Bama Planter

                   I really like the new lady who arrived at my Alabama home this morning. The canvas measures 25" x 30" Back of canvas. The canvas seems to have been reinforced by something grey in color. The artist scratched his name in the paint before it dried. The year is 1899.  He was 80 at the time and living in Kentucky. The painting has an almost out of focus, mystical look. She would have been a wealthy citizen of Louisville, Kentucky or the surrounding area, as the artist did not travel any more due to his age, according to his biographer in Germany. Canvas housed in frame. Frame dimensions are 34" x 39" 

This lady arrived last week. The auction house didn't investigate what was under the linen covering on the back.  I removed it and found her name, details of her life, and the name and location of the artist.  This lovely girl has one of those wraps just like the one in an earlier post.  I am dating her ca.1835 until I hear from my clothing expert blog reader.  This matron was listed as American ca. 1850 or earlier.  A close up of a kind soul.  Everything a primitive collector could wish for.  Now here's a dandy guy holding a red rose.  

The furniture style known as Eastlake was created and manufactured roughly from 1870 to 1885,  fifteen years of complicated designs and geometric skill-saw work.  Rounds and squares on the same piece. Usually mahogany but not oak.  Oak obsession will come later.  Eastlake tables such as this beauty held parlor lamps, a live fern ( marble tops are good for live plants) , an over sized vase filled with two dozen ostrich feathers,  or maybe a bronze artwork.  The pretty marble might be covered in frilled table scarves. Maybe two, maybe three.  The furniture peeked out from beneath.   So what's the problem?   The problem is, Eastlake won't sell very well as Eastlake. As an antique trader, I avoid it entirely.  I won't buy it ;  no one here buys it unless it is dirt cheap.   So ,what can be done to make an Eastlake table marketable?  ( Besides painting it white or turquoise and then distressing it ) The answer: ...