Catalog: Sold Items (420)

An original oil painting on canvas still life of peaches and grapes signed lower right a beautiful painting in good condition. Thomas Nash painter. Nash appears to have been an itinerant artist. He was in southern California in 1879 when he painted a series of Kern River scenes. From there, he traveled north to Oregon where he did several views of the Columbia River. By 1880 he was sketching around the Colorado River in the Calico Mountain region. In 1894 he painted scenes of Michigan, and during the years 1903-13 he painted up and down the California coast. Nash's few extant works are from the brush of an accomplished painter.

William Keith California Landscap at evening sunset through California Oaks with cows at a distant watering hole. A dramatic moody classic Keith painting oil on canvas signed lower right William Keith and lower left SF for San Francisco. Measuring 18x14 inches framed in a modern gold leaf gallery frame 26x32 inches overall. A fine example of this important early California and American painter such an influential artist and teacher he is sometimes referred to the Dean of California Artists. Works by Keith have sold for as much as $121,000 at auction.

Artist Biography.

Brought to New York City in 1850, William Keith was apprenticed to a wood engraver in 1856 working for "Harper’s" magazine. In 1858 (or 1859) he visited California for "Harper’s" and then after a trip to Great Britain, settled in California as an engraver in 1862. He began exhibiting paintings in 1864 in San Francisco where he opened his studio, after having been taught painting by his wife. The Northern Pacific Railroad commissioned him to do landscape paintings along its route about 1868. In 1869-70 he studied in Dusseldorf, Germany; in 1871-72, he shared a studio in Boston with William Hahn; and in 1872, he returned to California. A nature lover, he found there was “scarcely a mountain in three-fourths of California where he had not kept vigil for days as a time, studying every detail of color, flower, rock, forge, shadow, and sunshine.” Keith became Thomas Hill’s rival in monumental landscapes, saying, “I’d be satisfied if I could reach the power and success of Tom Hill.” When George Inness visited California in 1890, he worked in Keith’s studio for many weeks, and they made sketching trips together. The result for Keith was an influenced style reflecting the subjective rather than the spectacular. His "Majesty of the Oaks" painting sold at auction in New York City in 1903 for $2,300., and about the same time "Glory of the Heaven" sold at auction in San Francisco for $12,000. Of medium height with unruly curly hair, Keith had his studio next to the live oaks on the Berkeley campus where it was the center of the university-oriented California culture. The 1906 earthquake and fire destroyed 2,000 of Keith’s works.

Bourcieria Torquata An original John Gould Hummingbird lithograph published in 1861 Beautifully hand colored with watercolor and added iridesence. Hallmandel and Walto printers London in good antique condition some age toning and light foxing. Slightly trimmed measuring approx. 14 x 21 overall size. A fine example of this important work one of the finest images. A Monograph of the Trochilidae, or Family of Humming-Birds Written by John Gould
Published by John Gould (London, England)
5 volumes and supplement, 1861-1887 John Gould (1804-1881) was a British ornithologist, artist, and successful businessman. Sometimes referred to as the "English Audubon," Gould had an illustrious career in which he served as official taxidermist to King George IV and established himself as Queen Victoria's favorite illustrator of birds. Gould was so devoted to the study of birds that he asked for his epitaph to read: "Here lies John Gould, the Bird Man." Though he chronicled a wide variety of bird species, from partridges to toucans, spanning all corners of the globe from Great Britain to Australia, Gould had a particular interest in hummingbirds. He developed a personal collection of 1500 mounted and 3000 unmounted specimens, containing at least 300 different species of hummingbird. A Monograph of the Trochilidae represents Gould's stunning effort to create a comprehensive guide to all the varieties of hummingbird with a high degree of accuracy, detail, and beauty.Gould's five volumes on the hummingbird contain 360 hand-colored lithographic illustrations. Gould would draw rough pencil or watercolor sketches of hummingbird specimens, which then served as guides for a team of artists (including his wife, Elizabeth). Gould also worked with lithographers, who used pure gold and silver leaf (applied underneath the watercolor) to achieve a lifelike illustration of the hummingbird's iridescent feathers.

James Everett Stuart sunset glow Mt. Hood Oregon from near Portland. Oil on canvas signed lower left and dated Jan 11, 1917 signed and titled priced and dated on reverse. A fine example of this highly regarded American artists work measuring 12x18 inches in good all original condition some minor age cracking framed in a contemporary gallery frame measuring overall 20x26. A fine example of this great American artists work.

A painting Sunset Glow Mt. Hood sold for $12,000 at Santa Fe Art auction 11/14/1998 lot no. 121

Biography

Born in Bangor, Maine, James Everett Stuart became known for his panoramic landscapes from Maine to California to Alaska to the Panama Canal, but especially of the American West with focus on Northern California and Oregon. Reportedly he painted more than 5000 paintings during his lifetime and originated a method of painting on aluminum and wood with a special adhering process that he thought made his work quite durable but proved not to be so. He also wrote on the back of most of his paintings His parents took him to California at the age of eight, and the family settled in San Francisco where he attended the public schools and studied art with Virgil Williams, Raymond Yelland, Thomas Hill, and William Keith at the San Francisco School of Design. His early work was dramatic California landscape including the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers, and in style the works were moody and mysterious and suggestive of the French Barbizon School. He first traveled to the Northwest in 1876, and in 1881, he opened his studio in Portland, Oregon and from there traveled throughout the West and East Coast and into Mexico. Subjects included Yosemite as well as California missions and adobes. He painted landscapes whose sales ultimately were financially remunerative and which established his reputation. Of those years, he expressed that he much preferred being in the park to studio painting, but he stopped visiting in 1889 and instead traveled to Alaska and the Coastal Range. During much of the 1890s, he lived in Chicago, but in 1912 returned to San Francisco until his death in 1941. There, from his studio near Union Square, he was highly successful and popular among his peers, underscored by his membership in the Bohemian Club. Many of the owners of old homes in California have his paintings on the wall, suggestive of a time of grandeur. One of his paintings is in the White House, and his work is in the historical societies of Oregon, Washington, and Montana.

German faience stein or tankard 18th century with hand painted Chinoisorie decoration in blue on a white body tin glaze. Mounted with a pewter lid and thumb lift engraved with initals and dated 1795. An exquisite example measuring 11 1/4 inches tall and 4 1/4 in diameter. In excellent antique condition one minor repaired chip on the bottom near base( see photo). A rare and fine addition to any collection.

An ancient southeast Asian (Thailand) pottery bowl from the Ban Chiang culture, dating to approximately 500 B.C. A wonderful piece measuring approx 10" x 8.5" in excellent ancient condition a small hair line at the top edge. This a distinctive vessel with a bold form and individualistic style, the body rises from a rounded base. The piece is adorned with exuberant painted curvilinear forms This striking earthenware vase was produced at the site of Ban Chiang, Thailand, and is typical of works attributed to its later phases. A site of remarkable social complexity, Ban Chiang is considered the most important prehistoric settlement so far discovered in southeast Asia. It marks an important stage in human cultural, social and technological evolution, presenting the earliest evidence for farming and complex metallurgy in the entire region. Its long cultural sequence, size and economic status has no parallel in any other contemporary site. Representing a seminal point in the history of human development in its region, it is unusual for vessels of this type to survive undamaged and in such excellent condition.

A Continental European carved polychrome figure of a Saint or Santo from the first part of the 19th century. Finley carved from wood with flowing robe and well articulated face and hands with glass eyes. Measuring approx. 13.5 inches 34 cm. tall in good antique condition some losses or chips to carving.

With original HOI AN HOARD inventory barcode numbers. Every artifact out of this shipwreck was given an inventory number (barcode stickers) and is logged in and registered by archeologists in 1999 when they salvaged this shipwreck cargo from the depyhs of the Dragon sea (Sourh China Sea of the coast of Vietnam).. THIS LARGE BOWL IS IN GOOD ANTIQUE CONDITION WITH FADING DUE TO YEARS OF EXPOSURE TO SALT WATER AND A SMALL MINOR CHIP TO THE FOOT PLEASE VIEW PICTURES. APPROX. 9 IN. WIDE AND 2 1/4 DEEP.

A beautiful Japanese Ivory carving of a tiger attacking a Hippo. Finely carved details measuring approximately 3.5 inches long in excellent condition

An original oil painting on canvas signed lower right Baxter and dated 1868. A beautiful portrait of two women. Measuring approx. 30 x 40 inches. Biography

Charles Baxter (March 1809 - 10 January 1879) was an English portrait and subject painter, known especially for his portraits of pretty young women. Baxter was born in Little Britain, London in 1809, the son of a book clasp maker, and started his career apprenticed to a bookbinder. However, he gave up this business to commence life as a professional painter, chiefly of miniatures and portraits. In 1834 he made the acquaintance of George Clint, from whom he received some valuable instruction, and in the same year exhibited for the first time at the Royal Academy. In 1839 he joined the Clipstone Street Society, and studied there along with Paul Falconer Poole, William Müller, Edward Duncan (1804-1882), Joseph John Jenkins (1811-1885), Francis William Topham (1808-18), and others, who afterwards became distinguished in the profession. He became a member of the Society of British Artists in 1842, and contributed to its exhibitions many of the poetic and rustic subjects and fancy portraits upon which his reputation chiefly rests. His female heads are especially characterised by refinement of expression and purity of colour.

Antique Navajo Indian silver and turquoise bracelet circa 1920s with interesting four directions and arrow design in excellent antique condition measuring approx. 2 inches at widest point. A fine example would be a nice addition to any southwest jewelry collection.

A finely carved Pair of Ivory Carvings of an Emperor and Empress. Measuring approx. 12 inches tall in excellent condition.

A original oil painting of the The Copenhagen (København) was a Danish sailtraining vessel rigged as a five-masted steel auxiliary barque(1921–1929). It was, according to Alan Villiers, the largest and finest sailing vessel in the world at the time it vanished. Oil on canvas signed lower right indistinctly and titled measuring 17 X 25 image framed size approx. 23 X 31. In good antique condition some age cracking. A nice historical decorative painting.

A fine antique mahogany Georgian knife box now fitted for stationary. An exquisite example with a rich patina inlaid with herring bone banding and star designs. This knife box is in very good antique condition some minor restorations. Measuring approx. 15 x 9 1/4 x 9 inches overall. A fine decorative piece would make a nice addition to any collection.

Thomas L Hunt American impressionist view of Gloucester harbor Mass. Oil on canvas board signed lower right. This painting was exhibited at the Laguna Beach Museum of Art impressionist show in 1986 . Measuring 14 x 17 framed in the original American Impressionist frame. In excellent condition.

Biography

Thomas L. Hunt was born in London, Ontario, Canada on February 11, 1882. He studied with his father John Powell Hunt and with Hugh H. Breckenridge. He resided in Laguna Beach, Hollywood and San Bernadino, California and maintained a studio in Laguna Beach, California. He was a founding member of the Laguna Beach Art Assn. and he was a member of the California Art Club and San Diego Art Guild. Examples of his paintings can be found in the Kansas City Museum, the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana, California and the Laguna Beach Museum of Art, Laguna Beach, California. He won First Prize at the California State Exposition in 1923, First Prize at the Laguna Beach Art Assn. in 1927 and 1935, and awards at the Pasadena Art Institute, 1933 and at the San Diego Fine Arts Guild in 1933. Thomas Hunt painted in Canada, Northern and Southern California and New England. Drawn to the seaside, he sought his preferred subject matter -- wharves and boats. He also painted beach scenes with crashing waves over rocks, cottages, snowy hillsides and village scenes. Known for his use of pure color, he creates paintings intended to sparkle and vibrate with scintilating light effects. His viewpoint and treatment of his subject matter is highly distinctive. A "Los Angeles Times" critic in 1931 summed up, "One is impressed, in fact, by the poetry of nature he has felt". Thomas Lorraine Hunt died in Santa Ana, California on April 17, 1938.

A fine vintage photo of a Chinese Imperial temple photo by famed Jewish photographer Sam Sanzetti signed lower right a fine rich print measuring 12 x 17 inches. in good vintage condition,

Biography

Sioma Lifshitz arrived in Shanghai on a freighter from Vladivostock in 1922. The 20 years old energetic Russian jew had no money but lot’s of dreams and soon started to work in a photography studio under the name of Sam Sanzetti. It took him 5 years to open in own studio in 1927, becoming one of the most famous photographer in Shanghai. The studio was first located on 73 Nanking Road (today 73 Nanjing Dong Lu), near the Bund and just behind the Palace hotel (today Swatch Art Peace Hotel). Construction on the Cathay Hotel (today Peace Hotel) was on-going at that time very and the opening in 1929 certainly also helped his business. The central position in the business center allowed him to become the photographer of the rich and famous in Shanghai, surely meeting with other successful business people of the time. His office later moved to 39 Peking Road (today Beijing Dong Lu) as reported in 1938 Shanghai Dollar Directory. Some of his photographs clearly remind of the calendar ads from the Carl Crowe company located very close on 81 JinKe lu and both men hanging around in similar circles probably worked with each other at some point. Sam Sanzetti left Shanghai in 1957 to immigrate to Israel leaving a Chinese wife and a stepdaughter behind and remade his life in his new country. He had fun memories of Shanghai as explained in an interview with an Israeli Newspaper years later. However he was never able to come back to Shanghai before his death in 1986.

A fine Period Irish Chippendale tilt top tea table 18th century with fine hand carved edge and acanthus leaf knee and feet. Beautiful Honduras mahogany with book matched grain solid wood top. Measuring 35 inches in diameter and 28.5 tall. A fine example of Georgian period furniture.

Original antique carved sandstone seated Buddha circa 1500-1700, carved in meditation with crossed legs and arms in the "Bhumisparsa Mudra", set in an arched recess, with two monkey bodhisattvas at his side. Presented displayed on modern wood stand. Dimensions 16.5" W x 22.75" H x 5.25" D - measurements including stand.