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.)

c1800 Framed Geisha Woodblock by Toyokuni

Utagawa Toyokuni I (1769-1825, Edo). Reffered to as the “I” to distinguish from the school of followers who adopted his name.  Toyokuni was well known for his woodblocks on washi paper of geishas and kabuki actors.  This geisha measures the typical 9 3/4″ x 14 3/4″, and is matted with 8-ply wheat rag mat and framed in a gold leaf lily composition frame to approximately 21″ x 25″.  Gorgeous piece, signed in kanji on the right.  Please see photos.

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.

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.