c1920′s Arts & Crafts Jules Michelet Witch Sorciere

This is a beautiful (most undoubtedly french) illustration that appears to be arts and crafts era of the Sorceress of Michelet’s La Sorciere.  The book was first published in 1862 and is a romantic version of witchs’ history and delves a bit into witchcraft/satanism.  Important book, important image.  This one has a stylized R as a signature, I at first thought Rackham but cant’ make this fit into his style – right time, right country though.  Measures 5 1/2″ x 10 1/2″ with a missing left corner and a tear to the top margin, entirely able to be matted out when framed.  No image is lost.

 

1909 Rare Antique School of Taxidermy Diploma License

Just fantastic, I’ve never seen one before – for all of you collecting antique taxidermy, here’s a killer companion piece. Diplmoma issued Dec 10, 1909 in Omaha Nebraska.  In the far left corner is a gold seal that reads “The Northwestern School / Corporate Seal of Taxidermy” and a 1″ tall photo of the graduate attached to the diploma.  Buck engraving at the center with “School of Taxidermy: Taxidermy Taught in all its Branches” motto atop. Incredible condition, largely clean and without flakes/cracks/or loss – just a few small stains, see photo.  Frame is in perfect shape, never taken apart (the backing paper has been taped – nothing else).  Measures 15.5 x 18.5″.  Even without a taxidermy collection, this is perfect Victorian goth or steampunk decor – scarce.

 

c1940s Earl Moran Pin Up Blotter Yard Long Collage

Twenty three pin up blotters, matchbook covers and greeting card fronts – all but one by Earl Moran, collaged together in a yard long frame sometime contemporary to the pieces themselves.  Just a killer piece, you never see these.  Original back has been secured with a few modern nails at one corner, untouched otherwise.  Measures 8×39″.

 

1801-4 Nicolas Marechal / Simon Miger La Menagerie du Museum National d’ Histoire Naturelle Viverra Civetta (African Civet) Engraving

c1800 (1801-04 La Menagerie du Museum National d’ Histoire Naturelle publications, compiled by Bernard-Germain-Étienne de La Ville-sur-Illon) of Nicolas Marechal (artist) / Simon Miger (engraver) Viverra Civetta – African Civet.  Large folio, overall sheet size is approx 15″ x 20″ – framed in oatmeal colored 8 ply rag mat (archival, museum quality) with thick Walnut Burl/gold detailing frame.  Sight size as matted is approx 11 1/2″ x 15 1/2″, overall the piece now measures 22″ x 25″.  Print is original, beautiful cotton rag paper.  Rare print from a famous volume in French Naturalism.  The condition is shown in the photos, there is a pervasive water stain at the bottom right (roughly 5″ in diamter) and a smaller waterstain in the top right margin (1 1/2″ round perhaps).  Slight crease approx 2/3 down the print and across.  The framing is archival and ready to hang (some slight imperfections in the frame – that’s why I was able to afford to use it, hugely expensive Burl moulding.)

 

Object Framed c1930 Modern Dance Tobacco Cards inc Anita Berber

Mama loves object framing, whenever I’m bored – this is what I whip up to get the creative juices flowing again.  Set of a dozen modern dance (c1930 screaming art deco) tobacco cards, made by German manufacturer Eckstein-Helpus.  The cards are tonal monochrome, and paired with the charcoal mat and chocolate frame are striking.  The coolest part is that the second card in is a rare image of Anita Berber.  Same era and every bit as high society gossip mill fodder as Mata Hari or Isadora Duncan.  Berber became one of the first women to perform nude, and could in fact be found barely clothed most of her life.  A short black bob and a mink stole, occasionally all she wore to a party.  A drunk and a cocaine addict, she lived a high speed life – muse to many a Weinmar Period artist and early filmmaker in Berlin’s Art Deco boom…before dying of Tuberculosis in 1928 at the age of 29.  Each card measures 2” x 2 ½”, the entire piece 16” x 22”.

 

Elias M. Grossman Signed Artist’s Model Etching

Signed Elias M. Grossman imp. in pencil under his signature in the plate on the right, and titled “Day Dreams – Waiting to Pose” on the left in pencil.  Shows a model that would be at home in any Winslow Homer sitting with his trench coat on and hat on the floor…snoozing inside of the artist’s study.  Classical figure sculpture and books in immediate view.  Very iconic interior portrait.

 

Old Master “Scripits” Etchings

While the term “Old Master” is used in art to signify anyone working between the 14thc to the very end of the 18thc, for our purposes here…I like to keep a nice selection of Old Master etchings in stock, because they are drop dead gorgeous, usually of a classic subject matter and for me at least impart a warmth and comfort that few other art groups can.  Because these etchings were printed, of times book plates and illustrations, they are available at an affordable price range in comparison to paintings, which the worst of are still in the thousands.  Most of what I keep in the store can be had at under a $200. price point, the smaller pieces “scripits” as I call them, are often under $100.  While there are exceptions, my Old Masters are usually 17th and 18thc and generally Flemish in origin.  Stop in to take a peek or peruse the random assortment of photos here…larger pieces are more than likely listed separately in the Old Masters section.  Think its fair to say that I’ve got the Western PA market cornered here;)

 

 

 

1935 Signed and Dated Etching Chapel Church Interior

Gorgeous church or chapel interior, with beams of light shooting through the stained glass. Makes for a nice contrast against the dark of the stone.  Signed bottom right and dated ’35 in pencil.  Numbered 100/12 in pencil bottom left margin.  J.J. Gilespie (a reputable early 20thc art dealer in the Kaufmann’s Building here in Pittsburgh) label on reverse, never opened – framing is original.

 

c1840s Hand Colored Fish Prints – Anthropomorphized

I don’t love anything more than tiny sting rays and eels that could kill you, with the faces of a child’s toy – and the first half of the 19thc is just great for this kind of anthropomorphization.  Sight on each image is approximately 6″ x 9″, matched pair of whimsical hand colored fish.  Framed archivally and to match.

 

c1840s Whaling Prints – Hand Colored

Hard to find subject matter, pure New England Americana.  Matched pair of Whale Prints with original hand color.  The split image includes a Norwhal, how cool.  Image size is approximately 6″ x 9″, framed in archival linen mats and framed in silver rope.