Catalog: Sold Items (421)

A fine antique Chinese rosewood jewelry box with white jade inlayed plaques. Opens to a group of silk lined drawers for jewelry. Measuring approx. 12.5 x 8 x 6 inches. In very good antique condition.

Julian Walbridge Rix early California landscape oil on wood panel scene of Marin county landscape looking toward Mt. Tamalpias and San Francisco bay. Measuring approx. 10.5 in. by 13 in. framed in a ornate gilt frame 18 in. by 20 in. overall. A fine example of this renowned artists work.

biography

Known for poetic landscapes, often sunset, illuminated by atmospheric light, Julian Walbridge Rix was early in his career an active painter in California and then on the East Coast. He was born in Peacham, Vermont on December 30, 1850 and moved with his family to San Francisco in 1853. Because of his mother's death, he went back to Peacham four years later to live with his grandmother and graduating from Peacham Academy in 1868. He returned to San Francisco where he was apprenticed to a trading firm and later worked in a paint store painting signs and doing decorative work. Primarily self-taught, he was briefly a pupil of Virgil Williams at the School of Design. He became close friends with Amédée Joullin and Jules Tavernier, and when the latter established an art colony in Monterey in 1876, Rix was one of the "Bohemians" who followed him there. His studio in Monterey was in the French Hotel, but in 1879 he returned to San Francisco and shared a studio with Tavernier at 729 Montgomery Street. The art market in San Francisco during this period was not a healthy one which prompted Rix to move to Paterson, New Jersey in 1880 and subsequently establish a studio in New York City. This milieu was what he seemed to need to find artistic success. His work was exhibited at the National Academy of Design during the 1880s. He studied art briefly in Europe during 1889 and upon his return, he found that his watercolor and oil paintings were in great demand in the East. He maintained an active interest and participation in the San Francisco art scene and in 1883 sent back 200 paintings for a successful solo show. In 1888 his illustrations appeared in "Picturesque California." Rix returned to California for several months in 1901 and painted the valleys and mountains near Monterey and Santa Barbara. A handsome man with a New England accent and blond sideburns, he never married and was called the Adonis of the profession. Following a kidney operation, Rix died in New York City on November 24, 1903 and was buried in the cemetery plot of a patron-friend in Paterson, New Jersey. Source: "Artists in California, 1786 to 1940" by Edan Milton Hughes

A beautiful African carved ivory figure of a seated female and child west Africa with beautiful patina measuring approx. 12.5 inches in length. A fine investment quality antique.

A W Best Navajo indian camp near bear mt. Arizona oil on canvas signed lower right measuring 8x10 inches framed in a hand carved 24k gold leaf frame approx. 16 x 18 overall. In excellent condition.

biography

Arthur William BEST 
1859 - 1935 Arthur William Best was born in Mount Pleasant, Canada on July 17, 1859. He and his brother Harry attended public school in Mount Pleasant and were members of a small band. Arthur played the cornet; Harry, the violin. When the band broke up in Oregon, the brothers learned to paint before moving to San Francisco in 1895. Arthur and his wife Alice established the Best Art School at 1625 California Street and a residence at 309 Broderick. He was a staff artist for the San Francisco Examiner (1904-06). Arthur was commissioned by Southern Pacific Railroad to paint pictures of the Southwest and Mexico for travel and tourist publicity in 1905. Many of his oils and watercolors were destroyed by the earthquake and fire of 1906. His landscapes include depictions of the Arizona desert, Grand Canyon and the Sierra Nevada. He died in Oakland on January 26, 1935. Member: San Francisco Art Ass'n; Berkeley League of Fine Arts; Bohemian Club. Exhibited: Oregon State Fair, 1891 (first prize); Mark Hopkins Art Institute, 1898, 1904; San Francisco Art Ass'n, 1904-16; San Francisco Artists Society, 1905; Berkeley Art Ass'n, 1908; California State Fairs (awards); Alaska-Yukon Expo (Seattle), 1909 (bronze medal); Del Monte Art Gallery, 1910, 1912; Sorosis Club, 1913. Works held: Oakland Museum; Phoenix Museum; University of Oregon; Charles M. Russell Gallery (Great Falls, MT); Santa Fe Railroad.

A beautiful large Japanese Imari porcelain center bowl or platter very large size measuring approx. 17 inches long. Hand painted underglaze in traditional Imari color and incredible design motif circa 1900 . In very good condition one minor firing flaw. A fine addition to any collection.

A original oil painting of the The Copenhagen (København) was a Danish sailtraining vessel rigged as a five-masted steel auxiliary barque(1921–1929). It was, according to Alan Villiers, the largest and finest sailing vessel in the world at the time it vanished. Oil on canvas signed lower right indistinctly and titled measuring 17 X 25 image framed size approx. 23 X 31. In good antique condition some age cracking. A nice historical decorative painting.

An exquisite Chinese carved Ivory figure of a beautiful maiden. Hand carved from one ivory tusk artist signed on the bottom measuring Approximately 14 inches tall in excellent condition.

William Keith California Landscap at evening sunset through California Oaks with cows at a distant watering hole. A dramatic moody classic Keith painting oil on canvas signed lower right William Keith and lower left SF for San Francisco. Measuring 18x14 inches framed in a modern gold leaf gallery frame 26x32 inches overall. A fine example of this important early California and American painter such an influential artist and teacher he is sometimes referred to the Dean of California Artists. Works by Keith have sold for as much as $121,000 at auction.

Artist Biography.

Brought to New York City in 1850, William Keith was apprenticed to a wood engraver in 1856 working for "Harper’s" magazine. In 1858 (or 1859) he visited California for "Harper’s" and then after a trip to Great Britain, settled in California as an engraver in 1862. He began exhibiting paintings in 1864 in San Francisco where he opened his studio, after having been taught painting by his wife. The Northern Pacific Railroad commissioned him to do landscape paintings along its route about 1868. In 1869-70 he studied in Dusseldorf, Germany; in 1871-72, he shared a studio in Boston with William Hahn; and in 1872, he returned to California. A nature lover, he found there was “scarcely a mountain in three-fourths of California where he had not kept vigil for days as a time, studying every detail of color, flower, rock, forge, shadow, and sunshine.” Keith became Thomas Hill’s rival in monumental landscapes, saying, “I’d be satisfied if I could reach the power and success of Tom Hill.” When George Inness visited California in 1890, he worked in Keith’s studio for many weeks, and they made sketching trips together. The result for Keith was an influenced style reflecting the subjective rather than the spectacular. His "Majesty of the Oaks" painting sold at auction in New York City in 1903 for $2,300., and about the same time "Glory of the Heaven" sold at auction in San Francisco for $12,000. Of medium height with unruly curly hair, Keith had his studio next to the live oaks on the Berkeley campus where it was the center of the university-oriented California culture. The 1906 earthquake and fire destroyed 2,000 of Keith’s works.

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

A fine antique Chinese export porcelain bowl circa from the late 18th to early 19th century. Featuring Hand painted decorations of Mandarin figures with a floral sprig in the center of the bowl. In excellent condition with no chips or cracks etc. measuring approx. 9 inches in diameter and 4 inches tall or 23 x 10 cm. A fine example would be a nice addition to any collection.

Antique carved wood Buddha Burma circa 1850. Finely carved image of the Buddha seated on a lotus made from a hardwood with a rich deep brown patina. Measuring approx. 10 inches tall in excellent condition. This fine example would make a nice decorative and inspirational piece.

Fine porcelain large bowl or charger scalloped rim form with beautiful transfer ware design of cherry blossoms. Circa 1900 in excellent condition some minor firing flaws to the underside rim, measuring approx. 12 1/4 inches in diameter and 2 inches deep. A beautiful decorative piece would make a nice addition to any interior.

A fine antique Japanese Ivory Netsuke of a Buddha and a Shishi or Foo lion by his side. Meiji era circa 1890 in very nice condition some wear and a very nice patina. Measuring 4 centimeters or 1 3/4 inches tall. A very fine example.

Chinese porcelain vase hand painted with the Three Sages of Happiness design motif. Tong Zhi period 1862-1874 in excellent condition measuring approx. 9 inches tall comes in a fitted silk lined box.

An antique 19th century oil painting on tin depicting a European new world figure and a Native American Indian girl most likely John Smith and Pocahontas. Beautifully painted in excellent condition some age cracking and minor rubs on the extreme edges where frame would cover. Measuring approx. 10x8.5 inches a fine early American painting.

Antique Tibetan painted box made of wood covered with yak leather and exquisitely painted and decorated with traditional Tibetan design elements in gilt lacquer. Measuring approx. 16x10x8 inches in excellent antique condition a fine decorative accent piece.

Gorham Sterling silver art nouveau floral design bowl elaborate monogrammed initials GER in center marked sterling with Gorham mark and number. In excellent condition some minor scratches measuring approx. 5.5 inches by 1.5 inches.

English rosewood traveling secretary circa 1850. These pieces were custom made for British Officers stationed in India and were brought home and have been widely collected. This is a particularly interesting example with a carved top brass banding and a exotic interior with place for correspondence and storage for writing utensils etc. It is mounted to a quality rosewood stand making it a nice side or lamp table. In good antique condition a repaired age crack due to shrinkage of the wood on the top and some minor wear.

Japanese Imari porcelain Tea Caddy or ginger jar Meiji period circa 1900. Beautifully hand painted in traditional Imari design and colors. Measuring approx. 8 inches tall in excellent condition no chips or cracks or repairs. Measuring approx. 8 inches tall.

German faience stein or tankard 18th century with hand painted Chinoisorie decoration in blue on a white body tin glaze. Mounted with a pewter lid and thumb lift engraved with initals and dated 1795. An exquisite example measuring 11 1/4 inches tall and 4 1/4 in diameter. In excellent antique condition one minor repaired chip on the bottom near base( see photo). A rare and fine addition to any collection.

Fine antique portrait of a Thoroughbred race horse at the race track. Oil on canvas signed lower left Hillyard and dated 1894. Hillyard is a listed artist known for animal subjects. Measuring approx. 20x24 inches framed size 26x30 inches in excellent condition two very minor professional repairs to the canvas and minor stretcher lines showing. A beautiful antique equestrian painting would be a nice addition to any interior.

Chinese Imperial yellow porcelain censer with frogs on lid and elephant handles. The pierced lid setting on a rounded form bowl on tripod legs impressed mark Daoguang period 1821-1850. In excellent condition no damage a fine addition to any collection.

A fine Pennsylvania Dutch painted document box belonging to Susanna Lengweiler dated 1839. All original paint and lock and key this box is in excellent condition measuring 11.5 x 8 x 4.5 inches. A very fine and rare example of Americana.

Antique sterling silver overlay art nouveau perfume bottle. A beautiful example measuring approx. 4 inches tall in excellent condition some minor scratches to sliver clear glass nice heavy overlay. A fine addition to any collection.

Mettlach stein number 1786, the St. Florian stein, is one of the most beautiful and skillfully crafted, etched and glazed steins produced by Villeroy & Boch during its "Golden Era", with artistry attributed to Otto Hupp. In excellent condition no damage or repairs

A fine antique ivory Japanese Netsuke of a Shishi dog or Lion. Beautifully carved with a great patina. measuring approx. 4 x 4 centimeters or 1 3/4 inches. A nice addition to any collection.

A beautiful Chinese export porcelain famille rose medallion large center bowl circa 1900. The bowl hand painted with traditional rose medallion motif of floral and butterfly designs plus mandarin figures and court scenes. Measuring 12 inches by 4 inches deep in excellent condition one minor restored flea bite to rim and some wear to enamel. A fine example.

His paintings can be found in: The National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York The Louvre, Paris Constant Troyon began his career as a porcelain painter. By the late 1830s he turned his attention to landscape painting, and his first Salon entries were views of Saint Cloud and Sevres, near the state porcelain works. These early paintings were characterized by bright colors based on his experience working with porcelain glazes In 1843, Troyon became friends with Theodore Rousseau and Jules Dupre, and began to frequent Fontainebleau, which would provide him with a new subject for his painting. In 1846, he was awarded a first-class medal at the Salon. The turning point in Troyon's career was in 1847 when he visited the Lowlands. Here he fell under the influence of the two great 17th century Dutch animal painters' Albert Cuyp and Paulus Potter. When he returned to France he concentrated on animal painting and the Salon of 1849 saw his first entry devoted to an animal subject. From this point on he was a great success, both critically and financially, and his influence was felt in France, the Lowlands and Germany. Troyon became the first Barbizon artist to win overall acceptance. Exhibitions of his works were held in London, Manchester, Brussels, Vienna, Antwerp and The Hague. A perfect balance of color, line and composition characterizes his paintings of animals, rooted in their natural surroundings. Whether painting a cow in a pasture or a pointer in a field, animal and nature coexist in total harmony when they are recorded by Troyon's brush. When Troyon died in 1865, his reputation as one of the greatest animal painters of the 19th century was firmly established.

A beautiful and rare Tiffany Studios etched bronze and art glass box with a butterfly and rare early chrysanthemum or carnation pattern. Signed Tiffany Studios New York measuring 8 inches square. In excellent condition great patina.

A fine vintage west African carved ivory portrait of a young woman. Beautiful grain ivory signed Myoke measuring approximately 8 inches tall.

An exquisite antique Burmese Mandalay style gilt bronze Buddha c. 18th century. measuring approx. 13 inches or 33 cm. tall . A fine example would in good antique condition some losses and wear.

A original pastel of a Mexican woman by Rodolfo Nieto on heavy paper measuring approx. 12 x 16 inches signed and dated lower right 1965.

Biography

Rodolfo Nieto (b. Oaxaca, July 13, 1936 - d. Mexico City, June 24, 1985) was a Mexican painter of the Oaxacan School (apprenticed under Diego Rivera, later served Rivera as an assistant. Nieto attended the Escuela Nacional de Pintura, Escultura y Grabado "La Esmeralda", Mexico City, where he studied with Carlos Orozco Romero. Desiring to broaden his artistic influences, Nieto moved to Paris in the early 1960s. While in Paris, Nieto won the Biennale de Paris Prize for painting in 1963[1]. He again won the Biennale de Paris Prize for painting in 1968. In 1970 he won the Bienal of Caen, and Bienal de Menton. He returned to Mexico in 1970. In Europe Nieto had gained fame, and recognition in the art world, but in Mexico his art was rejected. He met his wife, Nancy Nieto, a painter in her own right, at the grand opening of David Alfaro Siqueiros Polyforum in Mexico City. One of the last things he told Nancy was “Keep my paintings. Someday they will be very valuable

Green Jade carved bat brooch or pin China circa 1900 with a silver filigree backing and pin mount. A fine quality translucent jade the brooch in excellent condition measures approx. 3 3/4 in. or 10 cm. wide. This jade brooch would make a fine addition to any jewelry collection.

An original oil painting on canvas still life of peaches and grapes signed lower right a beautiful painting in good condition. Thomas Nash painter. Nash appears to have been an itinerant artist. He was in southern California in 1879 when he painted a series of Kern River scenes. From there, he traveled north to Oregon where he did several views of the Columbia River. By 1880 he was sketching around the Colorado River in the Calico Mountain region. In 1894 he painted scenes of Michigan, and during the years 1903-13 he painted up and down the California coast. Nash's few extant works are from the brush of an accomplished painter.

An original woodblock print signed lower left and titled on mount "Caballo printed on Japan paper. This is a very rare graphic work by this important Mexican Modernist woman artist. Her auction records for painting are six figures. This print is In good condition paper is cut unevenly image size 5 x 7 inches slight light staining comes with archaival 16 x 20 matte. Biography María Izquierdo (October 30, 1902, San Juan de los Lagos – December 2, 1955, Mexico City) was a Mexican painter. She was born María Cenobia Izquierdo Gutiérrez in San Juan de los Lagos in the state of Jalisco;. After her father died, when she was five years old, she lived with her grandparents and aunt afterward in small towns of Aguascalientes, Torreón, and Saltillo. Both her grandma and aunt were devoted Catholics and much of her upbringing revolved around daily Catholic traditions. At age fourteen she had an arranged marriage to a senior army officer, Colonel Cándido Posadas, and bore three children by the time she was 17 years old. In 1920 her and her family moved to Mexico City from San Juan de los Lagos where she first began to develop into a professional artist. Always interested in art, Iqzuierdo spent much of her time alone teaching herself new art techniques. When she and her family moved to Mexico City in the 1920s, she acted on her passion and left Cándido Posadas. Today María Izquierdo is known for being the first Mexican female to have her artwork exhibited in the United States. She committed both her life and her career to painting art that displayed her Mexican roots and held her own amongst her famous Mexican male artist friends and contemporaries Diego Rivera, Jose Orozco, and David Siquerios.In December 1955 she died from a stroke in Mexico City.

Japanese Fukagawa Imari porcelain floral vase signed on bottom. A beautifully hand painted and colorful large example measuring approx. 12.5 inches by 9 1/4 inches wide in excellent condition no damage.