Catalog: Sold Items (421)

A fine vintage photo of a Chinese Imperial temple photo by famed Jewish photographer Sam Sanzetti signed lower right a fine rich print measuring 12 x 17 inches. in good vintage condition,

Biography

Sioma Lifshitz arrived in Shanghai on a freighter from Vladivostock in 1922. The 20 years old energetic Russian jew had no money but lot’s of dreams and soon started to work in a photography studio under the name of Sam Sanzetti. It took him 5 years to open in own studio in 1927, becoming one of the most famous photographer in Shanghai. The studio was first located on 73 Nanking Road (today 73 Nanjing Dong Lu), near the Bund and just behind the Palace hotel (today Swatch Art Peace Hotel). Construction on the Cathay Hotel (today Peace Hotel) was on-going at that time very and the opening in 1929 certainly also helped his business. The central position in the business center allowed him to become the photographer of the rich and famous in Shanghai, surely meeting with other successful business people of the time. His office later moved to 39 Peking Road (today Beijing Dong Lu) as reported in 1938 Shanghai Dollar Directory. Some of his photographs clearly remind of the calendar ads from the Carl Crowe company located very close on 81 JinKe lu and both men hanging around in similar circles probably worked with each other at some point. Sam Sanzetti left Shanghai in 1957 to immigrate to Israel leaving a Chinese wife and a stepdaughter behind and remade his life in his new country. He had fun memories of Shanghai as explained in an interview with an Israeli Newspaper years later. However he was never able to come back to Shanghai before his death in 1986.

A beautiful original oil on canvas board signed lower left and titled on reverse "Pirates Cove" in excellent all original condition with original frame measuring 20 x 24 inches. BIOGRAPHY Born in Los Angeles, CA on Oct. 1, 1881, the son of Esiquia and Miguel de Villa. His parents came to Los Angeles from Baja California in 1846 when the area was still part of Mexico. Raised in an artistic milieu, his mother was an amateur singer and his father an artist with a studio on the Plaza. Villa studied locally under Louise Garden-MacLeod at the School of Art & Design in 1905, and later taught there after studying for one year in England and Germany. He established a studio in Los Angeles and worked as a commercial artist and illustrator for the Santa Fe Railroad for 40 years. He died in Los Angeles on May 7, 1952. Equally facile with oil, watercolor, pastel, and charcoal, he produced scenes of the Old West, Indians, missions, and the Mexican vaqueros. Villa's most famous work is the emblem of the Santa Fe Railroad, The Chief. Exh: Alaska-Yukon Expo (Seattle), 1909; PPIE, 1915 (gold medal for mural); Royar’s Frame Shop (LA), 1934; El Paseo Inn (LA), 1935; Foundation of Western Art (LA), 1935; Ebell Gallery (LA), 1937; Associated Artists (LA), 1941. In: Citizen's Trust & Savings Bank, LA (mural); LACMA; Fort Worth Museum; Santa Fe Railroad; New Rialto Theatre, Phoenix, AZ (mural); Orange Co. (CA) Museum.

A beautiful modernist composition oil on paper by Harold Christopher Davies a well listed California modernist The Provenance is from the estate of the artist and Hoover Gallery of San Francisco. Measuring approx. 12 x 15 inchesA fine example of this artists work. 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. MEMBER: Oakland Art League San Francisco Art Association Huntsville (Ala.) Art Association EXHIBITED: San Francisco Art Association, 1921-1931 Oakland Art Gallery, 1931 Birmingham Museum, 1951 Southampton Museum, 1959 University of Long Island Museum, 1964 Parrish Art Museum, 1964, 1966, 1967 Hoover Gallery (San Francisco), 1975 Fresno Art Center, 1976 (Solo) Haggin Museum 1982 Huntsville Museum, 1982

A beautiful and finely woven vintage Navajo two grey hills rug. Design featuring an elaborate concentric medallion center stepped corner elements within a crenellated reciprocal border and solid outer frame in brown black white and grey. Measuring approx. 5 ft. 1 in. by 3 ft. 8 in. A fine example of this most desirable design of Navajo weaving in Very fine condition.

Two Grey Hills rugs are woven of natural, undyed, handspun wool in whites, blacks, & browns. Weavers produce subtle shades of these basic hues by carding together various colored wools. Because of the considerable time and effort required to prepare the wool for this style, weavings using these yarns may cost twice as much as those made from commercial yarns. Like other styles with borders, many Two Grey Hills rugs have a spirit line or spirit trail-- a single line of light colored weft near the top of the design, running through the border to the edge of the rug. This spirit line is meant to release the weaver's creative energies from the rug back to the Universe so that a weaver's spirit will not be trapped within the completed rug.

A fine vintage Navajo Indian Teec Nos Pos rug, woven by Bessie Little Pouch. Featuring a centering double diamond hooked medallion design with geometric accents on all sides, feather pairs in the center, within finely serrated surrounds and a split wing border. Woven in tan, beige, black, red, orange, white and gray. Measuring approx. 6 ft. 4 in. x 3ft. 10 inches in very fine condition.

The Teec Nos Pos style of Navajo weaving is a bold, exciting and elaborate design. Many believe this style developed from pictures of Persian rugs while others see no connection and believe that traders introduced this design to the Navajo People from designs on flour sacks. The name, which means "Cottonwoods in a Circle," comes from a settlement in the northeast corner of the Navajo Nation. Always surrounded by a wide border and filled with an exuberant variety of motifs, Teec Nos Pos style rugs are usually large, and therefore very expensive. An elaborate center is enhanced with stylized feathers and arrows. Steps and angular hooks extend from the points of diamonds and triangles, while zigags are abundant. The many, brightly colored yarns are used to create a visually stunning design in the Teec Nos Pos style.

A beautiful Verlys glass charger or large bowl with cranes and japanes coy fish signed in the center measuring an impressive 13 1/4inches or 34 cm. in diameter the three dimensional glass moulded with opalescent cranes. In excellent condition a beautiful example of this fine French art glass.

Verlys Glass History

In 1920, the Societe Holophane Français was set up as a subsidiary of the USA Holophane Company in a glassworks near Rouen in Northern France to make vehicle headlights. By 1925, they had expanded into making art glass vases and bowls. They created a separate department for these products, and named it "Verlys". Initially the pieces were blown vessels with several layers of glass, smooth on the outside with internal decoration. From 1933 onward, Verlys focused on high quality press-mould glass. They produced clear, frosted, opalescent and colored items with designs typical of Lalique-style glass of the 1930s.

Original oil on board by Drake Seaman of a young Navajo girl named Rita. Signed lower right and signed and titled on the reverse by the artist with the artists address in Arizona. Measuring image size 8 x 10 in excellent condition. Drake Seaman, Southwestern artist, was born 1935 and died December 2000. He was a resident of Williams, Arizona and painted in sumi ink, acrylics, and oil using brush and knife applications. Seaman's subject matter includes cowboys, horse, cattle and landscapes. He also painted murals with Ray Strong. One of Seaman's landscape murals is in a Seventh Day Adventist Church in Santa Barbara, California. A mural titled "Prodigal Son" is in St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Williams, Arizona. He studied at the Kachina Art School with Jay Datus. From 1969 to 1970, he was an instructor of landscape painting at Brroks Fine Arts Center in Santa Barbara. Two paintings are in the permanent collection at the Phippen Museum in Prescott, Arizona. Much of his collection resides with his wife in Williams, AZ. Seaman is believed to have associated with Flagstaff Activist Network (FAN) a conservationist group that supports preserving habitats and native cultures of the Southwest. Source: Katy Holditch "Who's Who in American Art", 1997-1998

A beautiful Japanese Ivory carving of a tiger attacking a Hippo. Finely carved details measuring approximately 3.5 inches long in excellent condition

Norman Lindsay original etching signed and titled numbered 20 0f 20 in pencil. A humorous court scene of a the king flirting with a lady and the expression of the jealous queen. An exquisite rich impression image measuring 23 x 30 cm on full sheet of laid paper in excellent condition some age yellowing and faint window matt line.

Lindsay is widely regarded as one of Australia's greatest artists, producing a vast body of work in different media, including pen drawing, etching, watercolour, oil and sculptures in concrete and bronze. A large body of his work is housed in his former home at Faulconbridge, New South Wales, now the Norman Lindsay Gallery and Museum, and many works reside in private and corporate collections. His art continues to climb in value today. In 2002, a record price was attained for his oil painting Spring's Innocence, which sold to the National Gallery of Victoria for A$333,900.

A beautiful early 20 th century Dutch impressionist painting of a view of Amsterdam. Signed lower right G. Koopman oil on canvas Approx. 16 x 24 inches in a quality original frame. A beautiful painting with bold impressionist brush strokes.

Clyde Scott California impressionist seascape oil on board signed lower right measuring 12 x 16 inches framed in a one of a kind custom hand carved Bill Earl frame overall size 19x23 inches. A beautiful seascape with bold color and light showing the true mastery of this acclaimed artist’s talent. This painting is in excellent condition and ready to hang.

Biography

Born in Bedford, IA on Jan. 24, 1884. Scott studied at the Boston Art School and with Richard Andrews, Edward Kingsbury, and E. Felton Brown. From 1910 he worked in San Francisco for the Commercial Art Company while living across the bay in Mill Valley. Settling in Los Angeles about 1930, he was a special-effects artist at 20th Century Fox Studios from 1933 until retirement in 1950. He died in Los Angeles on Oct. 6, 1959. A skilled painter, his works include desert landscapes of the area around Palm Springs. Exh: PPIE, 1915 (bronze medal); Oakland Art Gallery, 1928, 1929, 1932, 1939; Wilshire Gallery (LA), 1929; Calif. State Fair, 1931 (3rd prize); Calif. Art Club, 1935-41; Painters & Sculptors (LA), 1935-52; Academy of Western Painters (LA), 1935-38; Hollywood Riviera Club, 1936 (1st prize); LACMA, 1937; Gardena High School, 1939 (1st prize); Laguna Beach AA, 1939 (1st prize); GGIE, 1939; Pomona College, 1939; SWA, 1940s; Ebell Club (LA), 1941, 1944; Chaffey College, 1944; CPLH, 1945; Hollywood Woman’s Club, 1949. In: Haggin Museum (Stockton); Gardena (CA) High School; Chaffey College; Santa Monica Municipal Collection; Clearwater High School. Source: Edan Hughes, "Artists in California, 1786-1940"

Serge Ivanhoff Ink and watercolor figural studies signed and and noted Paris. image 8"x10.5" framed 17" x 19". Serge Petrovitch Ivanoff was born in Moscow in 1893 and showed artistic ability from a young age. On the family’s move to St. Petersburg, he took the opportunity to further his artistic studies by enrolling at the Imperial Academy of Arts in 1917, at the height of the Russian Revolution. The turmoil of the aftermath of these events prompted Serge Ivanoff, with his wife and two young children, to move permanently to Paris in 1922. A talented portraitist, he quickly established himself in Paris and soon had the celebrities of the day commissioning him to paint their portraits, including Pope Pius XI, the dancer and choreographer Serge Lifar, poet Paul Valery, composer Arthur Honegger, and many notable Russian exiles now making their home in Paris. Between 1930 and 1950, he also regularly provided illustrations for the French journal L’Illustration, and painted a series of luminous and lyrical nudes. In 1950 Serge Ivanoff moved to the U.S.A., again specialising in portraiture, including Eleanor Roosevelt and the diplomat Jefferson Caffery amongst his subjects. However, by the 1960s he had returned to Paris where he continued to exhibit regularly at the Salon des Indépendants, receiving a Gold Medal from the Minister of Cultural Affairs, André Malraux, in 1966. Serge Ivanoff died in Paris in 1983.

Bruce Crane impressionist landscape oil on art board signed lower left Bruce Crane N.A. measuring 8x6 inches framed in a custom carved and gilt finished frame overall size 11x 9 inches. A beautiful gem of a painting by this highly regarded American impressionist painter would be a fine addition to any collection.

Biography

A popular landscape painter, especially of golden toned landscapes that conveyed fall and winter seasons, Bruce Crane was strongly influenced by the French Barbizon school of painting and had a studio for many years in Old Lyme, Connecticut. He also painted on Long Island, the Catskills, and the Adirondacks. In 1882, he was in France at the colony at Grez-sur-Loring with Birge Harrison, Kenyon Cox, and Alexander Wyant, but he maintained a studio in New York City until he moved to Bronxville in 1914. He took early art lessons from Alexander Wyant in New York City and then studied in Europe. He became a member of the National Academy of Design, the American Water Color Society, the Salmagundi Club, the Society of American Artists, and the Grand Central Art Galleries. One of his great admirers was J. Francis Murphy with whom his work has often been compared. Source: David Michael Zellman, "Three Hundred Years of American Art" Peter Falk, "Who Was Who in American Art"

"High Sierra Lake " An original oil painting by Leland Curtis oil on canvas signed lower left and artist label reverse. In excellent original condition with original frame. Measuring 30 x 40 inches overall framed size 36x 46 in. A magnificent American painting. Biography Born in Denver, CO on Aug. 7, 1897, Curtis was a resident of Seattle before moving to Los Angeles in 1914. He was inspired to become an artist by his teacher Rob Wagner at Manual Arts High School. After working as a bank teller and serving in WWI, he soon was able to support himself as an illustrator. He served as official artist of the U.S. Antarctica Expedition in 1939-40 and again in 1957. About 1960 he changed his residence from Los Angeles to Twenty Nine Palms, California, with summers in Moose, Wyoming. An avid mountain climber, his studio in the Grand Tetons was a rustic log cabin. In 1972 he moved to Carson City, Nevada, where he remained until his demise on March 17, 1989. He is best known for his landscapes of the High Sierra, Grand Tetons, and Antarctica. His works won dozens of medals and prizes from the early 1920s in southern California shows. Member: Carmel Art Association; Artland Club. Exh: California Art Club, 1923-27; Laguna Beach Art Association, 1924; California State Fair, 1926; Cannell & Chaffin Gallery (Los Angeles), 1926; Ebell Club (Los Angeles), 1926; Painters & Sculptors of Los Angeles, 1926-31; National Academy of Design, 1930; Toledo Museum, 1931; American Painters & Sculptors, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 1931, 1937 (solo), 1946 (solo); Oakland Art Gallery, 1932; Tuesday Afternoon Club (Glendale), 1934; Golden Gate International Exhibition, 1939; California Palace Legion of

Fine Ivory carved Japanese Netsuke of a Shishi Dog signed Tomo Tada a masterfully carved piece in excellent condition. Measuring 2 1/4 inches long or 5.5 centimeters.

Magnificent Chinese carved wood and polychrome figure of the Immortal Sage of Longevity. Finely detailed carving with painted enamel polychrome colors applied throughout probably from the first part of the 20th century. Measuring approx. 14.5 inches tall in excellent condition a fine addition to any collection.

Gorham Sterling Sliver tea set 2 1/4 pint a elegant regency style. Consisting of a Teapot creamer and sugar bow. Marked sterling and hall marked in excellent condition

A fine Ivory netsuke of a Kappa and Frog wrestling a very fine example of netsuke art and craftmanship artist signed in excellent condition.