Catalog: Sold Items (421)

Chinese famille rose medallion umbrella stand circa 1890 hand painted in traditional motif of floral butterfly and Chinese court scenes. In excellent condition measuring approx. 25 inches tall.

A fine vintage Ivory netsuke of a girl reading signed Hi Chiyo measuring approx. 2 inches in length in excellent condition. of the finest quality.

An exquisite painting with a atmospheric feeling of a foggy overcast day done in a Monet like manner. Oil on canvas relined and cleaned provenance: The estate of the artist William Karges galleries a private collection. A fine work by this highly recognized artist.

Biography

Born in San Francisco to a family of artists, Cuneo studied at the Mark Hopkins Institute with Arthur Mathews, before attending the Academie Colarossi in Paris from 1911-1913. Upon his return to California, Cuneo’s works were well received at the Panama Pacific International Exhibition in 1915, and was involved in every major art exhibition in the San Francisco area from 1916-1939. Also during these years Cuneo was the subject of numerous one-man shows, including those in Rome, Los Angeles, London, and Paris. Called “the Painter of San Francisco,” at the inaugural exhibition of the San Francisco Museum of Art in 1935, Cuneo had the most number of paintings displayed by any early California artist. In that same exhibition, his painting California Hills won the Museum’s Purchase Prize award. A pure impressionist early in his career, Cuneo’s style constantly evolved throughout his life, as he was always seeking and assimilating new methods of representation.

Chinese export porcelain bowl circa 1790 a beautiful example with hand painted floral sprays and a scalloped decorated rim. Measuring approx. 9 1/4 inches in diameter and 4 inches deep in excellent antique condition for a piece of its age with a couple of barely visible faint hairline stress cracks in the outside glaze probably from cooling in manufacturing and one minute flea bite on the outside rim (see pictures). A fine piece would be a nice addition to any collection.

Fine Shreve and Company Sterling Copper and Deer or Stag Antler three handle trophy loving cup. An exquisite example of mixed metal workmanship which shreve and gorham were so highly know for. Measuring approx. 5 inches tall and 7 at widest point. Monogramed with beautiful script initals in excellent condition original patina some minor bending at inside where one handle meets body.

A beautiful painting by this highly recognized early California painter depicting a wooded landscape with cows and oaks. Done in a impressionist style oil on board signed lower left. Measuring approx. 10x12 inches framed in a one of a kind custom carved and gilt frame 16.5 x 19 inches overall. A fine example would make a nice addition to any collection.

Biography

Carl Henrik Jonnevold (1856-1955) was born in Norway on June 1, 1856. He immigrated to the United States in the 1880s and is known to have painted in the Northwest before moving to California in 1887. Settling in San Francisco, he maintained a studio at 1617 California Street. He was a self-taught painter except for brief study in the galleries of Paris in 1908. While in France, he was greatly influenced by the Barbizon painters and their dark palette. Returning to California, he continued to paint the beauty of northern California in the Barbizon style. Often working in late afternoon when shadow prevails, he produced hundreds of attractive tree and meadow scenes which he exhibited in local galleries. By the time of the stock market crash in 1929, Jonnevold was poverty stricken and living alone at his small studio at 560 Kearny Street. In that year he was sentenced to two months in jail for aiming a gun at his landlord. Jonnevold disappeared from San Francisco about 1930. A letter at the Oakland Museum gives his date of death as June 9, 1955 but does not state where. Member: San Francisco Art Ass'n. Exhibited: Alaska-Yukon Expo (Seattle), 1909 (bronze medal); California State Fairs (premiums). Works held: Oakland Museum; California Historical Society; De Young Museum. Courtesy Edan Hughes

Classical bronze figure of a Grecian woman with robe and sandals alongside a urn and disc. Signed Evrard for Victor Evrard French 1807-1877 sculptor known for works in bronze. The bronze in is in excellent condition with a nice original patina measuring approx. 19 inches tall a fine piece.

A beautiful Chinese silk embroidered robe circa 1900-1920 This amazing robe is composed of a deep cobalt blue silk ground embroidered on both sides with extensive use of the forbidden stitch technique featuring butterflies, peonies, and other flora. The collar and edges of the garment is overlaid with decorative collars further embroidered with urns vases and flowers. The garment is fastened on the front with silk buttons. The robe is in excellent condition a few minor loose threads on the embroidery overall a fairly large robe measuring 59 inches across and 44 inches long.

"Eutoxeres Aquila" An original John Gould Hummingbird lithograph published in 1861 Beautifully hand colored with watercolor and added iridesence. Hallmandel and Walto printers London in good antique condition some age toning and light foxing. Slightly trimmed measuring approx. 14 x 21 overall size. A fine example of this important work one of the finest images. A Monograph of the Trochilidae, or Family of Humming-Birds Written by John Gould
Published by John Gould (London, England)
5 volumes and supplement, 1861-1887 John Gould (1804-1881) was a British ornithologist, artist, and successful businessman. Sometimes referred to as the "English Audubon," Gould had an illustrious career in which he served as official taxidermist to King George IV and established himself as Queen Victoria's favorite illustrator of birds. Gould was so devoted to the study of birds that he asked for his epitaph to read: "Here lies John Gould, the Bird Man." Though he chronicled a wide variety of bird species, from partridges to toucans, spanning all corners of the globe from Great Britain to Australia, Gould had a particular interest in hummingbirds. He developed a personal collection of 1500 mounted and 3000 unmounted specimens, containing at least 300 different species of hummingbird. A Monograph of the Trochilidae represents Gould's stunning effort to create a comprehensive guide to all the varieties of hummingbird with a high degree of accuracy, detail, and beauty.Gould's five volumes on the hummingbird contain 360 hand-colored lithographic illustrations. Gould would draw rough pencil or watercolor sketches of hummingbird specimens, which then served as guides for a team of artists (including his wife, Elizabeth). Gould also worked with lithographers, who used pure gold and silver leaf (applied underneath the watercolor) to achieve a lifelike illustration of the hummingbird's iridescent feathers.

A beautiful pair of antique Sheffield Silver wine coasters circa 1850 hallmarked Padley Parkin & Co Sheffield England 1849 - 1855. Wine grape and grape leaf decoration with wood interiors. Sheffield plate, a sheet of silver is fused on to a thicker one of copper and the compound billet rolled, both metals expanding equally, become a thins sheet of copper coated with a layer of silver. About 1840 the Electroplate process superseded Sheffield Plate. Its production ceased about 1860.

A beautiful antique American portrait of a young girl circa. 1890 framed in a spectacular period frame. Oil painted on an oval canvas measuring 16x20 inches and overall framed size approx. 26 x 30 inches. The painting is signed lower right C. T. Webb and titled with the Childs name on the reverse. In very good condition some minor touch ups and the frame has some touch ups to the gold leaf liner. Overall a very fine and decorative antique painting.

Beautiful Egyptian street scene an Original oil painting on board signed lower right measuring approx. 20 x 24 in excellent condition. Biography LEONID GECHTOFF, 1883-1941 

Leonid Gechtoff was born in Odessa, Russia, in 1883, an only child of parents already in their forties and not particularly well off financially.  After his art school training in Russia, where he probably first met his close life-long friend David Burliuk, he and his parents fled from their homeland when he was in his twenties, rather than have him face possible conscription into the army. Cairo proved to be a haven for several years and Gechtoff painted many city and genre scenes of Egypt in his heavily impastoed style, bringing him acclaim in the Orientalist-enamored European art world as well.

Gechtoff always felt most influenced by the work of Vincent van Gogh, however, and this led him to travel to Holland where Dutch-born van Gogh painted in his early years, though not in the colorful later style Gechtoff most admired. There he established good connections which led to gallery shows in Amsterdam, and at one he met his future Russian-born wife Etya while she was on vacation from her pre-medical studies in Germany. Her family was well-to-do and supportive of the young couple, so they were able to wed and settle in Holland initially for about a year, around 1917. Several Alpine landscapes indicate painting trips in more mountainous parts of Europe too. Both Leonid and his wife were fluent in several languages.

The Gechtoffs soon moved to Indonesia, then a major South Pacific colony under Dutch control, hoping that the warmer climate would be better for Etya's health. The lush volcanic landscapes were strongly appealing to the artist as well. They lived in Java for about two years, in 1918 and 1919, and enjoyed traveling and collecting throughout the region during painting trips.

By 1920 they were living in Manila, and in early 1921 they planned a visit to see two of Etya's brothers in Pennsylvania later that year.  Once in America, the Gechtoffs found themselves persuaded to stay and settle in Philadelphia, with both becoming US citizens.  Leonid's major patron and benefactor was either a member of the family of Dutch-born philanthropist Edward Bok or Bok himself. Along with inclusion in various group exhibitions, his work was featured in a solo show at the Philadelphia Art Alliance in the early 1930's.

Gechtoff had achieved substantial success throughout the 1920's from his landscape paintings near his home in Philadelphia, and had also purchased a summer home on Cape May, New Jersey, where he painted many coastal scenes.  Unfortunately, he made large investments in the stock market in the latter years of the decade, and these disappeared almost overnight in the Wall Street Crash of 1929. The family now included young Sonia, born in 1926, and soon her sister, born in 1933.

With their fortunes in decline, like so many artists in the Depression of the 1930's, they sold the Cape May house but still were able find suitable rentals at the shore for their summer sojourns, and otherwise still lived in downtown apartments in Philadelphia. Gechtoff's works began to depict wintry landscapes along with his bright rocky seascapes and still lifes.

Gechtoff continued vigorously painting in his vivid and distinctive style, a blending of post-Impressionism and expressionism, until his health became a problem in 1940, with the stress of high blood pressure and complications. He died in 1941 at the age of 58. His widow later moved to San Francisco and ran an influential exhibition space in San Francisco called the East-West Gallery, while daughter Sonia became a well-known artist currently living in New York City. 
Gechtoff is listed in the Archives of American Artists, part of the Smithsonian Institution.

A beautiful semi antique still life of fruit and a basket. Oil on canvas signed lower right P. Themmen Antwerp 1931. Framed in a beautiful antique gold leaf frame the painting is in very good condition the frame has some losses to the edge but still presents nicely.

A beautiful Tiffany Favrile art glass large center bowl with engraved grape leaf designs signed LCT Favrile on bottom. A gold color with peacock blue hues accent this ribbed form bowl. Measuring approx. 12 inches across and 3 inches in depth in excellent condition no chips or cracks some minor use wear to center and bottom edge. A magnificent example of American art glass c. 1910.

A beautiful Japanese Imari Arita porcelain boat form dish with carved wave stand. In excellent condition measuring approx. 15 inches long.

A beautiful Japanese Art nouveau carved wood urn or vase stand finely carved details of Iris flowers measuring approx. 28 inches tall. A fine decorative piece.

Fine Hudson River School painting of a couple picnicking along the banks of the Hudson the gentleman fishing. Signed lower left S. H. Thurston and 19th century New York artist. Oil on canvas measuring 22 x 29 inches.

A Japanese Ivory netsuke of a girl holding a Chicken fine carving artist signed measuring approx. 3.5 inches tall or 9 centimeters. A fine addition to any collection.

A fine Song Dynasty period East Asian celadon vase measuring 5 inches or 13 cm tall. In excellent condition a fine example.

Chinese ceramics of the Song Dynasty (960-1279) constitute perhaps the foremost expression of ceramic art, not only in China but in the entire world. During the Song period, a unity of the essential components fundamental to the art: vessel shape, potting techniques, glaze, decoration, firing processes, and aesthetic theory were all combined in a high standard of excellence. In general, the shapes of Song Dynasty are simple and sedate by comparison to what preceded them and what was to follow. Likewise, the glazes tend to be monochromatic and subtle, a fluid, integral part of the form of the vessel they cover, with a depth of color and texture that invites the spectator to both touch and contemplate.

Parisian Girl by Roger Etienne (1922s - 1980s) Etienne was born in Paris in 1922 and as far as I know is still living in Southern California. He is a well listed and popular French impressionist who worked in a variety of media, oil, gouache, pastel and or charcoal, some of his paintings are a collage with pieces of French newspaper incorporated in them. He painted landscapes, pictures of wide eyed children, nudes, and clowns. The Internet has revealed that he may have worked at Pablo Picasso's Workshop and Marc Chagall may have commissioned him to do work for the Paris Opera House. He has had work in museums in Paris, Zurich and Brussels. Etienne lived and was active in both France and the USA.

A beautiful Chinese Cloisonne Tea pot of very large size featuring gilt bronze handle and top with exquisite foo dog images in cloisonne design. In excellent condition measuring approx. 13 tall and 16 inches at its widest point.

Beautiful antique Italian bronze sculpture of a woman by Professor Antonio Garella (1864 - 1919) . Signed on right shoulder Prof. Garella.

Traditional hand painted mandarin figures and floral and butterfly motif. An 19th century example c.1880 a dinner plate measuring approx. 9 5/8 inches in good antique condition some wear to enamels no chips or cracks. A nice addition to any group or a great decorative piece on its own.

Antique bronze south east Asian opium weights in the form of birds or roosters. Complete collection numbering 9 weights in tapering sizes the largest 5 inches tall. I good condition with a great patina.

A fine antique bronze Chinese bronze buddha with very fine details in the hand mudra postures. Measuring approx. 8 inches tall a fine example.

A beautiful impressionist painting of a winter view of German Town Pennsylvania circa 1920 oil on board signed lower left. This painting just recently discovered is directly from a Great Grandfather who was a friend of the Wagner and an artist himself who shared a studio with Wagner. Measuring 8x10 inches framed in a contemporary gallery frame. A great example of this artists work a fine addition to any collection.

Biography

Fredrick Wagner was born in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania in 1864. He received a scholarship to study art at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts under Thomas Eakins and in 1884 was made chief Demonstrator of Anatomy there. In 1885, Wagner left the Academy to make a painting tour of San Antonio, Texas, and then went on to Los Angeles, California, where he painted a number of landscapes and portraits. He returned to Philadelphia as an illustrator for the Philadelphia Press until 1902, and then moved to Norristown, Pennsylvania to paint full time. In 1912, Wagner opened a Philadelphia studio and taught classes in outdoor painting at Addingham, and later, at the Pennsylvania Academy's summer school in Chester Springs. His reputation grew, and he took on additional classes at his studio in the Fuller Building. In 1913, Wagner exhibited in the now famous Armory Show in New York City. He exhibited frequently at the Pennsylvania Academy's annual exhibitions, and in 1914, was awarded the Fellowship Prize. He was awarded Honorable Mentions from the Pittsburgh International, the Philadelphia Art Club, and the Carnegie Institute in 1922. His paintings are in the collections of the Cleveland Museum; St. Louis Museum, MO; Fort Wayne Museum, IN; Kalamazoo Museum, MI; Rochester Museum, NY; Worcester Art Museum, MA, and the Reading Museum, PA. Fred Wagner died in Philadelphia in 1940.

A beautiful quality original watercolor marine painting of ships off the coast and braking waves by george howell gay signed lower right. Painted on a heavy watercolor paper laid on matte board measuring approx. 14 x24 inches framed in a quality gold leafed frame. In very good condition no tears or creases some areas of age discoloration and fading typical with watercolors of this age please view pictures.

biography

george h. Gay was well known for his watercolor landscapes, seascapes and paintings of rivers and ships, mostly along the shores of new england. Gay also painted snowscapes, but these are scarcer. It is unusual to find an oil painting by this artist, as he worked mainly in watercolor. Some of his works display a tonalist aesthetic. He was born in milwaukee, wisconsin on july 2, 1858, and lived in chicago and then in 1889, settled in bronxville, new york. Gay was a pupil of paul brown and henry elkins in chicago. He is known to have exhibited at the national academy of design in 1890; boston art club, 1890-1900; and boston art club, 1897. Shortly before his death in 1931, george gay's address in 1929 was known to be 100 kraft ave., bronxville, ny.

Connecticut landscape by Henry Hammond Ahl, signed lower right. Born in East Hartford, Connecticut, Henry Ahl was a portraitist, muralist and landscape painter whose work reflected his exposure to the Tonalist style of the Barbizon painters. He studied at the Royal Academy of Munich with Alexander Wagner and Franz Von Stuck, and in Paris with Jean Leon Gerome. He exhibited with the Munich Royal Academy. Image 25"L x 30"W. Displayed in original 24k Taos giltwood frame.

A fine original watercolor painting of Pebble Beach Golf course 7th hole Carmel California by James March Phillips a renowned California watercolorist. Measuring approx. 12 x 20 inches in excellent condition beautifully framed.

biography

James March Phillips was born in Fresno California in 1913. His art career began in the 1940's while attending Jean Turner Art Academy in San Francisco where is studied under such prominent artists as Louis J. Rogers, Alfred Owles, and J. Paget Fredricks. His paintings were sold in numerous galleries in the west during the 1940's and 1950's. In recent years his paintings have become quite valuable and have reached prices as high as $13,000 at San Francisco auction house Bonhams Butterfields. This is one of a pair please view the other listing of the 7th hole Pebble Beach.

This finely burnished blackware effigy vessel comes from Peru and dates c.a.1000-1470AD. It is a beautifully constructed representational of a squirrel measuring approximately 7 inches in length In excellent condition a minor restored chip to the spout (see close up) i. A beautiful and unusal piece for any collection. Provenance From The Late Phillip Kirkeby Collection.

A beautiful example with subtle blue enamel hues and a pair of crane with flowers. Meiji period c. 1900 in fine condition no damage an exquisite miniature measuring approx. 3 5/8 inches tall 10 centimeters, a fine addition to any collection.

Fine Antique American Victorian drawing of a young boy, circa 1880. Image, 10"L x 16"H. Matted and in quality frame 20 X 26 overall. Wear to edges under the mat minor flaws to surface. In a quality gallery frame.

A fine antique Navajo Indian rug centering a cross-filled complementary stepped diamond medallion, with four-corner Hooked diamond accents, solid color banded border, in beige dark brown, red, white and grey brown. Measuring approx. 7 ft. 3 in. by 4 ft.6 in. A fine antique native American textile in excellent antique condition.

Provenance

From the collection of American pop culture legend Andy Warhol sold at the sale of Warhol’s estate at Sotheby’s in New York on April, 28, 1988 lot # 2479 Warhol was an avid and knowledgeable collector of fine art, furniture, jewelry and decorative objects. Over time, his 27-room Manhattan townhouse was filled to overflowing with the fruits of his obsessions. Exquisite Art Deco furniture and American folk art vied for space with Navajo Indian blankets and Empire sofas. After Warhol's death, Sotheby's auction house was given the daunting task of inventorying the contents of the townhouse and selling them at what has become a series of legendary auctions, which Time magazine characterized as "the most extensive estate sale in history, and the glitziest."

A beautiful antique carved Tibetan Ivory Vaishravana Buddha with exquisite intricate carved detail measuring 5 Inches OR 12 CM tall. AND 3.5 inches 9 CM. wide

Ming Dynasty porcelain wine storage jar with hand painted dragon motif. A large vessel in very good antique condition. Measuring approx. 14 inches tall and 10 inches at widest point.

Sterling Tea Pot Hester Bateman London 1780 A beautiful Georgian silver teapot by Hester Bateman Of oval form with beaded rims and the sides and shoulder and lid decorated with bright cut and wheelwork decorations. The front side with a period monogram centered in a continious ribbon tied floral swag and drape garland. In excellent condition the lid hinge is a bit loose and the silver finial is probably a 19th century replacement. Measuring approx. 5 3/4 inches tall 11 inches excellent clear hallmarks overall weight 15 oz 10dwts.

Hester Bateman 1708 - 1794 Hester Batemans's long career began after the death of her husband John Bateman(1704-1760. John was a chainmaker in London, but little is known about him. After his death, Hester began to build the business, entering her first silver mark in 1761 and continuing to expand the business and went on to be one of the best known of the female silversmiths working in London during the 18th century.