Catalog: Sold Items (420)

A beautiful African carved ivory figure of a seated female and child west Africa with beautiful patina measuring approx. 12.5 inches in length. A fine investment quality antique.

English rosewood traveling secretary circa 1850. These pieces were custom made for British Officers stationed in India and were brought home and have been widely collected. This is a particularly interesting example with a carved top brass banding and a exotic interior with place for correspondence and storage for writing utensils etc. It is mounted to a quality rosewood stand making it a nice side or lamp table. In good antique condition a repaired age crack due to shrinkage of the wood on the top and some minor wear.

A Beautiful antique sterling silver overlay cut crystal decanter. Marked sterling. Dimensions 5.0ʺW × 5.0ʺD × 10.0ʺH Condition Excellent

A fine original watercolor by James David Smillie of a street view in Nice France signed lower right and titled and dated Nice Feb. 1893 lower left. On the reverse is an exhibit label from a exhibit at the American Watercolor Society. A fine example of this important American Artist. Measuring approx 8 x 12 image and framed in a fine gold leafed period frame overall 16 x 20. Provenance Hirschel Adler Gallery New York

Biography

A native of New York and the son of an engraver, James David Smillie earned his early reputation for his etching skills but later for watercolor landscapes. He began etching at age 8, learning from his father, James Smillie (1807-1885). At age 14, he did a set of plates illustrating John Milton's epic poem, Paradise Lost. He had a job as a bank note engraver, and then he and his father had a business, collaborating as engravers with a specialty of bank-notes. They also did the engravings for the 1857 Mexican Boundary Survey Report. James David Smillie helped organize the New York Etching Club, and he was the U.S. representative to supply examples of American etchers' work to the Painters-Etchers Society of London. Although he continued working with etching, drypoint, aquatint and lithography, in 1865, he began doing landscape painting and was especially interested in mountain scenery. Smillie traveled in California in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, in Colorado in the Rocky Mountains, and in the eastern United States in the Catskills and Adirondacks. From these trips he did illustrations that were published in 1872 in the magazine Picturesque America. In 1881, Smillie got married, and the couple had two sons. By 1884, he was in France, and spent much time there doing prints of landscapes, figures, portraits and cityscapes. Between 1888 and 1896, he produced a set of drypoint floral still-life prints. James David Smillie founded the American Watercolor Society and served as president and treasurer. He also taught classes at the National Academy of Design in 1868 and from 1894 to 1903.

Fine Santa Clara pueblo pottery example by Gwen Tafoya. Completely hand made and fired in the traditional manner featuring a water serpent design. Measuring approx. 3 tall and 5 inches in diameter. A fine signed example of Native American pottery by one of the great pottery artists.

A beautiful original oil painting by renowned California impressionist Angel Espoy oil on canvas signed lower right.In very good condition. An investment quality art work. Biography Known for paintings that evidence his great love of the sea, Angel Espoy did work that includes seascapes and maritime subjects; however, he was also an accomplished painter of California's rolling hills of poppies and lupines. He was born in Villa Nueva, Spain on October 2, 1879. He left home at age eighteen to work as a first mate in the Spanish merchant marines. While in that capacity, he acquainted himself with every detail of the clipper ships he later painted. His desire to paint took him to Barcelona where he studied with Joaquin Sorolla. Following his father's tobacco interests in the Philippines, he made many trips there at the turn of the century. Two years were spent in Havana where he began to earn his living as an artist by painting designs on furniture. Destitute, he made his way to New York City in 1904. After a return to his native land, he moved to San Francisco in 1914. There he supported himself for seven years making cartoons for movies while painting on weekends with Manuel Valencia, Carl Jonnevold, and John Califano. In 1922 he moved to southern California and from that time was able to subsist by the sale of his paintings. Espoy died in Seal Beach, CA on January 31, 1963. He was a member of the Los Angeles Art Association and exhibited at Barker Bros Galleries in Los Angeles. Works held: Los Angeles City Hall; Oakland Museum; Loyola University. Source: "Artists in California, 1786-1940" by Edan Milton Hughes

A beautiful Meiji period Japanese carved Ivory figure of a bride exqusite detail signed by the carver. In pristine condition measuring 9 inches tall or 23 centimeters. A fine addition to any collection

Chinese carved malachite figural study of a sage or scholar fisherman seated on a large fish and holding another in one hand. Comes with a sliver wire inlaid rosewood stand. Measuring approx. 2.5 x 3 inches in excellent condition. A fine detailed carving a nice addition to any collection.

A beautiful original watercolor painting of a New York landscape by Harry Roseland signed lower right in excellent condition in quality frame site approx. 10x 14 inches. An investment quality work. Harry Roseland 1868-1950 Genre painting enjoyed tremendous popularity in nineteenth-century America. It was a style that allowed a painter to tell a story, evoke an emotion, tell a joke, or educate. Largely superseded in the twentieth century by changes in popular taste and improvements in photographic technology, genre painting nevertheless remains a strong sub current in popular taste. One of the most notable painters in this mode was Harry Roseland. Roseland, born in Brooklyn, New York in 1868, matured as an artist while waves of change were sweeping over the art world. Largely self-taught, he chose to paint what he saw. He received some education in art under J.B. Whittaker in Brooklyn, and at first painted some landscapes and still lifes, but his natural flair was for telling a story in his paintings. His subject matter was at first highly sentimental and heavily influenced by fashionable taste: smartly turned-out young women, old folks, and idealized farm scenes. He abandoned the mawkishness that is the downfall of so many self-educated artists when he found a topic that was close to home and yet largely unnoticed: the post-Civil War blacks who formed the underpinning of Northeastern society. Roseland's clever, skillful scenes of homely activities - such as checkers or letter-reading, were remarkably dispassionate and candid for the time, though to modern eyes they may seem condescending and dated. They capture with gentle humor of a way of life that existed through the first half of the twentieth century and has now vanished. Harry Roseland never left his native Brooklyn, dying in New York in 1950, but enjoyed a remarkable success as an artist in his chosen specialty, improving and maturing continually. The archetype of the independent American artist, he never traveled to Europe to study or observe, choosing to carve his own path. During his career as an artist he exhibited:Brooklyn Art Club, 1888 (gold),Boston, Mass., 1900 (medal), 1904 (gold),Charleston Expo, 1902 (medal), National Academy of Design, 1898 (prize),Brooklyn Society of Artists, 1930 (prize), American Art Society, Philadelphia, 1902 (medal), 1907 (gold),Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Art Institute of Chicago. His memberships include: Brooklyn Arts Club,Brooklyn Society of Artists, Brooklyn Painters Society, Salmagundi Club. Public Collections representing the work of Harry Roseland: Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Science, Brooklyn Museums,Charleston Art Museum,Heckscher Museum, Long Island, New York.

Chinese antique jade and rosewood opium pipe circa 1890. A beautiful example with mottled jade bowl in the shape of a fist pipe damper and mouthpiece are also jade the pipe stem is rosewood. Measuring approx. 14.5 inches in length the bowl 2.5 in diameter. A fine example would make a nice addition to any collection.

. A beautiful bronze head of the Buddha Thailand Sukhothai style. A serene face with elogated ears and a top unisa flame. in good antique condition measuring approx. 15 inches tall with mounted stand overall 22 inches.

A fine antique southeast Asian Bronze Buddha 15-17 the century measuring Approx. 5 inches tall without stand mounted to a quality museum mount.

A beautiful antique Indian statue of a Hindu female deity standing approx. 14 inches tall finest details patina and form. A beautiful piece would enhance any collection.

Chinese porcelain vase hand painted with the Three Sages of Happiness design motif. Tong Zhi period 1862-1874 in excellent condition measuring approx. 9 inches tall comes in a fitted silk lined box.

An original oil depicting a Brigantine Ship sailing ship off the coast with other vessels and a lighthouse. Oil in board signed lower left in an original arts and crafts era frame. Measuring approx. 10 x 16 inches in excellent condition. A fine example of this artists work. Biography C. Myron Clark (1858-1925) was a painter of mountain landscapes in oil and watercolor, as well as ships (USS Constitution, 1906; Frigate in Tow). He worked mostly in Massachusetts, though his oil landscape of Mounts Skihist and Lilovet was painted north of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada in 1921. His work is in the collection of the Peabody Museum in Salem, Massachusetts. A FINE EXAMPLE AND NICE ADDITION TO ANY COLLECTION.

An antique 19th century oil painting on tin depicting a European new world figure and a Native American Indian girl most likely John Smith and Pocahontas. Beautifully painted in excellent condition some age cracking and minor rubs on the extreme edges where frame would cover. Measuring approx. 10x8.5 inches a fine early American painting.

A fine antique Chinese export porcelain bowl circa from the late 18th to early 19th century. Featuring Hand painted decorations of Mandarin figures with a floral sprig in the center of the bowl. In excellent condition with no chips or cracks etc. measuring approx. 9 inches in diameter and 4 inches tall or 23 x 10 cm. A fine example would be a nice addition to any collection.

A fine and rare Chinese Bronze portrait bust of a young woman. In excellent condition with a nice rich brown patina measuring approx. 5.5 in tall with rosewood stand 7 in. or 14 x 18 cm. A fine addition to any collection.

A fine original oil by Christian Jorgensen a view of Yosemite Valley with Half Dome in the distance. Oil on Canvas signed lower right in excellent original condition framed in a period art nouveau frame. Measuring 20 x 24 canvas size. Biography. Born in Oslo, Norway on Oct. 7, 1860 Christian Jorgensen moved to San Francisco with his mother in 1870. He showed artistic promise at an early age, and when the School of Design opened in 1874, he was among the first to enroll. At 14 he was greatly influenced at that school by Virgil Williams, who was both teacher and father figure. Jorgensen later became an instructor at the School of Design and served as assistant director from 1881-83. He then established a studio at 131 Post Street where he continued teaching, and by the mid-1880s was a successful landscape painter. For five years he and his wife, Angela, traveled by horse and buggy to the sites of the 21 California missions and during this period he produced 80 watercolor studies of the missions and a complete set of oils. In 1899, he pitched a tent in Yosemite, and after several months, obtained a permit to build a studio-home there and continued painting there during the warm months for 19 years. (His home in Yosemite is now used as headquarters for the government rangers.) In 1905 he built a boulder home in Carmel (this later became the Hotel La Playa) where he and Angela lived for a few years; most of his time was spent at the family home in Piedmont, CA. The Jorgensens made trips to Italy (1892-94), Mexico (1907), the Grand Canyon (1910) and New England (1916). Jorgensen enjoyed a long career and continued painting until his death in Piedmont on June 24, 1935. Exhibitions: San Francisco Art Association, 1884-1905; Mechanics' Institute (SF), 1884-97; California State Fair, 1886-96 (medals); Bohemian Club, 1899-1922; Cosmos Club (Washington, DC), 1906; Sequoia Club (SF), 1907; Del Monte Art Gallery (Monterey), 1907-09; Rabjohn & Marcom Gallery (SF), 1908; Alaska-Yukon Expo (Seattle), 1909; Courvoisier Gallery (SF), 1909; Kanst Gallery (LA), 1915. Collections: California Historical Society, Bohemian Club; Athletic Club (Oakland); Sonoma Mission; Mechanics' Inst. Library (SF); Orange Co. (CA) Museum; Yosemite Museum. Source: Edan Hughes, "Artists in California, 1786-1940"

Chinese export porcelain bowl circa 1790 a beautiful example with hand painted floral sprays and a scalloped decorated rim. Measuring approx. 9 1/4 inches in diameter and 4 inches deep in excellent antique condition for a piece of its age with a couple of barely visible faint hairline stress cracks in the outside glaze probably from cooling in manufacturing and one minute flea bite on the outside rim (see pictures). A fine piece would be a nice addition to any collection.

Japanese signed Satsuma pottery censer hand painted in cobalt blue background with figural and traditional Satsuma design. In excellent condition with no damage. Measuring approx. inches by inches

An exquisite gilt bronze Buddha Thailand circa 1840 in very fine condition measuring approx. 14 inches tall. A fine and beautiful image.

This finely burnished blackware effigy vessel comes from Peru and dates c.a.1000-1470AD. It is a beautifully constructed representational of a squirrel measuring approximately 7 inches in length In excellent condition a minor restored chip to the spout (see close up) i. A beautiful and unusal piece for any collection. Provenance From The Late Phillip Kirkeby Collection.

A beautiful Chinese porcelain vase with green tea dust glaze of beautiful color and form measuring Approximately 8 inches tall in excellent condition no chips cracks or restorations.

A fine pair of early American portraits of a Handsome young man and beautiful woman. Oil on canvas relined some minor restorations nicely framed Measuring 22 x 18 inches framed size 26.5 x 22.5 inches. A wonderful decorative pair would enhance any interior.

A beautiful example of this exquisite art form in a floral vase on tinted silver foil background. Artist signed measuring approx. 5 inches tall 13 cm. In excellent condition no damage. A fine example would be a nice addition to any collection.

Fine Antique miniature Bronze Portrait bust of a young man. Finely detailed bronze casting. Measuring 7.5" x 4 x 3.5 Inches. In excellent antique condition.

A beautiful example with delicate sliver wire enclosure flower designs on a foil background. Meiji period c.1900 in excellent condition measuring 4.5 inches tall.

Anna Althea Hills California Impressionist view of Laguna Beach sunset oil on canvas c. 1925. A beautiful plein air painting by this highly regarded California artist. Oil on canvas signed lower left measuring 10x14 inches framed in a hand carved and 24k gold leaf quality frame overall size 16x20 inches. Provenance; From the estate of Anna Hills stamped on reverse stretcher with the estate stamp and catalogue number in addition attached is an accompanying letter from the Robert Beck Gallery as to the provenance of this painting. The condition is excellent the painting has been relined and cleaned and is in fine condition. A quality investment piece of California art. An Anna Hills 10x14 painting of Laguna sold for $23,000 at John Moran auction on 6/21/05.

Biography

Anna Althea Hills was born January 28, 1882 in Ravenna, Ohio. She studied at the Chicago Art Institute; Cooper Union Art School in New York City; she worked with Arthur Dow (1857-1922) and later studied at the Academie Julian in Paris. While in Europe she studied with John Noble Barlow (1861-1917). In 1912 she moved to Laguna Beach, California becoming a leading member of the Laguna Beach art community. She was an active member of the California Art Club, held a membership at the Washington Watercolor Club and served at the Laguna Beach Art Association as president from 1922 to 1925 and from 1927 to 1930. Hills was highly regarded as an art teacher and encouraged the study of the visual arts at the local public schools. Captivated and inspired by her new surroundings, she created atmospheric impressionist landscapes showing a reverence and appreciation of nature. The subjects of her plein-air landscapes varied from treescapes, the Laguna Beach coastline, Mission San Juan Capistrano, the vast Southern California and Arizona deserts, Santa Ana Canyon, arroyos and interior scenes. Hills won the Bronze Medal at the Panama-California Exposition, San Diego in 1915; the Bronze Medal at the California State Fair, 1919; and the Landscape Prize at the Laguna Beach Art Association, 1922, 1923. She died at the early age of forty-eight on June 13, 1930 in Laguna Beach, California.

A beautiful 20 th. century carved serpentine jade censer with dragon finial and handles. Celadon green quality stone measuring approx. 8 inches tall in excellent condition.

A fine antique Japanese bronze Ikebana planter in the motif of bamboo in excellent condition a large size great for bonsai tree etc. measuring approx. 19 x 14 x 6 inches. Signed on bottom.

Beautiful American oil painting of a portrait of a young girl with a parrot. American school 19th century. Measuring 8 x10 inches overall framed size 10.5" x 12.5". Original antique frame. In excellent condition oil on canvas laid down on board some minor flaws to frame.

A Japanese Bronze Water dropper Suiteki in the form of a Turtle, Meiji period c. 1900 measuring 3 1/4 in. L x 2.5 in. W x 1 in. H. in excellent condition nice patina signed.

A beautiful early 20 th century Dutch impressionist painting of a view of Amsterdam. Signed lower right G. Koopman oil on canvas Approx. 16 x 24 inches in a quality original frame. A beautiful painting with bold impressionist brush strokes.

Japanese Satsuma pottery vase with cobalt blue background and beautifully hand painted with the finest detailed images of flowering branches and nesting birds. Artist signed on bottom in excellent condition measuring approx. 5 in. tall 4 in. wide or 13 x 11 cm. An exquisite example of this sought after art form.

A fine Japanese bronze vase with moulded designs of Shishi dog and flowers. Measuring approx. 9 inches tall in excellent condition with beautiful patina.