In the mid-1800's, an unknown artist painted the face of a young Black boy in warm, soft colors, and unbeknown to the artist, forever immortalized the young boy's image! Since that time a variety of items were been produced in the image of the "Young Black boy with the Torn Hat" or "Johnny Griffin".

This circa 1920-30's Johnny Griffin tie rack is constructed in solid brass. It remains functional for such use today; however, only two of the five original tie hooks remain.

It is in all orig...

Offered is a circa 1910, original piece of art entitled "Who Said Watermelons". This captivating charcoal on paper portrait of a young African American boy, very much resembles the iconic, fictional figure painted by an unknown artist in the mid 1800's, a figure who has come to be known as 'Johnny Griffin' or the 'Young Black boy with the Torn Hat'.

Measuring just 7 inches wide x 9 inches high, this unsigned piece is very skillfully executed accomplishing a three-dimensional sense of depth th...

Published in 1913, by Valentine & Sons, Dundee, London, and Montreal, this extremely rare publication, "Ten Little Nigger Boys", is a highly creative and imaginative variation of the original 1869 minstrel song "Ten Little Niggers", composed by the British songwriter Frank Green.

(Likely inspired by Frank Green's lyrics, Agatha Christie, in 1939, composed her very well-known "Ten Little Niggers" story, with the title for the 1940 US edition changed to "And Then There Were None", the final lin...

A very rare well-potted and painted 8.25" Ko-Imari model of a standing boy reaching into an urn. The boy's face is painted with black hair and features a gilt head band. Both his robe and the urn are painted in blue, orange and iron red.

Condition: Excellent, with no chips, hairlines or repairs.

Presented as a historical and cultural artifact, this seldom-found, vintage, 1942, Ten Little Colored Boys book illustrated by Emery I. Gondor and published by Howell, Soskin Publishers, New York, is in very good condition.

Measuring 10.75 inches wide x 8.25 inches long, the book has seen extremely gentle use as evidenced by the minimal wear of the little boys' heads which, while providing visual interest, are primarily present to allow easy turning of each page. Given this purpose, it is ...

Japanese limited edition sosaku hanga woodblock print titled "Yakushi Temple at Hino” by Shiro Kasamatsu (1898-1991) dated 1961. The print is pencil signed at the bottom margin. The artist's black ink signature and red seal is at the lower right corner of the image. The small rectangular "Shiro hanga" seal is in the lower left margin below the penciled edition number of 38. The print is titled in kanji and dated 1961 in the lower margin. Paper: 16 1/2" x 11 1/4" (image: 14 7/16" x 9 3/4")...

Folk Art Portrait by American Artist, attributed to Sheldon Peck (1797-1868). This Portrait was purchased at a North Carolina auction from the Larew Collection. The 19th century oil on canvas portrait of a gentleman was said to be Thomas Johnston from Concord, NC (Sept. 1850). It was marked on the original canvas (relined) bought in Davie County. It is mounted in a mahogany veneer frame with yellow pine backing. Canvas 29" 24" and the Frame is 38" x 33". The portrait was restored in 1973 by Hen...

A very rare pair of Antique European late 19th century cold painted spelter sculptures on elaborated square bases. The finely and realistically modelled sculptures depict a Chinese man and a Chinese woman in national costumes. The man is wearing a long green robe with gold swirl motifs, grey Balloon Pants and red shoes on his feet, the hair is braided and drawn back under a black hat. His left hand is grasping a Chinese musical stringed instrument (Erhu). The female is wearing a lavish robe, ela...

First edition Taisho period Japanese woodblock print titled “The Snow Maiden Umekawa” (aka “The Heroine Umekawa in the Snow”) from the supplements of “The Complete Works of Chikamatsu Manzaemon" by Kitano Tsunetomi (1880-1947) published in 1923. First edition with mica and silver highlights, hand applied gofun, black ink Tsunetomi seal at the upper right, and Yamagishi Kazue (carver) and Nishimura Kumakichi (printer) seals at the lower edge. Paper: 17 3/4" x 11 3/8." Very good overa...

Lovely Japanese Byobu Screen 6 panels with Spring Flowers.
The size of Screen: 148" L x 66" W (376 cm x 168 cm)
This Byobu is made finely and fine condition. Gold leaves and
Painting is very lovely. There is no place to be repaired.
It has the signature of artist name, Naofumi, but we do not
have profile information. Dating of screen from 1950’s.
Please note the screen was painted on gold leaf background
with watercolor paint which make tree leaves appear ...

Lovely Byobu Screen 6 panels with Autumn Flowers.
The size of Screen: 148" L x 66" W (376 cm x 168 cm)
This is Byobu was made finely and fine condition. Gold leaves and
Painting is very lovely. There is no place to be repaired.
It has the signature of artist name, Nofumi, but we do not
have profile information. Dating of screen from 1950’s.
Please note the screen was painted on gold leaf background
with watercolor paint which make tree leaves appear darke...

Pretty vintage Halloween postcard showing a young couple, he dressed as a Pilgrim and she dressed as a Victorian lady, walking along a scary path through the woods. They have just startled a black cat while a pair of witches look on from the background. The card has nice colors. The two lower corners have some creasing, sharp edges. The back is postmarked 1910.

The size of Screen: 277cm Wide x 138 cm High (109 " x 54 3/8")
The both side Left/Right Panel size: 47.2 cm x 138 cm (18 1/2" x 54 3/8")
4 panels in between size: 45.5 cm x 138 cm (17 7/8" x 54 3/8")
Each Fan design size: 55 cm (21 5/8") wide.

This is wonderful 6 panels Japanese Byobu screen from 1750's middle 18th Century with 21 Ougi (fans) design with gold leaf background. This type of painting properly called, "Senmenga" with fan design Byobu called "Senmen Byobu". Th...

An extremely finely and delicately painted eggshell porcelain bowl by Wang Yijun. The poem on the reverse side reads "Wen ji qi wu xiang feng nian, fu gui rong hua ren ping an. Wang Yijun zuo" which can translate as "Practice the sword while hearing roosters (meaning work hard) and enjoy the affluence of the year; wish people wealth, prosperity and safety. Made by Wang Yijun"The seal mark to the base reads "Jingdezhen Zuo" - Made in Jingdezhen. Wang Yijun (1904 - 1989)was born in Anhui, China. A...

Offered is a lovely and serene oil painting of an older black gentleman fishing by the riverside. The painting is done in a flowing, Impressionist style, with a masterful use of quick, loose brushstrokes and much natural light, which contributes to this peaceful scene. The artist then focuses on careful attention to detail in her execution of the lone fisherman.

The primary colors utilized are a tonal range of yellows, blues and greens suggesting a spring or early summer day. The gentleman is ...

Adam was produced by Jeannette Glass from 1932 to 1934. It's getting very difficult to find and still in great demand. Offered here is the 9 3/4 inch footed cake plate in excellent condition. I have 2 available, price is per plate. See my other listings for more in this pattern.

An antique Satsuma figural group of a prone bull with a guardian. The bull with crackled cream ground, gilt noseguard and retaining rope and with polychrome painted and gilt backcover. The young man in a gilt and multicolor painted traditional Japanese garment resting on the animal while holding a book in his hand. 11.5" long, 6" high. An exceptional piece.

Condition: Flawless, ex-Christie's

Additional Photos for Japanese Screen, 1750's
Each Fan painting size, 21 5/8" Long(55 cm).
1. Kuge servant carrying princess on his back trying to cross the water.
2. Three Sparrows and Bamboo.
3. Six Chinese Boys paying around at the study table, parent observing.
4. Tiger and Dog glaring each other.
5. Pretty Japanese Kikyo, Bellflower and other flowers.
6. Sumie Landscape, ...