An unusual, elegant "embossed relief" print on heavy grayish-tan earth-tone hand-made paper that appears almost like tooled leather, or parchment, featuring in the design organic forms such as leaves, signed at lower right in Chinese characters and in Roman letters by the artist, HA BICK CHUEN (1925-2009) (also known as XIA BIQUAN). The work, dated 1975 adjacent to the signature, is numbered at lower left 26/50...

Old impressionist oil on canvas laid on wood board painting of a typical Dutch scene with windmills, boats, and a waterway, 9" by 11 1/4" (13 1/2" by 15 3/4" in 20th century frame). There does appear to be a signature at lower left but despite my best efforts I am unable to determine that name...

A Fine Mountain Landscape Painting, probably from the 1930's or earlier. Measures about 24" by 16", in its frame of about 26 1/2" by 18 1/2". Signed lower right by the artist, it looks like "Chas Lowe". Great look.

Unusually large detailed engraving, 31 1/4" by 20 1/8", laid down on board, of Christ coming down off the Cross, this example engraved by Nicolaus Dorigny (1657-1776), and possibly after Daniel Ricciarelli (1509-1566), in turn after a painting by Raphael. The work is dated 1720 at lower left. There's a lot of text in Latin at bottom, and a close look reveals the names of the two above artists...

A circa 1920 oil on canvas of apples and sprigs of blossoms on a tabletop, 18" by 27 1/2" (26" by 36" in original frame), signed at right center "A. Landsberger" (or, many variations thereof could be possible). The signature, in red in old Germanic hand, is on top of an apparently older, incised signature that is quite different (and, very difficult to make out). The work is very nicely executed by a trained hand, and is in excellent antique condition, with no tears or flaking...

Oil on canvas landscape painting of a traditional home at the edge of a pond in mid summer, 20 1/2" by 17 1/4" (24 1/2" by 21" framed in older gold interesting frame), signed at lower right corner J. D. Prenne or possibly J.De Prenne. I do not see a listing for that name as spelled but will continue to search. The painting is very nicely executed and pleasing to the eye; it's a very relaxing and calming view...

Antique oil on canvas of cherries on a table top, 8" by 11 3/4" (11 1/2" by 15 1/2" as framed), signed indecipherably at lower left; name could be W C Hammond, Hammons, or Higgins, or? The work is in the tradition of American 19th century still life and likely dates to about 1880. Some very old patches on the reverse attest to old battle scars the painting acquired in its some 150 years of existence...

This is a watercolor by a trained hand, 7 1/2" by 14 3/4", laid on a white board, (minimally framed, no glass), the subject a coastal landscape of rocks and headlands, signed at lower right with what appears to be the signature of noted Alaska and California artist THEODORE J. RICHARDSON (1855-1914). There are also some pieces of old paper affixed to the back of the board, with the notations "I saw this watercolor in previous undamaged condition with signature Thoe...

African Ivory Coast Horned Mask, 8 x 16" h.

The main woodcut shows the enchantress Circe in front of Odysseus and one of his crew members changed into a swine. Circe holds a beaker, which stands for her vast knowledge of potions and herbs.
The woodcut below depicts Samson with remains of the Philistine temple. Further vignettes show the descendants of Eli, and depictions of four Jewish judges...

From our African Collection: a Guro Mask from Guinea, circa 1970. This work measures 6 x 18" h, and is available for purchase. Between the Baule and the Yaure to the west, the Malinke to the north and the Bete and We to the south, the Guro people live surrounded by savannah and forest. They migrated from the north during the 16th century and number about 200,00. Guro villages have rounded houses in the northern area and rectangular houses in the southern region...

Through his career, Haku Maki did a wide array of Chinese characters used in the Japanese language as well (kanji). The large prints that Daniel Tretiak called Big Reds were such kanji. Among Maki’s depictions were black kanji on white backgrounds, some stark, some playful, some easily decipherable, others with which he took great liberties. The artistic possibilities that kanji offered were a fascination of his. This broad-brushed embossed print, Poem 72-55, was done in 1972...

Oil on canvas painting of a man's smoking pipe and other objects on a tabletop, 13" by 15", 16 1/2" by 18 1/2" in mid 20th century gold frame, signed at upper right by artist Cora (Cara?) L. Sloper and dated there 1899. This is a competently painted work, but I am unable to locate an artist by this name despite an intensive internet search. The name appears to be common in the upper Midwest, but this painting was purchased in Massachusetts, near Cape Cod...

Dramatic linocut print, the sheet 26 1/4" by 17 7/8", unframed, numbered at lower left 3/6 and pencil signed at lower right and dated there 1971, the "HB" blind stamp adjacent, by the important and still highly underrated Swiss-California modernist HANS GUSTAV BURKHARDT (1904-1994). The subject is somewhat uncertain; perhaps a look at a catalogue raisonne of the artist's graphic works would provide the title. Burkhardt was born in Switzerland and arrived in America in 1924. He attended Cooper...

French late 19th century oil on canvas still life of flowers in various vessels on a tabletop, signed at upper right corner "J. Billou" (the "J" could be a "G" or "T"). Oddly I do not see a listing that would correspond with this name, but this is clearly a talented artist. The work measures 19 1/2" by 24" (22 1/2" by 27" framed). The colors and handling remind of some Renoir still life paintings. This was found "as-is" in northern New Jersey. Due to careless past handling, the work has acq...

This horizontal print, created in 1973, is Work 73-14A, a dramatic depiction of the kanji for Dragon. It is 17 of 103 and measures 16.25inW x 11.5inH. Maki did perhaps a dozen dragons and this is one of the most striking.

Oil on canvas spring country landscape complete with peasant goose herder, two houses by a pond or small lake and flowering trees at right, 24" by 36", unframed, signed at lower left by listed Hungarian artist JOSEPH DANDE (1911-1969). Dande seems to have painted in the style pioneered by better known artist Laszlo Neogrady. Neogrady painted very similar spring country landscapes, as well as his signature snow-laden mid winter trees----and Dande has also painted those winter landscapes. I see...

MEDIA: Chinese brush painting TITLE: Cat Nap SIZE: 17 ¼ inches x 17 ¾ inches ARTIST: Chen Liang is a talented artist who is currently the chairman of the Literature and Arts Cooperative in Fudu, Heilongjiang Province. He specializes in detailed landscapes and pictures of flowers, birds and animals. He also uses the sobriquets Quan and Bi Guang. He has exhibited in the former Soviet Union, Singapore, Japan and Hong Kong.