This is a very nice majestic oil painting by the well-known Dutch painter HW Eckhardt. In my opinion the painting is very heavily influenced by the work of Van Gogh as seen in the work of many Dutch colleagues of those days. This impressionistic work was very dirty and was cleaned of its old yellow layer of lacquer. The frame was also cleaned. On the painting we see a vase with flowers and a bowl of tomatoes. The lines in the painting are simplified and the objects are composed of many different colors. A fantastic work of art and one of the better ones in the oeuvre of this well know Dutch painter.
A classic and impressionistic painting by a great painter.
There is some confusion about the date of birth of the painter, there is a painter CW Eckhardt Christiaan Hendrik, that is born in 1886. There supposedly also was a Eckhardt sr. Research about this is still ungoing.
The frame is cleaned up as well as the painting itself. A few pieces are missing from the frame. The painting is signed in the lower left corner. The overall condition is very good.The painting measures 61 x 71 cm (with the frame)
The price of this painting is 574,95 Euro plus a 50 euro shipping fee (world-wide). This painting can be purchased directly via —> Etsy or by contacting me via the form below.
Feel free to ask me your questions about this painting, I will be happy to answer.
HW Eckhard, Dutch painter
*If you are interested in purchasing this work or if you have additional questions, please use the form below.
Lovely floral painting by the Dutch artist Lenie Rienks.
This big lovely painting of a bouquet of flowers in pastel colors was made around 1950. Lenie Rienks is a registered artist who was schooled at the Academie voor Beeldende Kunsten (Rotterdam) NL.
During her career she mainly made still lives and a few fantastic city scenes. She was born in 1914 and lived a long life until her death in 2014.
She worked in Rotterdam, as well as some small towns in the Netherlands. During her career she worked for 20 years as an art teacher.
This colorful big oil painting is in good shape, and is cleaned superficially. The painting has a small wear line around the edges, (where the edges of the old frame have been) as seen in the last picture. The original frame is replaced with a robust, light grey new beach wood frame, made of used wood. The hanging garments for the frame needs to be montaged. This hanging material will be delivered together with the painting, inclusive of a piece of wire.
The big painting with the frame measures H 88 x W 77 cm.
A stunning painting to decorate your wall!
Questions? Feel free to ask, I will be happy to answer.
Jo
This painting can be purchased for 275 euro, exclusive of shipping directly via Etsy —->HERE
Rare commemorative engravings of Marie Antoinette Louis XVI
The last (official) reigns of France.
Engraving of Marie Antoinette by Pierre François Bertonnier (1791-1858)
Both where killed during the peak of the French Revolution, ending the long tradition of French monarchs.
Marie Antoinette, who is very much appealing to the imagination, and her husband, the king of France Louis XIV, are seen here in these engravings. Years after their unfortunate beheading in 1793, Louis XVIII (brother of Louis XIV) had the remains of his brother and of his sister-in-law Marie-Antoinette, transferred and re-buried in the Basilica of St Denis, the Royal necropolis of the Kings and Queen of France.
Between 1816 and 1826, a commemorative monument, the Chapelle expiatoire, was erected at the location of the former cemetery and church.
These two engravings are dated around that time, 1816-1820. On the engravings we see portrayals of the king and queen, both flanked by the weapons of their houses. Weeping angels are next to the names of the reigns.
Both prints are made by well known French master engravers:
Marie Antoinette, was made by: Pierre François Bertonnier (1791-1858).
King Louis XVI, was made by: Pinx. François-Jacques Dequevauviller (1783-1848) Sculp. Callet
Engraving of Louis XVI by Dequevauviller
Both gravures have been cleaned to enhance the engravings and aid conservation. Both prints have foxing spots.
Used “new” black plaster frames where used to frame the engravings. These frames have some missing chips, and scratches meant to add to the charm of these old prints.
The engravings measure approx. 6 by 5 inches.
The mattes measure 15.7 by 11.8 inches.
Two very interesting and neat looking prints. decorate your wall, behind glass.
Engraving of Louis XVI by Dequevauviller
Engraving of Marie Antoinette by Bertonnier
Engraving of Marie Antoinette by Bertonnier
These engravings can be bought directly via —>Etsy, or by contacting me via the form below. The price for these two is 124,95 Euro exclusive of shipping costs.
If you are interested in purchasing this work or if you have additional questions, please use the form below. I will be happy to answer your questions.
A lovely and big framed oil crayon portrait of a young boy. He is dressed up in a cute striped play suit. This portrait is from around 1900, maybe sooner. Pastel oil crayon was a new invention in the late 19th century. Oil crayon portraits where a whole new genre in the art world and popular until the 1920’s. The artist name and date is not found on the artwork. The pastel was produced in Belgium. There are some references, but unfortunately unreadable. I kept record, perhaps the next owner can make sense of it. The pastel was removed from the old matting, the glass was cleaned and a big foxing spot was retouched. The paper was dry cleaned and some small repairs were done on the frame. This big framed artwork measures 58 x 48 cm. The frame and glass are original.
Price: 90 euro exclusive of shipping costs.
If you are interested in purchasing this work or if you have additional questions, please use the form below.
Frames are the finishing touch of an art piece but can devalue it too.
Sometimes you come across a wonderful artwork with a damaged frame. Old prints and plates usually suffer from effects that are caused by time: foxing yellowing, browning or tearing.
Here you can see an artwork with a damaged frame. At the bottom the whole top layer was scraped of. Aside from this the frame also has a few other spots where the gold paint is missing.
To me, these marks of aging are perfectly fine and acceptable, in some degree that is. I even think that nothing is more hideous than a “whiter than snow” antique print that is obviously bleached with aggressive bleaching agents. The print will look like it was printed yesterday and in some severe cases probably even looks whiter than it ever has! Some art dealers, trying to make a quick buck, might resolve to these harsh methods, but the prints suffer severely and the chlorides and other chemicals will damage the fibers of the old paper. I just stick to the motto; ” if its to white to be true, it probably is”. Same goes for teeth by the way. Most antique lovers would agree with me that some wear and tear actually adds to the charm and beauty of an antique item. After some time in the antique prints business, I have noticed that damaged frames dramatically devalue a piece of art. Frames are intended to serve as a window that you look through, they separate the artwork from the rest of the environment, so your eyes can focus on the work of art. Next to that, they also offer protection to the art piece, especially when glass is used. So when the frame is damaged, sharp visual lines are broken, and all these complimenting effects mentioned above, are compromised.
Not suitable for your wall
A close-up of the damage done.
People tend to put these artworks away, since they find that these artworks are no longer suitable to put up on the wall. Maybe they will place them somewhere in the attic or cellar, and next you know, the glass gets broken and atmospheric effects have their way with the paper, leaving the artwork aged beyond its time.
A shame, and moreover a reason to keep original frames in tact. Here is how I do minor, (cosmetic) touch-ups on a damaged, antique frame. You can find a summary of the materials I used at the bottom of this page.
Preparing the putty in a glass container and applying it with a dull bladed knife.Before letting the putty completely dry out, when it is still mold able, I will smooth the putty out with my fingers as much as possible. After this it can harden for a few hours.
After drying I will sand the layer of putty and wipe it again with ammonia. After this the first layer of gold paint is applied. First light golden paint and after this a dark layer is applied. Letting the layers dry in between and making sure the layers are thinly applied.
After the two layers of gold paint, I will use a film of black oil paint, thinned with turpentine. I rub it in with my fingers to create the patina effect.Applying black oil paint with a brush and rubbing it in, gently tapping it in with a cloth also works. Letting a thin layer dry, and then applying yet another layer until it looks good, matching the old patina.The end product. After this stage a thin layer of lacquer can be applied.
What I used for this: Fast drying wood plaster, (putty), Amsterdam acrylic gold paint, deep gold , nr. 803 and Amsterdam acrylic paint light gold, nr. 802. Brand-less black oil paint, turpentine, brushes, knife,cloth and sanding paper, (finely gritted)
“Wilde Zwijnen ” or “Wild Boars” is a rare and beautiful lithograph by Henri Verstijnen. I have not seen this one before! It is dated around 1930/1935 and the measurements are: 26 x 23 cm. The condition of this artwork is good. It will be shipped on a 30×40 cm acid free back board and a paper cover so you can store or frame the artwork as you see fit.
Price: 150 euro (exclusive additional shipping costs)
Verstijnen, Henri, Wilde Zwijnen
Click on the images for a larger view of the artwork.
Impressionistic painting by Alfred Calkoen, Australian landscape
This is a very nice oil painting by the Dutch-Australian painter Alfred C. Calkoen. Calkoen painted this Australian landscape in lovely natural colors. More works of Alfred Calkoen are known in the same impressionistic style. It was painted around 1950, and is a standing rectangle. Later in his career Calkoen emigrated to Australia with his wife Joke Hovius, who also was a professional artist. During his Australian career, his style began to change and evolved into the now called Melbourne Bayside School. His paintings became characterized by a more abstract, graphical style. Calkoen finished his study in the Netherlands in the Nieuwe Kunstschool (Amsterdam) During his career he also was an art teacher for many years.
The painting is signed in red paint in the left lower corner ‘Alfred Calkoen’.
The painting is in good condition, with a bit of paint loss on the left side that isn’t to obvious because of the style used. There is minor crackle. The painting is framed in its original 50’s frame. Calkoen’s paintings have been sold by Sotheby’s Australia as well as other auction houses around the world.
The price of this painting is 349,95 Euro plus a 50 euro shipping fee (world-wide).
This painting can be purchased directly via —> Etsy or by contacting me via the form below.
Feel free to ask me your questions about this painting, I will be happy to answer.
Impressionistic painting by Alfred Calkoen, Australian landscape
*If you are interested in purchasing this work or if you have additional questions, please use the form below.
Le Dejeune, aquatint etching by Louis Marin Bonnet.
Louis Marin Bonnet came from a family of artisans and was trained in the craft of engraving by his brother-in-law, the engraver Louis Legrand (1723-1808).
Via Legrands connections in the art world, Bonnet became the pupil of Jean-Charles François. After a year of study, Bonnet and François invented the “crayon manner”. This was a engraving technique invented to imitate the look of a chalk drawing. In 1760, Bonnet was ready to set up his own shop. During this period he perfected the crayon manner by producing prints using several different plates, each inked with a different color. These were very valuable and labor intensive processes that where simplified later on. He also experimented with aquatint-like techniques designed to reproduce wash drawing.
Bonnet was considered one of the most significant representatives of engraving in pastel manner. engravings with mythological and gallant scenes, as well as portraits and nudes. He engraved after his friend Francois Boucher, Francois-Hubert Drouais and Jean-Baptiste Huet.
Works of Louis Marin Bonnet are part of the collections of many international museums.
A neat and skilfully painted oil painting on canvas. This panoramic work has very nice, natural colors. It is signed in the right lower corner with a monogram “VR”, 1920. Verso it has an sticker of a Dutch gallery on the frame.
I haven’t been able to figure out the name of the artist. I figured the monogram could also have a letter “B” as well, in the middle. So “VBR”?
It is clear that this painting was painted by a professional artist, presumably of Dutch origin.
The frame with black stripe, really does fit the painting and it does certainly has a strong art Deco feeling to it. Comparable with famous Art Deco landscape painters from the twenties.
The painting has a dreamy, powdery style when looking at the clouds. The landscape itself is painted in a rougher style, with thicker layers of paint. The colors really amplify the beauty of the painting.
The frame has light discoloration as well as the painting itself. The frame has a few scratches here and there but nothing to disturbing and normal for its age.
The measurements of this painting are 44 x 81 cm or 17.3 x 31.8 inches. The painting has a metal wire in the back for hanging.
This painting can be purchased for 274.95 Euro, exclusive of shipping costs, directly via —-> Etsy. Or contact me via the form below.
*If you are interested in purchasing this work or if you have additional questions, please use the form below.
Classical painting by Vallfrid Nelson, 1849-1930, Sweden
This beautiful painting by Nelson depicts a Swedish landscape. In the distance we see a white mansion and a river landscape. The clouds and colors beautifully reflected in the water. Short and rough strokes where used by the artist to paint the scenery. Nelson managed to add richness and warmth to the tones in both water and sky. The painting seems effortlessly painted, with casual placed strokes and a well a balanced composition. The front is painted much rougher en loosely than the background which gives this landscape a interesting depth.
A classic and impressionistic painting by a true master.
Nelson is still a very well known and a much sought after painter. He left behind a huge ouvre of paintings and pastel drawings, most of them Swedish landscapes in which water and sky and light played a big role.
The elegant gold colored frame of this painting is new, the inner canvas stretcher is old and has a brand mark. The painting is signed in the lower left corner. There is a sticker on the back of a Berlin gallery. The canvas has some scratches on the paint here and there. The overall condition is very good.
The painting measures 58 x 68 cm or 22.6 x 26.7 inch.
This painting can be purchased for € 324.95, directly via
—> ETSY, or by contacting me via the form below. Feel free to ask me your questions about this painting, I will be happy to answer.
*If you are interested in purchasing this work or if you have additional questions, please use the form below.
Costume Parisien, reading material for the 19th century fashionista’s
Costume Parisien
A nice steel engraving from the Costume Parisien magazine. On this plate we see a woman in an ancient Greek and Roman style inspired dress.
The dress looks easy to wear with only a few light colored details. A lovely bonnet complements the dress since woman usually covered their heads when they went outside, just as man used to cover their heads too.
The Roman and Greek inspired fashion would remain popular throughout the nineteenth century. The print is very old is it is from the 1812 edition as mentioned in the left upper corner.
The number of this plate is 1232, with in the lower side a description of the fabric and a mention of some of the special details of this dress.
This plate is rare and also is found in the collection of the NY library among others. The condition of this elegant plate is good, some light foxing is present. Around the corners there are some brown lines as shown in the pictures.
This engraving is cleaned and pressed to aid conservation and refresh the colors of the paper. A lovely genuine antique print, ready to be framed or add to your collection. You can purchase the engraving here via Etsy, or use the form below for more info.
See also my info on authentication of your antique fashion prints:
——> How to tell if my antique fashion print is genuine
This engraving will be send as a letter, unregistered and without track and trace.
Let me know if you would like other shipping options.
Feel free to ask me your questions, I will be happy to answer!
*If you are interested in purchasing this work or if you have additional questions, please use the form below.
Costumes Parisien 1823, 19th century fashionista’s
These original steel engravings are from the French Fashion Magazine “Costumes Parisien”. They give a wonderful outlook on the history of European 19th century fashion.
This set of three steel engravings looks very good and fresh, with soft, hand-colored details. The number of these three are:
plate no. 2174, from 1823,
plate no. 2436 from 1826
plate no. 3130 from 1833.
They are framed behind a white matte and glass plate. The youngest of the three plates has some foxing spots but in general they are in very good condition. The oldest two engravings have noticeable etching plate marks around the corners that tells us that these plates are genuine. All plates have their full margins and are untrimmed. One of the plates in signed verso with a monogram. One of the glass plates has an almost unnoticeable little chip missing in the corner.
This fashionable trio can also be shipped without the glass plates and hanging garments, which would make shipping cheaper. Please let me know in advance if you want this option and i’ll calculate the accurate shipping fee.
These framed engravings can be purchased for 74.95 Euro ( in all currencies) exclusive of shipping costs directly via this link on Etsy: These Prints on Etsy
For people that collect old prints, it is important to know if the print is genuine or not. A genuine print is usually far more valuable than a reproduction, especially when it is a rare antique print. So how can you tell if your fashion print is the real stuff? Even better, how can you prevent yourself from purchasing a fake fashion print? Here are some simple guidelines to help you determine if your print is antique or a reproduction. In this article we will focus on plates produced on the old fashion way, via the so called printing technique of engraving. A technique where a copper, steel or zinc is plate is carved out and ink is rubbed into the carved areas and removed from the smooth surface of the plate. The copper or steel plates are then run through a press and the paper is pushed into the carved lines. With a very good magnifier its is easy to determent the difference between a wood- and steel engraving.
Antique french print close up. Earrings are colored in with goldpaint 1835
Important French leading magazines like La mode Illustree, Journal des Dames et des Modes, Le Petit Courrier des Dames and the likes considered their fashion plate collectibles an art form and no expense was was spared to create them. Quality paper and ink was used, leading artists and designers where brought in to draw up the designs, master engravers did the steel carving and the prints were colored in by art students or artist that needed money. The fashion plates soon became a huge success. Because of the high quality and beauty of the prints, they are still very much collected around the world. Here are the tips that help you determine the authenticity of your antique fashion print.
If it’s too white, something is not right.
Very old paper doesn’t look snow white. Over the years, micro organisms have their way with the paper causing the pH value of the paper to increase. The residue that organisms leave behind, often leave spots and marks in the paper. Next to these organisms, sun damage and years of accumulated smoke also can cause yellowing and browning of the print. Some sellers resort to harsh bleaching agents to whiten the prints. This is very harmful in the long run. I would recommend not buying those.
Generally speaking, discoloration, yellowing and browning of the paper is a sign of old age, it comes with, and is part of its authenticity.
Using close-ups to determent antique prints
The use of simple magnifiers to authenticate antique prints
When you use a magnifier to look at an antique print, you can determent with what kind of printing technique you are dealing. At the end of this article you can find some in depth resources that help you understand all printing techniques used. In the case of antique fashion prints, you should look for regular dotted, or beehive shaped patterns that indicate you are dealing with a common impostor! A regular steel engraved antique fashion print has many details that you can’t even see to well with the naked eye.
A steel engraved fashion print should look something like the photo on the right. So invest in some magnifiers. Its worth the money and they are not that pricey. When buying antique prints online, make sure you ask for close-ups or only buy from sellers that provide them with the description. When browsing local markets, keep a small pocket magnifier with you to check out the print on the spot.
“Good” details in antique fashion prints you should look for with a magnifier are:
Use of gold paint used for jewelry.
Hand applied paint that goes clearly beyond the lines of the print.
Infilled make-up colors and blush. Irregular dots and lines applied by hand.
Use of areas waxed with Arabian gum.
“Bad” details you should look for are:
Regular, apparently generated dots in RGB
Bee hive shaped patterns in CMYK
Colors that do not coat the whole surface of a place, colors that overlap.
Look for plate marks, it sounds bad but it is a good thing!
A plate mark imprint was left by the pressure of the inked plate, pressing in the paper.
Steel engravings are made by applying ink to a steel plate and pressing it onto the paper. These plates left marks around the printed area, usually shaped in a rounded rectangle around the illustrated area. Look for these imprints of pressure around the image. It is a sign of the prints authenticity!
The type of paper is an indication of age.
Watermark visible when keeping the print against a light source.
Before the 19th century, laid paper was used. Laid paper has a very different production procedure then modern, woven paper and also different composition. After the 19th century they used a more modern and cheaper way to produce paper. This modern paper was very high in wood pulp content which made this paper very prone to yellowing. However, many French antique fashion prints continued to be printed on laid paper because of the quality the publishers wanted to deliver with their magazines. These prints on laid paper often have a watermark as well as the typical horizontal stripes, that seem to be embedded in the paper. (a trade of laid paper)
I think its safe to say that antique fashion prints printed on laid paper, are usually more valuable then those that are not.
In general:
Prints on laid paper are often older and more valuable.
Look for watermarks in the paper by holding the print against the light
Look for the type of paper used, do you see horizontal stripes in the paper? Than it is laid paper.
Very modern paper often feels very smooth compared to old fashion types of paper that has high contents of viberous wood pulp.
Some examples of old and new printing techniques I have come across:
Fake: fashion screen print 1980
Antique fashion steel engraving, the earrings are colored in with goldpaint 1835
Antique fashion steel engraving, blush for the cheeks 1835
Antique steel engraving, 1847
Fake fashion print, modern print techniques, regular rasters.
Mid 19th century lithographic French stone print. Fine powdery dots. And the first multi colored lithographs.
Vintage screen print, 1930,
Lovely fine details on the genuine engraving, gold paint on the earrings.
Chromo lithography, starting 1837 and up.
These are some of the points I have come across in collecting antique fashion prints. I hope it helps you collecting the prints you are looking for!
If you want more in depth information about identifying old and antique prints, check out these two great resources:
Wikipedia has a great list of printing techniques used through the years. History of printing
Hulstein Antiques 