Oil on masonite painting of a small adobe structure in a landscape, 11" by 14" and narrow frame, signed in green at lower left corner "Clapp". The work is impressionistic, and the subject suggestive of New Mexico. I checked with an authority on the works of Canadian/California artist William Henry Clapp (1879-1954) to see if he thought this might be by that artist, which would enhance its value significantly...

Sold together as a pair, unframed oil on masonite board paintings of trees in landscapes, the larger piece 30" by 40", the smaller one 24" by 35 1/2", both by the noted Santa Barbara/Ventura area California artist DOUGLAS SHIVELY (1896-1991). Shively was born in Santa Paula among the citrus and avocado groves, and he chose to continue to live in that scenic area his entire life, despite many overseas voyages...

Fresh to the market (acquired in southern Pennsylvania antique shop), an oil on canvas landscape of typical tawny gold hills in late summer, signed at lower left by the well-listed California artist MANUEL VALENCIA (1856-1935). The work measures 15 3/4" by 24" on the stretcher, 20 1/2" by 28 1/2" in present frame...

Oil on canvas painting of a man seated in a library, 28" by 22" (34" by 27 3/4" framed), signed on the book cover at lower right and the subject apparently one "Dr. Young", by well listed Russian-born California artist ALEXANDER IGNATIEV (1913-1995). The work is very 1940's/1950's in feeling, almost mural-like. Ignatiev escaped Russia for China during the revolution and was in San Francisco by 1923, where he studied with Gleb Ilyin...

A nicely painted work of Boston-born still life painter CHARLES STORER (1817-1907), the subject red roses, painted on gray art board, measuring 10" by 14" (15 1/2" by 19 1/4" framed). The artist signed at center left edge and dated the painting 1901. This is an excellent example of still life work of the period in New England. Storer was born in Boston, He exhibited at the Boston Art Club and the National Academy. Most existing paintings appear to date to near the end of the artist's life...

This is a small California painting on board of the sequoia or redwood forest, 8 1/4" by 11" framed, unsigned, protected behind glass. Condition is excellent. Frame is wood. Though small, the artist captures the majesty of the cathedral-like groves for which the state is famous.

Oil on unstretched canvas painting of a traditional temple's courtyard, signed at lower left "Pociecha", "Nikko", and dated 1920. This is a rare, very early work by a painter known commonly as STAN PORAY (Stanislaus Pociecha Poray, 1888-1948), and most associated with California art. The work measures 15 1/2" by 12 1/4". Poray was born into nobility (his father a count) in Krakow, Poland and was educated in art there and in Paris...

By the hand of renowned American painter AUGUSTUS VINCENT TACK (1870-1949), this is a beautifully worked portrait of a dark-eyed young woman wearing a lovely blue-white lacy dress, nervously fingering her pearls. The work is signed on the reverse and dated there 1904. Measurements are 24" by 18" (28" by 22" in what is likely the original frame). The painterly impressionist work in the dress area is masterful, as is the obviously skilled depiction of her hand...

An impressionistic palette knife painting of dramatic, high, already snow-streaked mountains in peak autumn season, signed in the paint at lower left "W HARISCH". This 14 1/2" by 19 1/2" work (18" by 23" as framed) is by listed Canadian artist WILLIAM HARISCH (1914-1967). Harisch painted in a style that appears clearly European, and indeed works of his native country (one titled "Heidelberg") have come to market...

Small oil on canvas laid on board painting of a desert, mid to late 20th century, 4 1/2" by 6 1/2" (11 1/2" by 10" framed), signed at lower right by California desert painter KENNETH WALFORD. This is a rather typical example of the work of this artist. I have handled a number of Walford's works. Most feature desert landscapes. Biographical information on the artist seems to be scarce at this time. The painting is lightly soiled, linen liner is stained at upper right.

An attractive plein air oil on canvas painting of the desert in spring with blooming pink verbena on the dunes, 13" by 15", unframed, signed at lower left by listed California artist GRACE T. HOWELL (1876-1966). Howell was born in Denver and showed early art talent. Married in 1897, she moved to Southern California in 1927, living in La Mesa, near San Diego. She painted the California deserts and coast. This oil could use a light cleaning to bring it to optimum condition...

Oil on canvas painting of a small house in the trees, 20" by 24" plus narrow strip wood frame, signed at lower right "Stahl" and dated there "42", titled on reverse "Laurel Ave." and signed and dated again there. This is an early work (**ONE OF TWO IN MY SHOP, THE OTHER VERY SIMILAR, JUST A BIT LARGER; I would like to keep them together because they make a most interesting pair), by the important, well-listed American illustrator artist and art educator BENJAMIN A. STAHL (1910-1987)...

A genuinely antique, late 19th century oil on canvas scene of distant snowy sunlit mountains and closer mountains surrounding an inlet or fjord, several small figures at center, wood-frame structures at left, and long wood canoes in the foreground shore. The work measures 20 1/2" by 30 1/2" (27 1/2" by 37" as framed). I have carefully searched canvas, stretcher and frame for any evidence of a name, or other information, and have come up empty. Certainly the work is suggestive of Alaska or No...

An impressionistic landscape of the arid American Southwest, possibly California, 20" by 30" (24" by 34" framed), signed at lower right by noted listed artist CHARLES DAMROW (1916-1989). The work features rugged mountains with no figures included. Damrow was born in Sheboygan, Wisconsin and headed west at age 13 on his own (the youngest of 15 children). He became infatuated with everything western, in the course of his life painting cowboys, Indians, tipis, bison, bears, horses. Self-taught,...

A small landscape painting on canvas, (actually a very nice size for a small wall, 12" by 16", and 15" by 19" framed), signed at lower right by listed artist ANTON GUTKNECHT (1907-1988). We see a dirt road winding around the edge of a wooded area, a European village and small church seen in the far distance. Gutknecht was born in Dusseldorf and studied art in that German city, as well as Munich and Hamburg. For a time he taught at the Royal Academy in Vienna. At some point the artist moved t...

Oil on canvas laid on board painting of a windswept cypress type tree by the coast dunes, 8 1/2" by 4 1/4" (14 1/2" by 10 1/2" attractively framed). Although unsigned (and Detreville's output frequently WAS unsigned), the handling, subject matter and color palette are strong indicators of 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. Detreville was born in South Carolina but is now...

Oil on canvas painting of a coastal bluff with gentle incoming waves, possibly Rhode Island near Newport but most certainly New England, 12" by 16" (20" by 24" nicely framed), signed at lower right and dated there (likely, a little hard to read) 1908, by Massachusetts artist of the famous Fall River School, BRYANT CHAPIN (1859-1927). Chapin's still life works of fruit, his specialty, have auctioned into five figures, but he did execute some landscapes and coastal scenes, (some of them of the Is...

Oil on canvas painting of California mountains, a line of back lit trees in the middle ground, 18" by 23 1/2" (26 1/2" by 33" in vintage frame), signed at lower right by well listed California and western artist JOE WAANO-GANO (1906-1982). Waano-Gano was of Cherokee heritage. Born in Salt Lake City, he moved to Los Angeles while still young, studying at UCLA and USC with Theodore Lukits and Christian von Schneidau. He was a familiar figure in the Hollywood area for many years, and worked for ...