Oil on small tabletop, showing a classic old master 17th or 18th century French scene but executed most likely in the late 19th century, 13 1/2" by 23 3/4" and rather heavy for its size, at six pounds. The painting is not signed and I believe it is purely decorative. The legs of the small table were lost long ago. The painting has considerable evidence of wear and age which adds to its charm...

"Two Women at the Opera" oil on canvas 19 1/4" x 24 1/8" w/o frame, 29 1/2" x 34 1/2" w/ frame. Robert Philipp, painter and etcher was born February 2nd, 1895 in New York City. He studied at the Art Students' League whith Frank Vincent DuMond and George Bridgman from 1910 to 1914. He also studied at the National Academy of Design with Volk and Maynard from 1914 to 1917. Philipp painted a wide range of subjects from genre and portraits to Paris, bars, nudes, clowns, flowers and coasts...

Oil on quality canvas painting of a body of water glimpsed through trees in a foggy, veiled atmosphere, titled on reverse "On the Train to Paris 2003", and signed there by what appears as "Lantin Gunison" or similar. The title captures beautifully a particular scene that would appear only very momentarily on a long train ride, never to be seen again. Surprisingly, given the quality of the work, I am unable to locate an artist by that name or similar (though, I may be misreading the signature)...

Watercolor on paper, unframed, 13 3/4" by 21 3/4", the subject a New England coastal scene with rocks, distant sailboats, and a lighthouse on a headland, the work signed at lower left. This is a typical watercolor painting by the noted artist OTIS S. WEBER (1847-) of New England. Although he is listed, and works sell regularly at auction, not a lot seems to be known about Weber's life and career, but paintings dated as early as 1876 are known. He seems to have worked into the 20th century...

An exceptional example of the work of Florida's well-listed impressionist artist, EMMETT FRITZ (1917-1995), the 16" by 20" work (20 3/4" by 24 3/4" framed) a view down St. George St. in the historic downtown area of St. Augustine on Florida's northeast coast. This example seems to be a particularly above average effort by the artist, and it is in exceptionally fresh condition, having just come from a Southern California estate...

Watercolor painting of the Grand Canal in Venice, Italy, circa turn of the century plus or minus a few years (bears date, apparently 1902, extreme right corner), 11 1/4" by 20", (20" by 28 1/2" as framed), signed at lower right indecipherably. The signature appears as "Bonary" or something similar. The painting was executed on paper, which has oxidized over the years, there being a definite browning now...

Oil on canvas painting of a young ballerina, 50" by 30" (60" by 40" as framed), signed at lower left by noted American painter SAUL SCHARY (1904-1978). This is a large and impressive work that reminds one perhaps of the painting styles of Raphael Soyer, Robert Brackman, or Robert Phillipp. The young dancer is shown in her tights against a plain background that does not distract the viewer from her lovely figure and stance...

This is a large and accomplished watercolor painting of a pedestrian-friendly, appealing street, (18" by 26 3/4", 24" by 44" framed) by the noted American watercolorist painter and much-loved art educator RUTH BADERIAN (1927-2010). From the names of the businesses in the scene, I was able to determine that the street scene is from Christiansted, St. Croix, United States Virgin Islands, in the Caribbean...

Oil on canvas modernistic still life, 12" by 20" (13" by 21" in a narrow wood frame), signed at lower right "R. FORTIER" and dated there 1948. The work reminds me a little bit of Braque, Picasso or some of the other 20th century giants who painted modern still life. This painting was evidently owned by a heavy smoker or was in a bar or restaurant where smoke was very much a part of the scene, as it is very heavily yellowed and smells of smoke...

Interesting and rare north Indian gouache and ink drawing with text, circa 1700's, by an anonymous artist working in India in the classic style. Measuring 4 1/2" by 10 5/8" (14 3/8" by 23 1/2" as professionally framed), this is a work that should be of considerable interest to the collector of Indian drawings. The work is detailed to the extreme, in the manner of Indian art, and the age is obvious...

A charming impressionistic oil on canvas painting of a French village, 21" by 29" (26" by 33 1/2" framed), signed at lower left by the well-listed prolific French artist GEORGES LAPORTE (1926-2000). The work, painted in grays, browns and greens, reminds a bit of the work of Maurice Vlaminck; note the French-style telephone pole at center. LaPorte painted the French coast of Normandy down to Burgundy, still life, and village scenes. Auction records exist to $9400. This example retains remnant ...

Oil on canvas still life of white flowers in a vase on a table top, a decorative curtain at left, 30" by 25", unframed, signed at lower left and inscribed there "For Mother & Dad", by the listed California artist EUGENE DUNLAP (1916-1999). Dunlap studied with the likes of Jack Wilkinson Smith, J. Mason Reeves and Nell Walker Warner. An exhibitor at the Golden Gate International Exhibition in 1939, he for a good part of his life was a part of the Laguna Beach art scene. Today Dunlap's landscap...

Oil on canvas, simply framed in wood, the canvas measuring 35 1/2" by 30" (90 cm. by 76 cm.) on the stretchers, signed at lower right in the wet paint and dated there "10-4-1996". This is a work by a popular and well regarded Indonesian painter, DJOKO PEKIK (1938-). The works of Pekik (sometimes spelled Pekek) have sold to at least the $40,000 level at auctions of Southeast Asian paintings in Singapore and Hong Kong. The artist was discussed, curiously, in an "Art in America" 1996 article: "...

For the fans of the "Big Eye" paintings, here is a pair of mid century retro style works in oil on board, each 23 1/2" by 11 1/4", and each signed at lower right. The signatures are hard to decipher; I'm guessing "Balmiani" or "Dalmiani". If I am reading them at all correctly, I am not able to tie these names to any of the listed, recognized big eye painters. Regardless of authorship, these are sure to please the devoted big eye collector. One of them has some light to moderate surface scuff...

Watercolor on paper, 13 1/2" by 19 1/2" inside the mat (20 1/2" by 26 1/2" as framed), signed at lower left "Roy E. Swanson" and titled in pencil on the backing board "Green Valley Church", along with the original $340.00 price. This watercolor is by a skilled hand, though I cannot seem to find a listing for the artist. There is a listing for a RAY Swanson (Cowboy Artists of America) is listed, but this is not that artist. Regardless, the work is excellent, reminding one of the California Sc...

This is a beautiful DOUBLE SIDED watercolor dated 1883 by the hand of listed American 19th century artist BENJAMIN FITZ (1855-1891), measuring 11 1/2" by 18 3/4" plus about 3 1/2" of liner and modern frame. I am not sure as to the authorship of the loose dry landscape on the reverse, which might be later and by a totally unrelated hand. The subject matter of the primary, signed painting is a rural scene of farm buildings by a small pond on which swim two ducks, their trails in the water plainly...

Oil on canvas painting of a small house in the trees, 22" by 26" (28" by 32" framed), signed at lower right "Stahl" and dated there "42", titled on reverse "In Laurel Canyon" and signed and dated again there. This is an early work by the important, well-listed American illustrator artist and art educator BENJAMIN A. STAHL (1910-1987). Stahl was Chicago-born, and traveled to Mexico and apparently California as well, before settling into Weston, Connecticut and eventually, Sarasota, Florida. St...

Large example of the work of the much-storied American artist "T. Bailey", circa 1910, measuring 24" by 36" (32 1/2" by 44 1/2" framed). This is the largest example I have been able to find, after a search of the auction records. Signed at lower right in white (partly indecipherable), this is also one of the more appealing examples in my opinion because it tends more towards the folk art and "China Trade" direction, and less towards the more commonly seen, and easily achieved, faithful photogr...