Classic saguaro type cactus in a yellow pot, set on a gray stone patio, against a bright blue background, measuring 14" by 11", unframed, apparently unsigned. The work is very whimsical and the artist has a cheery touch. A great addition to your Southwestern interior. Excellent condition. There might be a signature on the reverse but it is crossed out and hard to decipher----might read "XXXXX Barsh".

Oil on panel painting, 25 1/2" by 23 1/2" framed, the subject rather difficult to describe, but bridging abstract and realism with some surreal thrown in for good measure, by difficult to categorize American contemporary artist JERRY MCLAUGHLIN (born circa 1925), now a resident of Santa Cruz, California. McLaughlin's meandering career was described in detail in a Metro Santa Cruz article of 1998, and a New York Times article of 2001...

Oil on canvas painting of a street scene, presumably in Israel, 16" by 11 1/4" framed, signed at lower left "Moshe M.". This does not appear to be by Moshe Mokady, the best known artist with whom that name corresponds closely. Nevertheless it is a competently handled work in excellent condition.

Small contemporary unframed painting, 10" by 8", signed at lower right "Harper", of a classic old late Victorian gingerbread house, complete with the turret rooms and wraparound porch that was so common in homes built during that period. It would have been nice had the artist identified the address, but that was not to be. The work is in excellent condition.

Likely painted for the southern tourist trade between about 1920 and 1950 or so, is this oil on a slice of palmetto wood, roughly oval shape, approximate dimensions 10" by 13", the slab 1" thick, signed at bottom left in the image "A. Donhauser". This locale could be anywhere from Texas through Georgia, given the Spanish Moss on the tree. The palmetto slab is unusual and adds interest. An unusual item. There is a small loss on the tree trunk.

Oil on canvas painting by Haitian artist J.B. Gaston, 12 1/2" by 16", unframed, the subject a colorful tropical village among palms, numerous figures going about their regular activities. This work is squarely within the classic style of art we have come to expect from Haiti. It is not an old work but continues a tradition of Haitian art going back to the 1940's. Excellent condition. Will brighten any interior.

Oil on canvas laid on board painting of a tree in late autumn, the leaves still in their golden glory, haystacks filling the meadow. This work measures 8" by 10" and is unsigned and not framed. On the reverse is written in pencil "Oct 7 - 1939". More than likely this is by a listed artist but his or her identity will remain a mystery. Put a frame around it and this will shine.

An original watercolor drawing of a familiar California theme: surfers at the beach, with lifeguard tower, palms, and two parked classic late 1940's Woodies vehicles. The work is signed at lower left "Dry......" ("Drysbock", or similar?) and measures 4 1/2" by 6 1/2". It comes matted but with no frame and glass. Likely is a contemporary work. Looks like a print but guaranteed to be original work.

Recently acquired from a Southern California German-American family liquidating a household, are twenty-one watercolor paintings by "Uncle Max" (Markus "Max" Hansen, 1898-), featuring mostly Old World landscapes and street scenes, with a few interiors in the mix. Some are framed in wood, some unframed, some have glass, some do not, some are signed, some are not. The artist was talented but is unknown outside of the family...

A PAIR of copper engravings circa 1766, by noted English entomologist and illustrator/engraver MOSES HARRIS (1731-1785), featuring a number of species of moths of the British Isles, as published in The Aurelian, or a Natural History of English Insects. These both measure 18 1/4" by 14 3/4" as identically framed (20th century simple black wood strip frames). Harris' drawings were displayed at the Royal academy in 1785...

Acquired from the recent liquidation of the extensive estate of actor Charlton Heston and his wife Lydia, this is an original photograph, unsigned/unattributed, measuring 13 1/2" by 17 3/4", unframed, in a clean white mat. There are a number of contemporary notations in pencil on the mat, including "STILL LIFE MID 1920", and a $300 asking price. The photo seems to be perhaps earlier, so "circa 1900" might be reasonable...

A watercolor painting of a steep hillside with trees, several structures filling the lower portion of the composition, unsigned, 13 1/2" by 10 1/2" (24 3/4" by 20 1/2" in the dark simulated wood framing. The painting does have some age and would likely be by a listed artist. Mat got wet at some point at bottom and will need to be replaced. Art itself is in excellent condition, the colors fresh...

A pleasing image of what appears to be a colonial church, perhaps in Brazil, or elsewhere in Latin America, or Mediterranean Europe (Portugal?----the architecture of the building suggests Brazil or Portugal) where palm trees grow; the apparently unsigned work, 7 1/2" by 5 1/2" (12" by 10" in gold framing) is, I believe, a monotype...

Lithograph print of two little sisters, printed by Associated American Artists at mid century, signed in pencil at lower right by the popular, listed Sicilian-born artist JEAN CALOGERO (1922-2001). The print, 14" by 9 5/8" (19" by 15" framed), dates likely to the 1950's or 1960's. Calogero's colorful oils of children, and mysterious fantasy scenes including masks and Surrealist elements, are familiar to art lovers. This print has some paper browning but otherwise appears clean.

Old photo of a seaside Greek temple with Doric columns, 10" by 14" (17" by 20 1/2" in metal framing with mat). I am not a specialist in vintage photography, but this seems to have some age. There is some silvering at lower right. The print might have been created from an old negative with some damage as there are some white spots in the print that are not damage to the print itself----I imagine that this is disturbance on the original negative...

Original lithograph print, "Les Soliloques du Pauvre" for the jacket of the book of poems by the noted French poet Gabriel Randon (1867-1933), who went by the pen name "Jehan Rictus". The print measures 7 5/8" by 12 7/8" inside the mat, and as framed measurements are 16 1/2" by 21". Steinlen (1859-1923) of course was the major Swiss artist known for his drawings and prints during the late years of the 19th century and early years of the twentieth...

This is a rare collection of black and white mounted photos I acquired from an estate in Bel Air, California some years ago, all bearing on the reverse a green stamp "From the Estate of Norman Cousins", sizes ranging from 14" by 7 1/2" to 17" by 13". These are circa 1960's works by the noted American political journalist, author, professor, world peace advocate, and photographer, Norman Cousins (1915-1990)...

In the tradition of Victorian rose paintings of the late 19th and early 20th century, here is an unframed work, canvas laid on board, 11 1/2" by 21 1/2", signed at lower right "IDMAY". The painting likely dates to the early years of the 20th century, a time when young girls were encouraged to take up the "ladylike" skill of flower painting. "IDMAY" might have been Ida Mae----one of these young ladies. Our artist was of average skill, but her handiwork has outlived her...