Lithograph, 14 3/4" by 12 1/4" inside the mat, 21" by 18" as simply framed, signed in the plate at lower left "Merlin" and dated nearby 1939, also numbered (I think, also, in the plate, interestingly), 14/34 at lower right. This is a scarce work by the American Scene listed artist MAURICE MERLIN (1909-1947). The artist's short life likely accounts for the lack of recognition of his work...

Ink drawing on paper laid on board, measuring 14" by 15", and 21 1/2" by 22 1/2" as simply framed, depicting the famous and traditional Mummers Day parade held annually in November in Philadelphia. The work is signed with initials "F B" at lower right, and there is an old label from the N.W. Ayer advertising agency affixed to the reverse, with the notation of a delivery date of November 25, 1952...

Etching (5 5/8" by 7 1/2", 13 1/2" by 15" in pleasing old gold framing), titled on reverse label "Fishermen's Houses Saint Tropez", (French Riviera), pencil signed in the margin by listed California artist REGINALD WILMER VAUGHAN (1870-1958). The etching likely dates to about the 1930's or 1940's, I believe. Vaughan was born in Boston of blue blood stock (relatives were with George Washington at Valley Forge)...

PAIR of watercolor paintings of southern Italian street scenes, each 14" by 8 1/2" (17" by 11 1/2" as identically framed in early 20th century frames). Both are signed in the lower corners by artist "A. Esposito". I do not see a listing for this name but the artist was talented. Colors are fresh and the scenes are full of interesting details, the people going about their daily business and finding time to gossip...

Jake Lee's works are increasingly sought after by collectors in the wake of his relatively recent passing, some works approaching $20,000 at auctions. This is a clean, unusually large (24" by 36" plus 4" on a side framing) example, painted directly on board in heavy gouache or tempera (thinned oil?) and in excellent condition. See the net for more images of his paintings, which include California landscapes, as well as overseas exotic images executed in the course of his travels...

NOT a print, this is an original drawing of Humpty Dumpty in ink and gouache. The work measures 10 1/4" by 7 1/2" and 17 1/4" by 15 1/4" as framed. The character of Humpty Dumpty dates to the 19th century , and the "anthropomorphic egg" character has become one of the most beloved and famous in all of nursery rhymedom. The piece was likely dated in the mid 20th century. It would make a wonderful addition to a child's room. Condition is excellent.

Wall-ready open edition modern color print from the Ethan Allan Home Collection, after the painting "The Parson's Cat", by the Dutch-born woman artist HENRIETTE RONNER-KNIP (1821-1909). The art measures 8 3/4" by 11 3/4" inside the double mat, and 19" by 21 1/2" as nicely framed. The artist's original oils regularly achieve the mid five figures at auctions, and a number have exceeded six figures...

This is a museum poster or flyer issued by the Long Beach Museum of Art in 1972, advertising an exhibition that year of the paintings of the important and still highly underrated Swiss-California modernist HANS GUSTAV BURKHARDT (1904-1994). The unframed sheet measures 24 1/4" by 18", and bears the complementary signature of the artist in blue ink at lower right just below the black area of the central image. Burkhardt was born in Switzerland and arrived in America in 1924...

The watercolor scene depicts a tent housekeeping camp on the shore of a body of water, with four figures, all African-American, in the composition, making it therefore quite unusual and scarce. The date of execution might be circa 1880 I feel, given the dress and the primitive camp set-up. The work is an historical record of African-American life in the 19th century. Size is 9 5/8" by 13 1/2" inside the mat, 18 1/4" by 22" in the narrow gold framing...

Old Russian painting of a night winter landscape with figures, oil on canvas, 12 1/2" by 18" as framed, signed with Cyrillic letters "P O" or "L O" at lower right. To date I have been unable to match the letters to any particular artist (nor could the Christie's Russian art specialist, when she saw it). The painting is extremely soiled and the canvas very uneven (could be described as sunken in, and the ripples "hardened" over time)...

Vintage and early Hawaiian art is scarce to rare, and desirable. This is a 1932 etching, "Hawaii Hall", one of the principal buildings of the University of Hawaii at Manoa campus, on Oahu. It is pencil signed at lower right margin. An image of this print is included in the university's yearbook for 1932. The work is presently unframed, behind a mat, and it is simply taped at top edge...

Painting on canvasboard, I believe in tempera or similar, (not oil), 16" by 20" (21" by 25" framed), titled on reverse "SWAYBACK", and signed at lower right "CHARLES TRUMBO HENRY" and dated there 1948. The artist was a student of Thomas Hart Benton, Boardman Robinson, and George Grosz. Little known today, he was an active exhibitor and major museums include his work in their collections...

Contemporary pencil and watercolor drawing in simple metal gold framing, the subject two women apparently dancing in a late 19th century cafe, the drawing 8 1/2" by 5 1/4" inside the mat (the entire sheet significantly larger, at 11 3/4" by 8 1/4"), signed at lower right "Dan" or "Han" or similar. The scene reminds of George Grosz' 1920's drawings of Berlin cafe goers, or even Toulouse Lautrec's Parisian cafe's. The drawing is nicely crafted.

Oil on beveled heavy oak panel painting of a man and a woman talking through the iron bars of a large wall opening of a residence compound, providing a view into more greenery beyond, potted flowering plants and vines framing the central imagery, 14 1/4" by 8 1/2", unframed, signed in red at lower right "F. GOMEZ SOLANO" and dated there 1891. This is a charming little gem of a painting with fine detail and wonderful handling of the Mediterranean sunlight and shadow. Rather surprisingly I am un...

Oil on board painting of Crater Lake, Oregon, including Wizard Island at left, 11 1/2" by 13 3/4" as framed, unsigned. Compare the scene to online images of Crater Lake. The work is nicely executed and were it signed we would likely know that it was created by a listed artist. The date I would estimate as circa 1920 to 1940 or so. There is a two inch scratch at right center in the base of the trees. A cleaning and especially some varnish would really improve the appearance and would be well...

Oil on canvas luminous scene of coastal Greenland, with chunks of blue ice floating in the harbor as tiny structures on the rocks are overwhelmed by the grand landscape, a sole kayaker in the inlet at right center, 27 1/2" by 39 1/2" plus frame 2 1/2" wide on a side, signed at lower left by listed artist ALEXANDER WILLY DANNERFJORD (1904-1961). Dannerfjord was a talented artist who executed mostly landscapes of Denmark. Evidently he must have traveled to Greenland at one point in time. This i...

Oil on Upson board painting of zinnias in a table top vase, curtains vaguely defining the background, 20" by 16" and 2 1/4" wide old frame, signed at lower right "C. G. Force" (I believe CLARA GUNNISON FORCE 1852-1939). Force was born in Erie, Pennsylvania of Swedish heritage. She studied with Charles Webster Hawthorne, William Merritt Chase and Frank DuMond. Force did paint in Europe, Cape Cod, Provincetown, Woodstock, New York. Earlier works were miniature portraits; she was a member of the ...

TWO antique original (not reproduction) lithograph prints with delicate, subtle hand coloring,by noted English artist and nineteenth century Middle Eastern traveler DAVID ROBERTS (1796-1864). The prints both measures 8 3/4" by 12 1/2" (14 1/2" by 18 1/2" as framed). Roberts is best known for his lithographed images of sites in the classical Middle East, of which these are typical examples. I've not examined these out of the frames but they do appear to be in excellent, clean condition. See the...