New York City in 1929, but she remained active in the art world for many years following. Frishmuth passed away in 1980 at the age of 99. A proponent of the Beaux Arts style - Frishmuth was exceptionally critical of modern art, often calling it "spiritless" - her works can now be seen in some of the world's leading museums and collections, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, the Dallas Museum of Art, and Ohio University's Kennedy Museum of Art.

Vintage print titled "Gathering" an original hand drawn stone lithograph by Raphael Soyer, the renowned Russian-born American realist painter, draftsman, and printmaker. Hand proofed and printed in 1977 by master printer Joseph Kleineman, JK Fine Art Editions Co. NY using ink on Arches paper 100% acid free, from a traditional lithographic stone (which Joseph recalls carrying himself to Soyer's studio on Manhattan's Upper West Side). Gathering depicts a sensitive, realistic NYC group portrait of young people, one couple entering the scene from the left holding hands, another couple making out in the background, and three women each facing a different direction in the foreground create an animated get-together that keeps the viewers attention. Soyer's masterly drawing style possesses a dynamic graphite pencil quality and quiet intimacy. GATHERING is a fine example of superb hand lithography printmaking at its best! Image size - 19" x 14" inches overall framed size 24" x 28".

Original antique 19th century Japanese Woodblock Print by KUNISADA (AKA TOYOKUNI III, 1786-1864). Presented matted and framed. In good antique condition some surface soiling commensurate of age. Kunisada Utagawa was born in 1786 in Honjo, in the outskirts of Tokyo, the capital of Japan, then called Edo. His father died when he was about one year old. But he had left his son a hereditary ferry-boat license which provided a safe income. In contrast to so many other ukiyo-e artists like for instance Kuniyoshi Utagawa or his student Yoshitoshi Tsukioka, Kunisada never had to experience any financial hardships during his lifetime. The idea of a hereditary ferry-boat license seems strange to us today. You must know that the Japanese society of the Edo period (1603-1868) was extremely rigid. Your place in life was defined by your birth. If you were born as the son of a farmer, your destiny was to be a farmer for your whole life. Another example was the samurai warrior class. You could not become a samurai. You were born as a samurai.

Beautiful impressionist landscape of a shepherd and his dog and sheep in a landscape with trees. Bold impressionist brush strokes with a warm subdued palette. Oil on panel signed indistinctly lower right. Panel measuring 13" x 16" presented framed in a fine contemporary gallery frame overall size 18.5" x 21.5".

Fredric Schafer classic view of Yosemite from inspiration point. # 7 in the Schafer Catalog. Oil on canvas approx. 26 x 36.

biography

Born in Braunschweig, Germany on Aug. 16, 1839. Schafer may have studied art in Düsseldorf since his paintings resemble those of other Düsseldorf-trained artists; however, he is believed to have been self-taught. He came to the U.S. in 1876 and arrived in San Francisco in 1880. After establishing a studio, he began exhibiting regularly with the local art association and the Mechanics' Institute Fairs. A peripatetic painter, he made regular sketching trips throughout the Northwest including Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, and Alaska. During his last years he painted theatrical scenery in San Francisco and Oakland theaters. Schafer had a home in Oakland from 1880 until his death on July 18, 1927. His landscapes, which often include Indians, were mostly done before 1890 and number about 500. Due to alcoholism, his works are often uneven in quality. Exh: Mechanics' Inst. (SF), 1879-84; Calif. State Fair, 1880, 1894. In: Oakland Museum; Seattle Museum; Monterey Peninsula Museum; Shasta State Historical Monument; Bancroft Library (UC Berkeley); CHS; Crocker Museum; Hoover Inst. (Palo Alto); Museum of Church History & Art (Salt Lake City); Society of Calif. Pioneers; Sonoma Co. Museum (Santa Rosa); Yosemite Museum; Alameda Public Library; Craigdarroch Castle (Victoria, B.C.) Source: Edan Hughes, "Artists in California, 1786-1940"

Antique American running horse gold gilt copper body weathervane, a beautiful example with great lines and form in typical antique condition with some wear denting and bullet holes. Mounted on a black painted wood display stand measuring approx. overall length 29 inches. A fine piece would make a great decorative accent piece for any interior antique or modern.

Original antique hand colored Lithograph of parrots from Mathew's The Birds of Australia. . Presented archival matted and framed. Overall framed size 13ʺW × 1ʺD × 16ʺH in excellent condition. This impeccable, hand-colored lithograph is from the first edition of Gregory Macalister Mathew's The Birds of Australia. The work was published in London by Witherby & Co. c. 1910. The artists that contributed to the work included J. G. Keulemans, Gronvold, R. Green, Goodchild, and Lodge. This work was the first major work on Australian birds since John Gould's and illustrated 100 further species than his work. It is also one of the last important natural history works to be illustrated with hand-colored lithographs. The edition was limited to 225 copies.

Beautiful English walnut lowboy with elaborate decorative inlay. Three herringbone inlaid, cross-banded drawers with brass hardware, and a compass rose inlaid top over elegant Queen Anne legs. 33" L x 22" W x 30" H Please inquire about shipping costs.

An original Italian impressionist oil painting of Capri and the bay of Naples and Faraglioni Rocks on canvas signed indistinctly lower right. Presented in a quality contemporary gallery frame. Oil on canvas measuring 16 x 24" overall framed size 22 x 30". In good vintage condition some minor touch ups. A beautiful painting.

A fine and rare antique Native American North West Coast Haida or Tlingit tribe carved large horn spoon or ladle. The handle depicts a totem pole design of an Eagle and Bear with mother of pearl inset eyes. Measuring approx. 13.5" inches long 6" deep and 4.5"wide. In very good antique condition minor imperfections with age.

A fine American federal period carved shield back side chair circa 1830 of the finest quality in excellent condition.

A fine antique portrait of a Race horse in a stable with a dog. Signed lower center indistinctly measuring 16" x 20" oil on canvas.