Oil on canvas, 18" by 24" and 1 1/2" wide white and gold painted frame, signed at lower left "EH Deffner '51" and inscribed on reverse "Sweetheart Lake/E.H. Deffner 10-'51/$150.00". This is a beautifully executed work by a talented artist, on whom I have not located a listing. From the subject matter I would suspect this work to be from the Pacific Northwest, like Oregon, Washington, or Northern California. There is a decidedly modernistic handling to the leaves on the tree at right...

Ink and watercolor drawing of cows in a field, 13 1/2" by 21 1/2" (20 1/2" by 29" framed), signed at lower center "Sam Smith" The modeling of the animals shows that the artist was a keen observer of their forms and a talented draftsman. Apparently this is not by the listed New Mexico artist Sam Smith (1918-1999) as the signature is not similar and the work itself does not resemble that artist's work. This watercolor is in excellent, fresh, clean condition, the paper very white.

A pleasing watercolor painting of a small sail boat on a lake, trees beyond, painted in an impressionist hand. Unfortunately the talented artist did not sign the work, which is laid down on a card. Framing circa mid 1960's included the old fashioned detail-dulling non-glare glass which should be discarded. The work measures 14" by 10" inside the mat and 19 1/2" by 14 1/2" framed...

A small, beautifully crafted oil on canvasboard landscape titled on reverse "Abandoned Farm Santa Clara River", dated June 1999, signed at lower right and again on the reverse, and with artist's business card affixed as well. The painting measures 8" by 10" and 11 1/2" by 13 1/2" in wood frame with liner. Condition is excellent. The artist was born in Pennsylvania and has been in Southern California for most of his life, with much of his subject matter taken from the Oxnard and Ventura area...

Watercolor and gouache impressionist painting of the Dead Sea in Israel, signed in pencil at lower right in modern Hebrew script as "Hana Bar(-on)" or "Chana Bar(-on) and dated there 1970. Below that in Hebrew is written "iam hamelach" (Dead Sea). I am not able to read Hebrew but was able to show this to a Hebrew reader. The work measures 13 1/2" by 19 1/4", and is presently unframed. It can be shipped between boards or in the plastic poster box in which it is presently loosely housed...

A beautifully painted work, 10 1/4" by 14 1/4" inside the mat, unframed, apparently by a Massachusetts artist by the name of Edith Currier Walker. This was purchased in Newburyport, Massachusetts, in a shrink wrap sleeve, with a handwritten label that stated this was by an Edith Currier Walker. The work is not signed on the front but on the reverse is some writing that looks like "E v. C Wa....."...

A contemporary original watercolor painting dated 2009, the subject very much a fantasy summary of the Peruvian Andes----including whitewashed old colonial buildings and stone foot bridges, traditional garb, bowler-hat wearing women carrying their babies on their backs, and the quintessential llamas of the region. The work, measuring 9 1/2" by 13 1/2" (20" by 24" in interesting dark faux bamboo frame) is signed at lower right "E Garces '09/Cusco Peru"...

Cyrus Seymour works "China Doll" in bamboo frame dated 1991. Dimensions: 28"H x 20"W Age: 1991 Material: Bamboo, gauche

A typical example of watercolor work by the noted New Orleans artist NESTOR FRUGE (1916-2011), 10 1/2" by 8 1/4" (17 1/4" by 13 1/4" framed), featuring a a New Orleans street scene with ornate cast iron balcony at upper right. Fruge painted mostly watercolors and was a familiar and beloved part of the Jackson Square tourist scene in New Orleans for decades. He painted mainly French Quarter scenes but also on occasion works such as bayou swamp landscape...

Early California watercolor painting, circa 1920's or 1930's I would guess, possibly earlier, titled at lower left Cathedral Peak/Emerald Bay, signed at lower right "A.L.M.". This is a view of Lake Tahoe and the grand scenery at the south end of that famous mountain lake. The painting measures 11 1/2" by 8 1/2" inside the mat, and 16 1/4" by 14 1/4" as simply framed...

For the Anglophile, this is a piece of classic old England, a watercolor, 10" by 14", (16 3/8" by 20" as framed), signed at lower left by artist MICHAEL VICARY, the scene a narrow riverboat barge on the Thames under the classic view of Windsor Castle outside London. A few pieces by Vicary have crossed the auction block, but the main appeal of the work lies in its fine detail and craftsmanship...

Drawing in gouache on very delicate, thin, brownish, fibrous paper, 9" by 6" inside the mat (15 3/4" by 12 1/2" as simply framed in wood), the scene a grand classical archway in a southern Spanish city like Granada or Sevilla, a prominent figure of a lady in the foreground and a number of much smaller figures beyond the arch and at right. The work is signed at lower left with what appears to be "C. R. DeWitt"--SPAIN". I've looked online and surprisingly cannot find an artist by this name...

A vintage California oil on canvas painting of high mountains and the desert at sunset, probably painted circa 1935 through the early 1940's, 20" by 24" (23" by 27" in likely the original frame), signed at lower right by Los Angeles area artist ESSIE KAILEY (1897-1986)...

Circa late 19th century watercolor painting, probably American, 9 1/2" by 13" (16" by 19 1/4" framed), unsigned, featuring distant high snowy peaks behind a foreground lake. This was found in California and could be a scene of the American west. More than likely, it is by a listed artist---who neglected to sign his or her work. There is some edge browning from the mat, otherwise the work is in excellent condition considering its obvious age.

Small oil landscape, 13 1/2" by 9 1/2" framed, signed at lower right corner with initials N.A.M., with canvas stencil on the reverse of Winsor & Newton, London. This is a scene of autumn or early spring perhaps, the tree without leaves. There is a small irrigation channel with sluice gate at center left. The work is a quiet and pleasant scene focusing on a peaceful time of the year. A gold frame would enhance the painting. Condition is good, the canvas not perfectly flat.

A watercolor painting of raspberries in a small wicker basket, signed at lower right center with what appears as "J. L. Guinand", and dated there 1895. The work could be by a French artist or perhaps by an American with a French name. I do not see a listing for such an artist. The work measures 7 1/4" by 11 1/2" and 17 3/4" by 21 3/4" framed. The paper is slightly puckered and there is a small unexplained blue area at far right edge that seems out of place. The frame is a bit tired with som...

Watercolor painting of a schooner or other coastal sailing ship, 11 1/2" by 17 3/4" (19 1/4" by 25 1/4" as framed), signed at lower left by listed California artist LOYAL MAYER (1919-2011). The watercolor is a fine decorative example of marine art in excellent condition. Frame is wood and shows just a little bit of wear which could be easily sanded and restained. The artist, a recent resident of central California (Atascadero), was born in Kansas City and trained at the Kansas City Art Instit...

An oil on board painting of a harbor surrounded by old houses, 9 3/4" by 13 1/2" (13 3/4" by 17 3/4" framed), unsigned, circa 1950. The work is by a competent, trained artist and exhibits excellent impressionist technique. It seems to be of American origin as "Patent Pending" is stamped on the reverse of the board.