Catalog: Sold Items (421)

A beautiful buzzer bell ringer button for calling servant or hotel desk call button. Fine example in very good condition original wire very pretty stone. Measuring approx. 2 1/4 inches long.

A very fine antique Japanese Ivory netsuke of a Buddhist monk and a Oni figure. Artist signed very fine intricate carving the Buddha has a gold pin third eye on his forehead. Measuring approx. 2 inches tall or 5 centimeters. Truly a masterfully carved piece.

A beautiful still life painting of fruit and a copper pot oil on board signed lower right and noted Southwest art association. In excellent condition measuring 17 x 25 inches framed size 22 x 30 inches. A beautiful original painting would make a fine decorative piece for any interior.

Biography

Quince Rudolph Galloway was born on August 16, 1912 in Alma, Arkansas. He was known for his realist, and sometimes impressionist, landscape, portrait and still life works. Galloway attended college in Arkansas. He moved to Oakland, California in 1931 where he studied art at the Fox-Morgan School. Soon after his move to Oakland he married fellow artist Janice Webster and settled in nearby San Leandro. For several years he studied in the San Leandro area with Robert Rischell and Van Waldron. Working in pastels, oils, acrylics, and watercolors he often painted realistic images of the landscape using strong light and shadows. Galloway was a member of the Oakland Art Association, San Leandro Art Association, and the Southwestern Art Association. He died in Oakland, California on September 21, 2003.

Frank Montague Moore Carmel or Monterey evening nocturne oil on board signed lower right F.M. Moore. A beautiful painting with a amazing sense of light. In excellent condition measuring 12 x 16 inches approx. overall size 19 x 23 inches. A fine painting by this highly acclaimed artists would be a nice addition to any collection.

Biography

Born in Taunton, England on Nov. 24, 1877. Moore studied at the Liverpool Art School and Royal Institute. In 1903 he immigrated to America and further studied with Henry Ward Ranger. By 1910 he was an established artist in NYC; in that year moved to Hawaii where he was purchasing agent for Hawaii Plantations and later served as director of the Honolulu Academy of Arts. In 1928 he sailed for California and worked briefly in Pasadena where he painted the Picture Bridge, a series of 41 murals in the Huntington Hotel. After a few months in San Francisco, he settled on the Monterey Peninsula. There he specialized in poetic depictions of the coast and other local scenery. Moore died in Carmel, CA on March 5, 1967. Member: Salmagundi Club; NY WC Club; AFA; Pasadena Society of Artists. Exh: Calif. WC Society, 1928; Nicholson Gallery (Pasadena), 1928; CGA; PAFA; St Louis Museum; GGIE, 1939; LACMA, 1942; Salmagundi Club, 1943; Santa Cruz, 1944; Society for Sanity in Art, CPLH, 1944 (1st prize and Logan medal); Carmel AA, 1945-46; NAD. In: Orange Co. (CA) Museum; USMC Headquarters (SF); Auckland (NZ) Museum; Honolulu Academy of Art. Source: Edan Hughes, "Artists in California, 1786-1940"

This rare engraving depicts the siege of Szczecin (Stettin), situated on the river Oder (north to the left), at that time part of Swedish Pomerania. A combined allied force of Poles, Austrains and Brandenburgians, under General Jean-Luis des Souches, invested the fortress on the 19th (29th) of September 1659. The besieged Swedish forces, under Major General Paul Wirtz, defended doggedly and eventually the besiegers gave up on the 6th (16th) November 1659. Plate 106 Background: In 1648, the Peace of Westphalia brought to an end the Thirty Years’ War and at the same time thwarted Sweden’s ambitions to control Baltic trade. Sweden was intent on gaining control of the whole of the Baltic trade (Dominium Maris Baltici) and the enormous customs duties deriving from it. All that was missing was control of the major ports on the southern coast of the Baltic or, alternatively, the Oresund, the gateway to the Baltic. A pre-emptive strike against Poland would isolate Prussia (east & west) forcing it to concede control of its ports, or at least pay Sweden a substantial amount of its income for ‘protection’. In July 1655 Karl X Gustav, King of Sweden, declared war and invaded the Commonwealth of Poland and Lithuania, giving rise to the 2nd Northern War, known in Poland as ‘The Deluge’. The Commonwealth was already weakened by fighting on two front; In the Ukraine it was attempting to suppress a war of independence whilst in the east Russian forces were overrunning Lithuania and Belarus. By superior tactical use of infantry and artillery, within the space of 4 months Karl X Gustav had overrun the whole of the area of present day Poland and forced the Polish King, Jan II Casmir, to flee the Country. All but a handful of the major stronghold gave up with just token resistance, the notable exceptions being Gdansk, Przemysl, Zamosc and Czestochowa. Two years later 'having conquered the Country but not the people' Karl X Gustav recieved information that the Danes had declared war on Sweden. Leaving some of his forces to hold various strongholds in Poland Karl X Gustav took 6000 of his most seasoned troops and marched to Denmark. This engravings comes from the book: De Rebus a Carolo Gustavo Sueciae Rege Gestis Commentariorum Libri Septem elegantissimis Tabulis Aeneis exornati (Sieben Bucher von denen Thaten Carl Gustavs Konigs in Schweden) Author: Pufendorf. S. Von, Published: Nuremberg, Christoph Riegel Date: 1696 The book is an account of the life and deeds of Charles Gustav during his reign as King of Sweden from 1654 to 1660. Engraver: ? Drawn by: Dahlbergh. Erik von, Condition: Very good ready for framing. Color: Uncoloured Size (h x w) 16.5" x 14" or 35 x 41.5 cm (approx. sheet size) Technique: Copper plate Scarce Samuel Pufendorf (1632-94): A German jurist and historian, he is especially noted as an early theorist of international law. In his later years, he served as royal historiographer at Stockholm and Berlin. Erik Dahlbergh (1625-1703): A Swedish field marshal, military engineer and cartographer, Count Dahlbergh was the author of a number of topographical works including the maps and plans in a famous account of the military exploits of the Swedish King, Charles X Gustav by Samuel Pufendorf. From July 1656 he served with the Swedish forces as military engineer and his engravings are that much more valuable in that they were made as an 'eyewitness'. The engravings are scarce and have great historic as well as artistic value showing as they do plans and elevations of towns & castles as well as the costumes of the period.

Anna Althea Hills California Impressionist view of Laguna Beach sunset oil on canvas c. 1925. A beautiful plein air painting by this highly regarded California artist. Oil on canvas signed lower left measuring 10x14 inches framed in a hand carved and 24k gold leaf quality frame overall size 16x20 inches. Provenance; From the estate of Anna Hills stamped on reverse stretcher with the estate stamp and catalogue number in addition attached is an accompanying letter from the Robert Beck Gallery as to the provenance of this painting. The condition is excellent the painting has been relined and cleaned and is in fine condition. A quality investment piece of California art. An Anna Hills 10x14 painting of Laguna sold for $23,000 at John Moran auction on 6/21/05.

Biography

Anna Althea Hills was born January 28, 1882 in Ravenna, Ohio. She studied at the Chicago Art Institute; Cooper Union Art School in New York City; she worked with Arthur Dow (1857-1922) and later studied at the Academie Julian in Paris. While in Europe she studied with John Noble Barlow (1861-1917). In 1912 she moved to Laguna Beach, California becoming a leading member of the Laguna Beach art community. She was an active member of the California Art Club, held a membership at the Washington Watercolor Club and served at the Laguna Beach Art Association as president from 1922 to 1925 and from 1927 to 1930. Hills was highly regarded as an art teacher and encouraged the study of the visual arts at the local public schools. Captivated and inspired by her new surroundings, she created atmospheric impressionist landscapes showing a reverence and appreciation of nature. The subjects of her plein-air landscapes varied from treescapes, the Laguna Beach coastline, Mission San Juan Capistrano, the vast Southern California and Arizona deserts, Santa Ana Canyon, arroyos and interior scenes. Hills won the Bronze Medal at the Panama-California Exposition, San Diego in 1915; the Bronze Medal at the California State Fair, 1919; and the Landscape Prize at the Laguna Beach Art Association, 1922, 1923. She died at the early age of forty-eight on June 13, 1930 in Laguna Beach, California.

A beautiful antique carved stone statue of a Hindu deity 10 - 11th century. Of a red sandstone measuring approx. 18.5 inches tall. A fine example would be a nice addition to any collection.

A beautiful Will Sparks original oil on canvas signed lower left provenance Karges Gallery Carmel Ca. The scene depicting adobes along a river in the evening. Measuring 16 x 24 in good condition some age craquelure.

Biography

Painter, etcher, and muralist, Will Sparks became one of California's premier artists, known for his mission and nocturnal adobe scenes. He was highly prolific, completing about three-thousand oil paintings. He was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and showed art talent as a youngster, selling his first painting when he was age twelve. He became a doctor, but his love of art prevailed. He attended the St. Louis School of Fine Arts and then went to New York and then Paris to the Academies Julian and Colarossi where he studied with Gerome, Harpignies, and Bouguereau. In Paris he earned money as an assistant to biologist Louis Pasteur for whom he made anatomical drawings. He was also much influenced by the Barbizon painters and Cezanne. He returned to St. Louis and in 1886 exhibited in the St. Louis Expo where he met Mark Twain whose stories of California inspired him to head West. He stayed briefly in Cincinnati and Denver and then California, where he did newspaper illustrations in Stockton and Fresno. In 1891, he settled in San Francisco, establishing a studio at 163 Sutter Street. He combined illustration work and writing for the San Francisco Evening Call with easel painting including all of the California missions. He was a member of the Bohemian Club, a free-spirited, fun loving group that lived "hand-to-mouth" for their art. He also painted in Arizona, and a painting Tucson was done in 1894. In 1904, he joined the faculty of the University of California, doing anatomy drawings for medical classes, and in 1907, he was a founder of the Del Monte Art Gallery. He died in San Francisco on March 30, 1937. His paintings are in the collections of the Huntington Library in San Marino and the Crocker Museum in Sacramento. Source: Edan Hughes,

A fine American Philadelphia tiger maple low boy table. A beautiful piece with carved shells on all four knees highly figured sides and drawers. With original sales receipt from 1947 measuring Approx. 18 x 29 x 29.5 high. A museum quality piece

Exquisite Japanese scalloped rim bowl finely decorated with scenes of demons and dragons artist signed in excellent condition no chips or cracks or restorations a fine example of Japanese Satsuma wear. Measuring 7 x 3.5 inches approx.

August Ludecke-Cleve (1868-1957): A beautiful antique German impressionist Landscape of cows in a meadow with a view through the trees. Bold brush work and bright colors. This is a very good and large example of this artists work. Measuring approx. 32 x 43 inches in excellent condition. Provenance: Stanford Museum Sale. Artist Biography: August Ludecke-Cleve first studied at the Art Academy in Dusseldorf then at the Munich Academy. Before the second world war (his studio was bombed) he had exhibitions in Dusseldorf. Ludecke-Cleve was better known for his landscape paintings before the war but from the 1930's onwards cows and tulips became his trade mark.

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 example with delicate sliver wire enclosure flower designs on a foil background. Meiji period c.1900 in excellent condition measuring 4.5 inches tall.

Pair of Beautiful 19th century French Bronze busts of young women. Finely detailed castings mounted on dark stone bases measuring overall approx. 10 inches 27 cm. tall in excellent condition. Some minor wear and chips to the base on one. Truly a wonderful pair would be a great decorative addition to any interior design.

Original oil Marko Stupar modernist portrait of a woman colorful beautiful painting measuring 11 x 14 framed in a beautiful quality gallery frame overall size 14 x 16 a quality painting would enhance any collection.

Biography

Born in 1936 in Yugoslavia, Stupar chose France as his permanent home in 1964 after completing his studies at the Beaux-Arts of Belgrade. Today we find that the art of Marko Stupar is totally integrated into the School of Paris. Although his work continues to be very personal, the graphic nature of his Slavic background is now uniquely combined with the subtlety found in Bonnard.Stupar has participated in juried exhibitions since 1966 when he won the Silver Medal at the Center of Diffusion of the Cote-d’Azur. He regularly participates in the Salon d’Automne, the Salon National des Beaux-Arts, the Salon des Artistes Français, and the Salon Comparaison. Among his other honors, Stupar has won both the Silver and Gold medals of the prestigious Salon des Artistes Français. One-man exhibitions of Stupar’s work have been held in cities all over the world including Paris, Geneva, Lyon, Osaka, Dusseldorf, Strasbourg, Zagreb, Annecy, Havre, New York, Philadelphia, Dallas, and Houston.

A fine Period Irish Chippendale tilt top tea table 18th century with fine hand carved edge and acanthus leaf knee and feet. Beautiful Honduras mahogany with book matched grain solid wood top. Measuring 35 inches in diameter and 28.5 tall. A fine example of Georgian period furniture.

A fine original watercolor by James David Smillie of a street view in Nice France signed lower right and titled and dated Nice Feb. 1893 lower left. On the reverse is an exhibit label from a exhibit at the American Watercolor Society. A fine example of this important American Artist. Measuring approx 8 x 12 image and framed in a fine gold leafed period frame overall 16 x 20. Provenance Hirschel Adler Gallery New York

Biography

A native of New York and the son of an engraver, James David Smillie earned his early reputation for his etching skills but later for watercolor landscapes. He began etching at age 8, learning from his father, James Smillie (1807-1885). At age 14, he did a set of plates illustrating John Milton's epic poem, Paradise Lost. He had a job as a bank note engraver, and then he and his father had a business, collaborating as engravers with a specialty of bank-notes. They also did the engravings for the 1857 Mexican Boundary Survey Report. James David Smillie helped organize the New York Etching Club, and he was the U.S. representative to supply examples of American etchers' work to the Painters-Etchers Society of London. Although he continued working with etching, drypoint, aquatint and lithography, in 1865, he began doing landscape painting and was especially interested in mountain scenery. Smillie traveled in California in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, in Colorado in the Rocky Mountains, and in the eastern United States in the Catskills and Adirondacks. From these trips he did illustrations that were published in 1872 in the magazine Picturesque America. In 1881, Smillie got married, and the couple had two sons. By 1884, he was in France, and spent much time there doing prints of landscapes, figures, portraits and cityscapes. Between 1888 and 1896, he produced a set of drypoint floral still-life prints. James David Smillie founded the American Watercolor Society and served as president and treasurer. He also taught classes at the National Academy of Design in 1868 and from 1894 to 1903.

Chinese crackle glazed robins egg blue vase 19th century. A beautiful tall slender form with long neck in excellent condition a minor chip on the bottom under the foot. Measuring approx. 14 inches tall a fine example.