Catalog (208)

A beautiful Japanese enamel tray with bamboo design measuring approx. 9" x 9" x 1" in excellent condition one minute nick on edge.

Portrait of a woman by French artist Jean-Jacques Henner (1829-1905). Board: 9.25"L x 12.9"H framed 18.5" L x 14.75" w. Henner entered the École des Beaux-Arts and won the Prix de Rome in 1858. He exhibited paintings in the Salon, many now in the Musée d'Orsay. In 1889, he became commander of the Legion of Honour and succeeded Cabanel in the Institut de France. In 1900, he won a Grand Prix for painting at the Paris Exposition Universelle. Excellent condition minor age wear.

Original 1950s portrait drawing by Joseph Reeves, signed lower right J Mason Reeves. Unframed. Reeves worked as a portraitist in New York City and Norfolk, Virginia before moving San Francisco, and later to Los Angeles. He was President of The Artists of the Southwest and The Painters and Sculptors Club. He was also a member of the California Art Club, the Los Angeles Art Association, and the Laguna Beach Art Association. Dimensions18ʺW × 0.1ʺD × 24ʺH

DESCRIPTION Original c.1950 mid century vintage abstract mixed media collage by Harold Christopher Davies (1891 - 1976) signed upper left, estate stamp on verso. Harold Christopher Davies was a painter with whom art came first and commercialism last. Though he was a remarkably passionate and somewhat prolific artist, he resisted gallery representation until the age of eighty-four, just one year before his death. Davies began his formal art education at the age of fourteen, enrolling in the Corcoran Art Institute in Washington, D.C. Later he continued his studies at the San Francisco Institute of Art. An abstract expressionist, his style was directly influenced by Cezanne, Gorky and de Kooning. Being a man of intense dedication to his art, he kept extensive notebooks and sketchbooks in which he developed his own artistic and aesthetic philosophy, often through his candid critiques of other artist's works. Painting, for Davies, was not a means of earning his living. Though he exhibited frequently at various local colleges and museums, he never sought public recognition of his talent. He believed fame compromised the integrity of an artist's work. Davies earned his living as a businessman, eventually owning and operating his own chemical company. He lived a life of balancing his monetary obligations with the true love of his life: painting. After living in a variety of cities around the United States, Davies moved to Inverness, California in 1969 where he was free to devote all his time to his art.

Original painting oil and gouache on board "Musical Muses" study for a mural by Daniel MacMasters, signed lower right. Probably a study for one of his mural projects. A renowned portrait painter, muralist, illustrator, decorator and designer. He had a studio in New York City above the Carnegie Hall. He studied with Joseph Pennell, Robert Henri, and George Bridgeman. He exhibited at the Durand-Ruel Galleries in New York. Giltwood frame. Image 13"H x 7"L. overall framed size 12" L x 18.5" H.

A fine original oil painting on a wood panel measuring 12 x 16 signed lower left R. Neilson Depicting a Native American Souix Indian Chief in full head dress holding a war club. A very fine painting with a nice addition to any western art collection.

Louis-Auguste-Mathieu Legrand (b.1863-d.1951) Original mixed media of gouache, etching, collage, and ink drawing of a French can can dancer c. 1900 signed lower left. Louis Legrand was an important artist of the Belle Epoque in France in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He trained at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Dijon and in 1884 moved to Paris. In good condition some minor touch ups to gouache paint. Image measuring 10.5"x11.5" overall framed size 17"x18.5"

Antique English, 19th Century Georgian chest of drawers with a shelved gallery. Diminutive in scale, this dresser is made primarily of a figured yew wood with mahogany cross banding and an interior composed of pine, resting on bracket feet and original brass pulls. Very good antique condition with some age separation on sides and minor restorations. Exceptionally unique piece of early 19th century furniture.

An original Michele Cascella painting signed lower right and dated. A painting of a landscape with a farm house and afternoon sun with trees gouache on paper measuring approx. 14 x 18 inches in excellent condition.

Biography

Michele Cascella (1892-1989) Michele Cascella was a very congenial and humane person, as well as a tenacious worker. The techniques Michele used were pastels, pencil and pen and ink drawings, oils, watercolors, ceramics, lithography and textiles. His most frequent subjects were the landscapes of Abruzzi, locations all over Italy, Portofino, Paris, London, New York, California, Mexico, Hawaii, Tuscany, flowers, portraits and still life. Michele himself said that Henry Rousseau and Picasso had the greatest impact on the art world, while Van Gogh, Utrillo and Raoual Dufy most influenced his own work. He is referred to as an Italian Impressionist, post-impressionist and neo-impressionist. Also primitivism and crepuscular landscape artist are used to describe his work. Michele’s works are preserved at: The Basilio Cascella Civic Museum in Pescara The Pinacoteca Comunale M. Cascella in Ortona The Risorgimento Museum and the Historical Collections in Milan The Victoria and Albert Museum in London The National Modern Art Gallery in Turin Banca Nazionale del Lavoro in Rome The Museum of the Jeu-de-Paume in France The National Gallery of Luxembourg The House Museum of Gabriele D’Annunzio in Pescara The De Saisset Art Gallery of Santa Clara University in California, Permanent Collection The Modern Art Gallery in Brussels, The National Modern Art Gallery in Rome.

This image of the Buddha is in a naturalistic style most probably prompted by colonial influences. It has been carved in wood, lacquered and gilded and inset with glass fragments backed with coloured foil (known as hman-zi- shwei-cha) and overlaid thayo work, a process whereby thin, rolled strands of lacquer and ash putty are applied in patterns. The image is in the Mandalay style and shows the Buddha seated in vajrasana, with his right hand gesturing to the earth in the bhumisparsa mudra position. It is probably the most characteristic form of religious sculpture in Burma (Lowry, 1974). The posture, known as 'calling the earth to witness', represents the moment when the Buddha was seated in meditation under the Bodhi tree during the evening before his enlightenment. Mara asked him to name anyone who would give evidence that he had given alms, and the Buddha motioned to the earth with his right hand and said that the earth would bear witness to that - in a previous incarnation when he was known as Vessantara, he had given alms to such an extent that the earth had begun to quake. The image shows the Buddha seated on a low platform or socle and dressed in ample robes with naturalistic folds and pleating. Earlier images of the Buddha across Southeast Asia tended to show the monastic robes in a much more schematic way. The eyes have been inlaid with a white material, usually described as mother-of-pearl, with black pupils probably painted on with black lacquer. The cranial protuberance (unisha) is rounded and the head decorated with tight curls in low relief. Unusually, the curls are arrayed in a pattern on the back of the head, rather than being in a more typical, somewhat random manner. The image has been lacquered with black lacquer and then gilded. Overall, the image is very sculptural and decorative: the naturalistic flow of the robes, and the refinement of the face, are particularly pleasing.37"T x 32"W x 24"D. In good antique condition some minor losses and age cracking.

Dirk Van Erp hand hammered copper arts and crafts era vase circa 1910. A fine example of this extremely sought after artists work featuring a rounded form with a rich reddish brown patina the windmill stamp trade mark on bottom. In excellent condition some wear and minor scratches and one very minor ding. Measures approx. 8 inches tall and 7 inches wide. This piece would make a fine addition to any collection.

Beautiful Embossed Japanese woodblock print from an antique nursery catalog showing available types of iris. Circa 1900. Presented matted and framed. Image size: 7" x 10"; overall dimensions: 15" x 18". Excellent condition some light age yellowing

A vintage 1965 Fender Mustang guitar all original in very good condition with original case. Some minor scratches and wear. Plays great sounds great a classic instrument.

A fine original oil on canvas by Alexis Podchernikoff of Mt. Tamalpais from Mill valley California. A beautiful scene with lupine wildflowers and cows in the distance. Signed lower left and on reverse dated 1915. In excellent all original condition in the original art nouveau frame the painting measures approx. 20 x 30 inches. A fine example of this artists work.

BIOGRAPHY

Landscape painter,BIOGRAPHY Landscape painter, Alexis Matthew Podchernikoff was born in Vladimir, Russia in 1886 into a family of artists. Podchernikoff first studied art with his grandfather Dmitri Zolotarieff and later with Ilya Repin and Verestchagin. In Moscow he was awarded a gold medal and his work "My Beloved Russian Woods" was purchased by the Royal Art Commission. He emigrated to the U.S. in 1905 after the Russo-Japanese War and settled in San Francisco. In February of 1901, he married fellow-painter Ida Working. In 1913 an art dealer from Santa Barbara convinced Podchernikoff to move there. A painting of his Santa Barbara studio appeared on the front cover of Literary Digest, March 10, 1928. Although he spent the last 20 years of his life in Southern California he returned often to San Francisco to paint scenes of Marin and the northern coast. He is well-known in California for his landscapes done in the manner of Corot. His last years were spent in Pasadena where he died on Oct. 31, 1933 of tuberculosis. Works held: Oakland Museum; Royal Art Commission, Moscow.was born in Vladimir, Russia in 1886 into a family of artists. Podchernikoff first studied art with his grandfather Dmitri Zolotarieff and later with Ilya Repin and Verestchagin. In Moscow he was awarded a gold medal and his work "My Beloved Russian Woods" was purchased by the Royal Art Commission. He emigrated to the U.S. in 1905 after the Russo-Japanese War and settled in San Francisco. In February of 1901, he married fellow-painter Ida Working. In 1913 an art dealer from Santa Barbara convinced Podchernikoff to move there. A painting of his Santa Barbara studio appeared on the front cover of Literary Digest, March 10, 1928. Although he spent the last 20 years of his life in Southern California he returned often to San Francisco to paint scenes of Marin and the northern coast. He is well-known in California for his landscapes done in the manner of Corot. His last years were spent in Pasadena where he died on Oct. 31, 1933 of tuberculosis. Works held: Oakland Museum; Royal Art Commission, Moscow.

Antique Fireman Captains trumpet megaphone or loud hailer c. 1860 sliver plated over brass. Engraved floral decorations and a trophy of fireman’s ladder hat and hose. Measuring approx. 20 inches long and 7 inches at the widest point in excellent antique condition some minor scratching dents and sliver plate wear. This is a museum quality example of antique firefighting equipment.

A beautiful Early California Impressionist view of Monterey bay and fishing dory's by Francis August Todhunter oil on canvas signed lower right and dated 1919. Image Measuring approx. 18 x 22. A fine example of this artist work.

A landscape painter and printmaker, he was born in San Francisco, California on July 29, 1884. Todhunter was a pupil of John Stanton and Arthur Mathews at the Mark Hopkins Institute, and Gottardo Piazzoni and Frank Van Sloun at the California School of Fine Arts, followed by study at the Art Students League in New York City. He began his career as an illustrator for Overland Monthly and later worked for the San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco Call, and Washington (DC) Times. He worked in New York as a commercial artist until 1912, when he returned to San Francisco to become art director for the H. K. McCann Company, a job he was to keep until his retirement in 1949. Todhunter's work includes etchings, lithographs, and landscapes of Marin County and the San Francisco Bay area. He died in his native city on February 11, 1963. Member: Bohemian Club; SWA; AAPL; Marin Society of Artists; SFAA; Calif. Society of Etchers. Exh: Bohemian Club, 1922-63; SFAA from 1922; OGlE, 1939; Society for Sanity in Art, 1940s.

A finely modeled Tang Dynasty (AD 618 - 906) pottery horse head with traces of original polychrome. Comes with a beautifully designed walnut display case with acrylic cover. Horse measures approx. 10 inches tall some loses to the left ear, A fine antique decorative piece.

Antique oil-on-canvas painting of a French country scene with an inn or carriage stop. Signed lower right by Gerald Summers, an English artist actively painting from 1907 to 1938. Displayed in a vintage giltwood frame. Canvas size, 14"L x 18"; overall, 21"L x 25"H.