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"Mrs. Stern" 18?? Portrait of a woman by Itinerant Artist?

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    Posted 8 years ago

    Celiene
    (71 items)

    Bought at a crazy second hand store called 'Art Attack' in El Granada, CA. She hung on the wall for many years, and the guy who runs the store always called her "Mrs. Stern" because of her 'stern' manner. She is painted in oil on a very thin 'canvas', like a cheese cloth, very crudely stretched. The hand carved frame is very light, like balsa wood maybe.

    I always wondered. about what year? She has a comb in her hair I think, may be a bun? She also has a chain through a buttonhole on her dress. Her right ear is weird, like it was painted over.

    She is approx 27 x 22 inches. He finally gave me a good price on her and I brought her home about 15 or so years ago. I took her to Antiques Roadshow when they came to San Jose in 2009. They liked her, I did not get filmed... They said she was probably painted by an unknown itinerant artist. I can find no signature.

    Any thoughts appreciated!

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    Comments

    1. Celiene Celiene, 8 years ago
      I lightened the last picture so things can be seen better. It is a very dark painting.
    2. Efesgirl Efesgirl, 8 years ago
      She looks late Victorian/Edwardian to me. Very masculine in appearance. The painting could benefit from a good clean.
    3. TassieDevil TassieDevil, 8 years ago
      I think she is great Celiene!!! I would say Victorian as well and I would have bought her too. :))
    4. antiquerose antiquerose, 8 years ago
      Neat -- What kind of Frame is that? As is it wood or a covering of something on wood?? I ask as I have old frame that is Black and I do not think it is wood
    5. Efesgirl Efesgirl, 8 years ago
      antiquerose - perhaps it's black Gesso.
    6. PostCardCollector PostCardCollector, 8 years ago
      Celiene--go over to the strange photo you and I have commented on and read the last few post that you will be interested in. See what you think??You thought one of the women was man--I have added something that may support that.. Altho the poster hersef/ and Scott Vez are nay sayers...I have an open opinion about it from your posts # 23 and # 26. THANKS MUCH Lois postcardcollector
    7. Celiene Celiene, 8 years ago
      The frame is wood, just painted black. No Gesso. What is the chain hanging on the button? Do you think it may be a watch fob? I was also wondering about her collar. Now I can see how sharply fluted it is!

      As you can see, there is some damage to the canvas. Yeah - she probably could use a good cleaning!
    8. Efesgirl Efesgirl, 8 years ago
      It could be a watch fob. Looks like it's just draped over the button. She still looks like a fella to me! There appears to be no bust line. What a peculiar painting....
    9. katherinescollections katherinescollections, 8 years ago
      It is an interesting portrait for sure. I'd say Victorian era by the clothing and ear bobs, Spanish lady by the hair comb. The ribbon at the throat looks as though it is significant. Could that be a mourning brooch? She seems to be wearing black. Have you tried taking this painting out of the frame? Sometimes the name is hidden under there.
    10. antiquerose antiquerose, 8 years ago
      I thought back then they would *bind* their Boobs to be more flat-chested? Anyway, here is a interesting article here about ladies stuff. Thank god I never lived back then !!!!

      http://www.katetattersall.com/victorian-feminine-ideal-the-perfect-silhouette-hygiene-grooming-body-sculpting/
    11. antiquerose antiquerose, 8 years ago
      Picture frames -- Interesting link:

      http://www.antiqueframes8x10.com/frames2.html

      http://www.antiqueframes8x10.com/frames1.html
    12. shareurpassion shareurpassion, 8 years ago
      I was so interested in just where that art shop is I looked it up...surprised to see that you too are in Cali but you are waaay up there. It's beautiful up there and I wish it were closer. About the painting, you are right about her ear! Odd thing. I bet her ears are/were very close to her head and they must have wanted to show off the earrings or something funny like that!!! Ah the wood frame...Eastlake. That puts it in about the 1800's I will get a link to a great site for you. Give me a few. Hey, aren't you sort of close to glass beach???
    13. shareurpassion shareurpassion, 8 years ago
      haha I took a peek at the link Rose left you and that's the exact one I was talking about. They have pages and pages of frames and what I love about that site, they also give great descriptions and prices!

      Oh, and please don't put all you eggs in a basket that the antique road show hands you! Get a few more free appraisals from other places. Now if you would have say fainted or jumped up and down or held your breath and became speechless they may have put you on TV haha The people you see on tv with them are already chosen.
    14. shareurpassion shareurpassion, 8 years ago
      I just saw Bonnie's comment and I thought the same thing when I first looked at her face! It looks like a mans face. Maybe well, I'll just leave all that alone!!!
    15. Celiene Celiene, 8 years ago
      Shareurpassion. No, Glass Beach is up by Mendocino/Ft. Bragg, about 4 hours or so from here!

      Thanks for all the comments!
    16. Celiene Celiene, 8 years ago
      Love that Kete Tattersall link! I have an ad in my bathroom for a "Hip Assistant for the Deficient"!
    17. Celiene Celiene, 8 years ago
      She could just be flat. Can anyone date the black ruffled (?) collar?
    18. ho2cultcha ho2cultcha, 8 years ago
      flat and with a 5 o'clock shadow! my gaydar is beeping!

      Holly came from Miami F.L.A.
      Hitch-hiked her way across the U.S.A.
      Plucked her eyebrows on the way
      Shaved her legs and then he was a she
      She said, hey babe, take a walk on the wild side,
      Said, hey honey, take a walk on the wild side.
      Candy came from out on the island,
      In the backroom she was everybody's darling,
      But she never lost her head
      Even when she was giving head
      She sayes, hey baby, take a walk on the wild side
      Said, hey babe, take a walk on the wild side
      And the colored girls go,
      Doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo
      Doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo
      Doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo
      Doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo
      Doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo
      Doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo
      Doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo
    19. Celiene Celiene, 8 years ago
      LOL - she doesn't have a 5 o'clock shadow! The painter used a grey paint to shade her facial folds!
    20. Celiene Celiene, 8 years ago
      LOL - or 'Dude Look Like Lady'...
    21. Alan2310 Alan2310, 8 years ago
      Celiene, this look like from the mid 1800, without seeing the back, the stretcher, is it cut on a 40 degree angle or flat joint, what about the way the stretcher attache to the canvas.
      Would you mind add a picture of the backing ??
      What Antique Roadshows say about the date?

      Wow so many question.
      It is a beautiful painting, I would have bought it too.....

      Regards
      Alan
    22. Karenoke Karenoke, 8 years ago
      Hi, I just wanted to say that even though Antiques Roadshow did not put this painting on air, they did put a very similar one on. Because when I first seen your post here I told my hubby that I'd seen this on AR.
      But I know nothing about art, so I'm no help to you. But I'm very happy you shared it and all the kind folks who shared their thoughts, knowledge and links. CW is a great place to learn. Thank you, very unique painting.
    23. ho2cultcha ho2cultcha, 8 years ago
      Celiene - please stop being the unsolved mystery police. an item may be 'solved' for you, but some of us want more information. it's annoying being told what to do like that.
    24. Celiene Celiene, 8 years ago
      Ho2 - you post EVERYTHING in the unsolved mysteries and NEVER, EVER remove them. It gums up the stuff that is REALLY a mystery.
    25. ho2cultcha ho2cultcha, 8 years ago
      it's not true. you've written in large letters with loads of exclamation points on pieces that were never even posted as mysteries. if i leave it on, it's because i want more information. how does that 'gum up' anything?

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