Beautifully executed in black and gray with minimal color, understated still life of an old style tin coffee pot, cooking pot, and white cup, 8" by 10 1/2" inside the mat, 15 1/2" by 17 1/2" as framed. There is possibly a monogram in lower right corner but I cannot attach it to any particular artist...

Vintage watercolor painting of the famous miniature drawbridge in the far western part of the island (Somerset Parish), actually signed twice at lower right "Worcester" or (less likely) "Norcester", and dated "42". I am so far unable to connect this to a known, listed artist working in the islands. The work measures 12" by 16" as framed. Note the typical, quaint old whitewashed stone Bermuda house at left and the white roofs and shutters...

When I first saw this I thought it might be an image of Obama, in the style of Shepard Fairey, who created the now-famous "Hope" image. Upon closer examination I saw that it was obviously older, circa 1960's, judging from the label on the frame, which gives the artist as a Jim Moran of Visalia, California. The subject remains to me a mystery, but I wonder if it might be a famous 1960's African-American activist---or then again it might not be a black subject at all...

Unusually fresh and well preserved watercolor on paper painting of a pond in a wooded area, spring wildflowers in the foreground, 13 3/4" by 19 1/2" inside the mat, 23 1/2" by 29" as framed, signed at lower right and dated there 1908 by the noted New England artist and teacher HENRY WEBSTER RICE (1853-1934). Rice was born in Maine, the son of a carriage maker. A pupil of Ross Sterling Turner, he went on to become a much beloved watercolorist and instructor...

Fine old master style sepia ink drawing on paper, with some pencil underneath, 10" by 15 1/2" inside the mat, 15 1/2" by 20 1/2" in modern day frame, signed at lower right "Furstenburg", the locale identified at bottom center apparently by the artist as "View of the Rhine from Bacharach Aug 17". This could well refer to the year 1817 as the work has sufficient age. On the reverse is written in pencil "Germany $3.75"...

Circa 1850 lithograph with hand coloring, titled at bottom "The Flight into Egypt", published by the noted American lithographer James Baillie. Baillie began his career in the late 1830's as a picture framer in New York City, and then worked as a colorist for the Currier and Ives firm. By 1843 or 1844 he had struck out on his own, producing a wide range of lithographed images in the style of his former employer...

Sepia ink on paper drawing, 5 3/4" by 3 3/4" inside a red mat opening, 11" by 8 1/2" as framed, signed at lower left and dated there 1864, by listed English woman artist SARAH LOUISA KILPACK (1840-1909). This is a sweet, beautiful little drawing by an artist who seems to have created mostly coastal landscapes in oil, especially along the English Channel or around the Channel Islands of Guernsey and Jersey. This would be an early work created when she would have been in only her mid 20's...

Oil on board painting of trees in a landscape, 11" by 9" in narrow original frame, signed at lower right by listed artist "A. KLUG". The painting is executed in a very impressionist hand, and is quite lovely, but is also very dirty. A professional cleaning would really be well worthwhile investment. The frame being old is showing its age, with losses as seen. The artist is listed in Davenport's dictionary of artists but there does not seem to be much information available on him or her.

Richly impressionistic painting on canvas of a small pond surrounded by autumn foliage, 9" by 12" (16" by 19" framed), signed at lower right by contemporary California-based artist RON McKEE (1931-) and dedicated on the stretcher and dated there 1987. McKee is a popular impressionist, his body of work including landscape, coastals, floral gardens and European Mediterranean ports. This work is fresh and clean and absolutely wall-ready in its gold framing...

Modern painting of a hilltop town of Europe, perhaps in Italy or Greece, 30" by 24" (35" by 28 3/4" in silvery frame), signed at lower right indecipherably. The painting of an historic town is executed in a modernistic manner, almost cubist in spots. The painting might date to the 1980's. There's a three inch horizontal tear at lower left that can be repaired. The frame has a little wear.

Oil on canvas painting of an elegantly dressed lady on a terrace or balcony, a Parisian-style table and chairs with champagne bottle at left, 36" by 18, unsigned and unframed. This Matisse-inspired work was likely painted circa 1970's by a talented amateur artist. The violets, blues and white make for a harmonious color balance and the light is suffused rather than intense and sharp...

Unusual painted plaster sculpture titled on reverse label "Domestic Scene #1/Khajuraho, India", 16" by 9" as framed, circa 1960, signed in ink on the reverse and bearing nearby a rubber stamp of the artist's name. The artist, Jack A...

Watercolor on paper laid on board painting of roses and hollyhocks in an intimate garden enclosed by a wall or structure, 16 1/4" by 13" and 1 1/4" wide frame, unsigned, executed late 19th or early 20th century. The artist's mastery of watercolor is clear, but unfortunately he or she failed to sign the work, which resembles paintings by members of the Stannard family of watercolorists (Henry John Sylvester 1870-1951, Lilian 1877-1944, Theresa 1898-1947)...

Unsigned oil on canvas, circa 1970's or 1980's, unframed, 28" by 22", the subject a ceremonial dance mask and head wear such as might be seen in use in the course of special events on one of the reservations in Arizona or New Mexico. During the late 1980's I was at Zia Pueblo in New Mexico, and was privileged to watch one of these ceremonies...

PAIR of fine engraved prints, 9 1/4" by 13" inside the innermost mat, and 20 1/2" by 26" as framed in attractive quality burl wood, one titled "Windsor and Eaton", the other "Carfax and Abingdon", created by the well-known late 18th century topographical artist and diarist JOSEPH FARINGTON (1747-1821). These are quality prints ready for display in any traditional interior, with fine detail and subtle coloring complemented by the rich brown burl and fine matting...

Decorative botanical copper engraving print from 1806, after the famed English botanical artist SYDENHAM EDWARDS (1768-1819), measuring " by " as framed...

Acrylic on canvas painting in black, red and blue on white background, 28" by 39 1/2" as framed, signed in the lower left corner "J. Brooks". I am offering this as a bold, modern decorative painting, and NOT as a genuine work of the important American artist James D. Brooks (1906-1992). Condition is excellent and save for some wear on the cream-colored frame, this is ready for display.

Impressionist oil painting of stands of white birch trees by a small lake or large pond, painted on the smooth side of Masonite panel, 9 3/4" by 13 1/2" (12 1/2" by 16" as simply framed), apparently unsigned. The scene suggests a northern latitude, perhaps high elevations in the United States, or Canada or northern Europe, but there is little to go on geography-wise. The artist was skilled and created a peaceful little painting in subdued colors. The condition is somewhat compromised, with fi...