ROOFTOP COMET GAZING
Pennsylvania Circa 1858
Oil On Panel
This picture depicts a man and woman gazing at the Comet Donati. First spotted in May, the comet, with its spectacular tripletail, dominated the night sky by October of 1858. The couple is depicted standing atop a carefully rendered red brick building with green steeple having date of 1858; yellow doors and white trim. The evening breeze has carried away the woman's bonnet...she points at the flying hat, while her firefighter companion points to what for him is the main attraction of the evening. We hypothesize that the homeowner is concerned that the comet, or at the very least its debris, may crash into the building and therefore concerned citizens gathered at the site to stave off potential disaster. Some pumped water into buckets, as depicted in the lower left, while others took positions on the roof.
This whimsical picture was painted on the inside lid of a toolbox...the artist, a Mr. Harlan, a carpenter, (Notice attention to architectural detail.) was born and raised in Pennsylvania eventually settling at Richmond, Iowa circa 1870.
The box remained at the family homestead until it was sold in 1979...Harlan Farm Estate auction. The toolbox was purchased by a Harlan ancestor who stored it for many years not realizing that the inner lid was painted...after discovering the picture she sold the tool box to a dealer who professionally mounted the painting within the appropriate green painted period frame. The provenance compiled by interviews with ancestors; the estate executor and the man who framed the work. The varnish has darkened, otherwise the painting is in excellent condition. (Overall 44.5 x 28 ¼ inches; sight size 38 x 21.5 inches.)
Price: $31,500
706-4
Scene of the Delaware
By Elisha Taylor Baker, late 19th century
Oil on Board, former collector's label on reverse, original decorated frame
Dimensions: 15.75 by 13-inch frame, 10.75 by 8-inch sight-size.
Price: $1,950
767-25
Lady With Red Book
Attributed to JA Davis
Watercolor and pencil
Circa 1840's - SOLD
As depicted, the lady wears and necklace and pin; she holds a red and yellow book. The work has been lightly cleaned and archival mounted. (Frame: 7.25 x 8.5 inches; view: 4.5 x 5.75 inches.)
448-3 - SOLD
Man Seated In Windsor Chair
Jane Anthony Davis (1821-1855) - SOLD
Watercolor on paper
(Frame: 9.25 x 7.75 inches; view: 5.25 x 7 inches.)
608-2 - SOLD
Portrait Of Handsome Gentleman
Anonymous
Circa 1810
The subject with brunette hair and almond shaped blue eyes has a lovely complexion and wears a high white collar, ruffled shirt, cravat; white vest with yellow stripes, dark coat with brass buttons. The canvas was trimmed on tack-edge, remounted and stretched on period stretcher; mounted within period carved and gilt frame. The work remains in very good condition with only minor scattered touches. (Frame: 24.25 x 30.75 inches; view: 18.5 x 23.5 inches.)
Price: $2,150
549-11
Miniature Portrait of a Gentleman
Watercolor On Paper
American School
Circa 1800-1810
A profile portrait of an agreeable gentleman wearing a nicely rendered neoclassical hairdo; yellow vest with brown stripes and a high collared white shirt with ruffles. The work is mounted within a gilt and gesso period frame whose gold has been refreshed; eglomise border on glass with losses; some mildew and light staining on paper. (Framed: 8-inches x 6 ½-inches framed, 4 ¾-inches x 3 ½-inches view.)
Price: $1,425
549-8
Basket Of Fruit With Bird And Butterfly
Watercolor on cotton velvet
Artist Unidentified
American
Circa 1825
The artist's fanciful style creates a lifelike composition. The overflowing basket floats above the table-matt with its bounty of grapes, foliage and flowing tendrils mixed with other fruits and berries...some exotic such as the banana.
The darkened edges and bold colors create a three-dimensional illusion of depth. Notice the improbable angle in which the bird clutching a branch is positioned. The work is mounted within a period gilt frame that measures 21 by 19.5-inches.
Price: $4,575
573-5
Double Silhouette of Man and Woman with Graphite Details
19th Century
Dimensions: 6.75 by 3.75-inch sight size; add 1-inch for frame.
Price: $585
336-32
Sandpaper Drawing
West Point, New York
Dimensions: 24 by 19-inch frame, 19.5 by 14.5-inch view area.
Price: $725
191-187
Federal Wall Mirror
Tiger Maple Frame
Circa 1780-1820
Tiger maple Federal Period wall mirror with original glass; ogee with step down compound molded frame; original backboard; very good, mirror shows age.
(27 ½-inches by 21 ¼-inches, 20-inches by 13 ¾-inches view.)
Price: $1,100
334-41
Watercolor Of Prancing Horse
Probably Pennsylvania...perhaps a reward of merit
Nineteenth Century
Anonymous
This chestnut-red colored horse with white stockings, black tack and a lively eye is shown standing on a brick red floor with white crosshatching. The artist trimmed the outside edges in yellow with fine black border. The frame with beaded liner was long ago over-painted black...whitish yellow paint is seen through the thinning black paint.
(Frame: 6.25 by 8.25-inches; view: 4 by 6-inches.)
Price: $1,450
272-2
Portrait of a Mother and Infant
Oil on Canvas
Circa 1850
Portrait of a young mother seated in an upholstered chair, holding her infant daughter, the mother wears a black dress with a lace collar and a pink ribbon, her daughter wears a white baptismal dress with pink bows on the sleeves and holds a rattle, to their left is the trunk of a tree. Relined, cracking but stable.
(34-inches by 29-inches framed, view area 29.5-inches by 24.5-inches.)
Price: $4,650
294-2
Excellent
Sixth Plate Daguerreotype
Girl, about 11-years old and her dog...
A daguerreotype of a girl in an off the shoulder polka dot dress holding a small terrier dog in her lap; she wears a ring with a stone on the middle finger of her right hand. Some very light spots along edge of mat-dag in excellent condition. The photograph is mounted in a stamped leather case with bird and grape central motif; case shows some wear but overall very good condition.
Price: $1,850
232-96
Pastel Portrait
George Washington
Clearly based upon the Gilbert Stuart "Athenaeum" portrait of Washington, this well done pastel has a muted blue-gray background and subtle flesh tones, probably early to mid-19th century. Very good condition. Approximately 28 ½-inches x 22-inches framed, view area approximately 18 ¾-inches x 25-inches.
Price: $2,500
287-25
"Robber Barons"...with Captive Uncle Sam,
Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller, Cornelius Vanderbilt,
John W. Gates, Henry Clay Frick, Charles Schwab,
and J. P. Morgan.
Watercolor and Gouache
By James Montgomery Flagg
Gouache half tone on illustration board of Uncle Sam tied to a tree and being humiliated by several men in Western garb. The men are well known late 19th - early 20th century business tycoons and the artist literally portrayed them as robbers. Among the figures are Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller, Cornelius Vanderbilt, John W. Gates, Henry Clay Frick, Charles Schwab, and J. P. Morgan. The illustration is lightly signed James Montgomery Flagg in the lower right corner. In an ornate gilt frame. There are a few specks of paint loss and in painting in the upper right corner and toning to the board, otherwise in very good to excellent condition. Approximately 41-inches x 29-inches framed, view area approximately 35 ½-inches x 23 ½-inches.
Price: $18,500
232-9
Queen Anne Looking Glass
Probably American
Circa 1740-1750
This mahogany and mahogany veneer on white pine example has a lovely carved and applied ogee molding surrounding the two-piece beveled glasses. There are no repairs to the tall crest or returns; glue blocks are intact and prevented warping and cracking so often encounter. In generally excellent condition with the top glass possibly re-silvered; a few small sections of molding have been refreshed; Nice old patina. (31.5 by 13.75-inches.)
Price: $3,600
270-27
Portrait of a Woman with a Red Necklace
Attributed to Peter Lacrient
Watercolor and pencil on paper, 5 5/8 by 3 7/8-inches
Probably New York State
Early 19th Century
Portrait of a woman wearing a red necklace and an elaborate collar and bonnet. Her face and necklace are in opaque watercolor with the rest of the portrait in pencil. There is a faint pencil signature beneath her. The portrait is in a 5 5/8-inch x 3 7/8-inch tombstone shaped mahogany veneer frame that we believe to be original. Nothing is known about the artist but most, if not all, examples of his work have been found in the state of New York.
Price: $2,100
492-26
Watercolor Theorem
Measures 20.75 by 23.5-inches.
Price: $2,800
198-7
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