Posted 8 years ago
tshusker
(109 items)
This is an oil painting of the Blarney Castle. Family history/lore has it that it was brought over from Ireland by my 3x Great-Grandfather (late 1800's). It was eventually given to my 2x Great-Grandfather who donated it to the local Catholic Church in Butte, Montana, where it hung for many years. At some point (pre-1954) my 2x Great-Grandfather got so upset with the church that he went into the church, took the painting off the wall, and walked out. The painting then made its way through the hands of my Great-Grandfather, Grandfather, and dad, to ultimately land in my care. It now hangs over our living room fireplace.
The painting appears unsigned. On the back of the frame are only the two following markings: penciled “Mis Dee 3755” and partial label reading “From B.E. Calki... Art....”
On the back of the painting itself are four Shattuck Patent Stretcher Keys joining the stretcher bars together at the corners, reading “Pat'd Feb 13 1883 June 16 1885 A.D.S.”
The painting is 20" W by 16" H, and the gilded frame is 27.5" W by 23.5" H.
Any help in identifying the age of painting, the artist, and/or the studio of the "B.E. Calki..." label, is appreciated!
I've often thought of taking this to one of the Antiques Roadshow, but haven't. Maybe in 2017.
B.E. CALKINS Broadway Art Store, Main and. Broadway .... Butte, Montana.
Mrs. Kathleen Alice “Dee” Koch died peacefully at her home on ... 3499 Harrison , Butte , MT 59701.
Just a thought !!!
Wow! Great stuff, vetraio50, and all the way from Australia, too! Interesting the possible involvement of Dee?! Any idea how long B.E. Calkins was in business (when opened, closed)? Thanks again!
1920's I think
"Charles T. Jennings, the photographer who made the photo above, worked for the B.E. Calkins Company, dealers in office supplies and picture frames at Broadway and Main, southeast corner; Benjamin E. Calkins lived in room 503 at the Mueller Apartments. Jennings lived at 522 Franklin Street, a house that is still standing"
http://buttehistory.blogspot.com.au/2014_12_01_archive.html
But I think Benjamin E. Calkins was working in Butte as early as 1913 according to adverts in the Anaconda Standard.
This is a profile on Ben E. Calkins ..... a former mayor !!!!
https://www.joycetice.com/migrate/09752.htm
He is mentioned here as being one of 'the four horsemen of the Madison'.
http://www.wyomingtalesandtrails.com/yellowstonekfdroosevelt.html
"They met at the fountain at the First National Bank corner. It was just after that noon shower that seemed to have a grudge against the ball fans. One was all smiles, and, looking upward at the fast fading clouds that were now commencing to let the sun shine through, beaming with good nature, he said: "Well, me for the ball game. I certainly thought this summer shower would put a crimp in the game. Don't you know that I'm with the old adage, 'Every cloud has a silver lining?' It doesn't make any difference how hard it comes for a man, it seems that just when the clouds are darkest the sun shines through."
"Oh, I don't know," said the taller of the two, as he whisked the recent rain from his auto cap, "look at poor Ben Calkins. Here he's been workin' overtime, almost movin' the earth to get located in his new store at the corner of Broadway and Main. He's put enough money into remodeling the old California building to buy an automobile, two race horses and an airship. He's got show windows on the Broadway side and show windows on the Main Street side, fixtures fit for a bank, and now— now he can*t move." "No, can't move, and he's in thousands," dejectedly replied the tall, thin and melancholy man. "No, can't move." "Well, that certainly is hard luck," replied the goodnatured little fellow, thoroughly distressed at the thought of his friend's loss. "What's the trouble?"
Then sighed the melancholy man, " Oh, he's a stationery man."
In unison they bent their lips to the cool, sparkling water playing from the fountain and "smiled" and "smiled," and found satisfaction when Ben, who happened that way, assured them his new stationery store would positively open on June the 15th."
He is a well documented character in Butte history.
Yeh, I was able to locate an issue of The American Stationer (12/18/1915) referencing B.E. Calkins being in the "the stationery. paper and office supply business, both wholesale and retail, for 29 years..." which would put it back to 1886. Now, whether that included his photo/art studio or not, I'm not sure. Thanks for the info, Vetraio50!