For the collector of early, 19th century California art, here is an east coast-style still life work, 10" by 14 1/2", unframed, signed at lower right "Bertie L Emery" and dated there 1892. The shallow dish holds oranges, grapes, a banana, and possibly slices of cake or bread, the dish resting on a white cloth, on an unseen tabletop. Interestingly for art history, Emery signs her first name as "Bertie"...

A charming, somewhat naïve antique oil on canvas painting, 16" by 23" (18 3/4" by 27" in late 20th century frame), unsigned, featuring a winter's day in the country, mountains in the distance, and two figures in the foreground braving the cold to chat, a glow in the central home at right center indicating that a fire is warming it. At far left in the distance is the rest of the village...

A nicely painted oil on canvas of flowers in a vase, 20" by 16" (22" by 18" in original frame), signed at lower right by Canadian-born, California impressionist artist GEORGIA P(ERKINS) FOSTER (1881-1965). On the reverse is the original label of the Oakland Art Gallery, giving the artist's name and address in Berkeley, and the title, "Marigolds". The impressionist technique is skilled and pleasing, and the work is in good condition, though a cleaning would be complementary...

Oil on board painting of a waterside building with dirt road, small boat, fences and tree, extensive water in the distance, signed at lower left twice, with a signature that appears to be "M G Johnston". The work appears to be of a coastal New England view, which leads me to believe that it would be by the hand of listed artist MARY GRANT JOHNSTON of Massachusetts and New York, but I have no other works with which to compare it...

An oil on canvasboard painting, the subject a tawny western American landscape populated by four cowboys and six horses, signed at lower left by contemporary artist Richard Harris. I do not see a listing for an artist by this name but obviously, he was talented, seeing as that he captured so beautifully the horses-- a notoriously difficult subject to paint well. The work reminds a bit of that of listed California artists Bill Bender and James Colt...

‏Oil on canvas laid on board painting of snowy high mountain framed by a lake and trees, 12" by 16" (15 1/2" by 19 1/2" framed). Although unsigned (and Detreville's output frequently WAS unsigned), the handling, subject matter and color palette strongly suggest the hand of the noted California painter. I have owned and sold other unsigned paintings as being by Detreville, and I will stand by this being one of his works...

Oil on masonite still life painting, 24" by 18" (33" by 26" framed), signed at lower left by California artist CLARETTA ELLIS WHITE (c. 1915-2002). This is a briskly painted work by an artist who was quite active in the Southern California art scene at mid century. An unusually detailed and complete website, evidently created by relatives, gives a complete history of her active life. The artist was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma into a cultured family...

Oil on canvas, 20" by 24", 23 1/2" by 29" as framed, the subject a vase of orange flowers in a complex still life setting, an old timer wood dresser against the wall, other elements including books, smoker's pipe, ashtray, picture frame, tobacco can completing the scene. The painting is signed at lower left apparently "DAILEY" and is dated there "42". Also on the stretcher, faintly in white chalk, are the words " Still Dailey" (partly unreadable)...

Oil on masonite, 18" by 24", (23" by 29" as framed), the subject a copper kettle on a small wooden stand on a table, with a cup and saucer, small blue milk pitcher and poinsettia in a decorative blue vase filling out the scene. The painting is signed at lower right "L. Johnson". I do not seem to be able to connect this to any listed artist so am offering it as a decorative work. It was found in San Diego, and the poinsettia suggests a California origin...

Oil on canvas modernistic still life, 12" by 20" (13" by 21" in a narrow wood frame), signed at lower right "R. FORTIER" and dated there 1948. The work reminds me a little bit of Braque, Picasso or some of the other 20th century giants who painted modern still life. This painting was evidently owned by a heavy smoker or was in a bar or restaurant where smoke was very much a part of the scene, as it is very heavily yellowed and smells of smoke...

An early oil on canvas painting, 10 1/4" by 8 1/2", unframed, unsigned, featuring a nocturne moonlight view of Mission Delores in San Francisco. At the time the landmark was a popular subject for artists...

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...

Oil on canvas unframed painting of two chairs and a glass-topped table on a peaceful terrace overlooking an extensive landscape, likely California, 16" by 20", unsigned. The artist is anonymous but his/her work is quite skilled and pleasing. The impressionistic handling of this scene makes for a most decorative and appealing painting. The regular size should make framing easy and inexpensive.

A circa late 1930's to early 1940's painting titled on the reverse "Molas Lake and Needle Mountains, Silverton Colorado", signed at lower right by artist C. H. Rising. The oil on canvas measures 12" by 16" and is unframed. A light cleaning would be helpful but you could just throw a regular sized frame around this and enjoy it on your wall. Nicely executed work by a talented yet apparently unknown artist. The mountains are well painted, streaked with snow of the previous winter. The lake re...

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. There might well be ...

A vintage oil on canvasboard painting of distant green gentle mountain ranges, a cluster of structures (a farm) and surrounding trees in the foreground, unsigned but written apparently by the Claremont, New Hampshire framer on the backing paper appears "Mark V. Miller/For Mother/1949/Lyme Rd., NH/Looking over into VT". Also, written in pencil on the canvasboard is "Mrs. Leon Miller/8B/pick up colors". So apparently this is a mid 1940's view from Western New Hampshire looking west over the Conn...

Oil on canvasboard painting of a dirt road through a pine woodland, signed at lower right by artist ADDIE SYLVESTER. On the reverse side it is titled "Deep in the Heart of Texas", signed again and dated 1950. I do not see information on the artist. Curiously there was a woman by that name who passed away in 1989 in Manhattan, Kansas area; on the backing paper, most of a label is missing, but the remaining letters of what would be the town in the address are "MAN...". There may or may not be ...

Oil on board painting of autumnal trees, (California sycamores?), hazy mountains in the distance, unsigned, circa 1930's or 1940's. The work measures 9" by 12" and 11 5/8" by 14 1/2" in old probably original frame. The lack of a signature frustrates an effort to identify this talented artist, who might well be listed. The ornate frame is in good condition save for a missing chip at upper left. Painting is a bit soiled consistent with its age. There is a vertical line of soiling or foreign m...