Posted 8 years ago
katherines…
(247 items)
So I spotted this unusual hand painted wood plate signed on the back, got it for a Bonnie price, and brought it home. The front decor appears to be a maiden holding a plant surrounded by iconography of some sort, a laurel wreath painted around the rim with two different crowns top and bottom. I tried to research the name on Google as Broido Morelis, thinking maybe it was Colonial Mexican folk art, the two names did not appear connected to this art work, I tried different variants, still nothing -- and another name, Moulis, kept popping up. So I looked more closely at the name on the plate and thought that it could be Moulis, researched that name, came up with the artist William Moulis, whose art work style and last name signature closely matched what I have on the plate. William Moulis appears to have been a well regarded American artist. But how did the other name Broido or Brojdo figure into this? I posted on the Identify My Artwork page on Facebook and one of the members basically said William Moulis would not have painted this for various reasons and of course there is the problem with the name which he read as Brojdo. Now generally I bow and concede before experts with their greater knowledge, and I can't disregard what this member argues. He may well be right, this may be an artwork done by some unknown artist named Brojdo Moulis. On the other hand, the little I know about artists is that when I research their work, if they aren't the right person, things as important and individualistic as style and signature simply don't match. (I will post a link in the first comment to a work of his that's being auctioned on eBay for signature comparison, and a link in the second comment to some trays attributed to him for style comparison.) Also, having read up on Moulis and knowing how eccentric and playful he was, knowing his propensities for painting and drawing in different mediums (he once painted a wood shop sign, also painted on their ceiling), I don't feel the plate is entirely out of the realm of the possible. His work has been auctioned at reputable houses, I suppose I could inquire with one of them as a last resort. Am going to try and do more research on my own first. Anyway, thought I would share this mysterious mystery with you, and look forward to your comments. Thanks for looking.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/WILLIAM-MOULIS-PAINTING-VINTAGE-MID-CENTURY-MODERN-VILLAGE-EXPRESSIONIST-1960S-/401271064695?hash=item5d6d9e8877:g:tZ0AAOSw9GhYlf-Z
https://new.liveauctioneers.com/item/9537059_two-william-moulis-painted-trays
Thanks for the love, Efesgirl, and ho2cultcha. :)
Thanks, Ken, yes, nothing like a Bonnie price, lol! :))
Real mystery (I love your plate!)... As this hairdo, LOOOOOL (I love the cat...;-D)
Thanks for the love, Manikin, vetraio50, and aura. :)
Pascale, it is a mystery all right. As for the cat, he's very very bad, I wish he would go away. ;)
Cat #O45? LOL!!
I think the trays in particular show a similar naive style, although the way Moulis is signed seems quite different. I would get it looked at by someone else, and enjoy it's happiness anyway.
Thanks for the love, blunderbuss2, brunswick, and racer4four. :)
Thank you, Thomas, always a pleasure when you visit. :)
Karen, he does bear a strange resemblance!!! Yes, the styles are very similar in so many details. Not sure what you mean by the signature seeming different? As for having someone look at it, I've been searching for an authoritative source, but can't seem to locate any recent solid information. Apparently some time back there was an exhibition and catalog in or near the place where he worked, the book is in a library back East, I may try and track that book down. My gut feeling is this work is his, but my gut lies to me all the time, LOL! ;)
Thanks for the love, bijoucaillouvintage, mikelv85, and JImam. :)
Katherine,
I have a plate by this same artist. The plate is green and the signature looks almost identical to the one that you have. I bought the plate a few years ago, thinking it was Pennsylvania Dutch in origin. It wasn't until I was cleaning it today that I looked at the signature on the back. When I entered in the name, your posting came up. I can't recall if I bought the plate in an antique shop or a flea market. Would love to know the origin for sure.
Brian
Hi Brian, sorry for the late response to your comment.
I would love to see your plate if you would care to post it on CW or send privately via email, my addy is on my profile page.
I tried for quite a long while to confirm ID on this plate. While I am certain Moulis was the artist, there doesn't appear to be anyone around who can say for certain that it was done by him. If I recall correctly, his work was in a museum collection but they never responded to my queries. So my plate remains a mystery. Thanks for your interest, I wish you better success. :)
The plate could be a collaborative effort by Jascha Brojdo <Georges Briard> (1917-2005) and William Moulin (1919-1989) when they were students at the Art Institute of Chicago in 1939.
Jascha Brojdo as "Georges Briard" later painted toleware trays for Max Wille in New York.
Jaja ... I just bought a similar plate at a Scandinavian tag sale. Same signature. A standing male figure in the costume of 1750 or so, surrounded by a green wreath and crowns at 12 and 6 o'clock. How interesting to have found out a bit more. I suspect Artpot is onto something.
I recently found two William Moulis signed wooden plates that are similar to the Brojdo Moulis plate shown here. I wouldn't think that the Brojdo name is a pseudonym judging by the quality of the work and, as someone pointed out , the signature. The Brojdo plate seems hurried by comparison and the lead in strokes on the W and B signature are not there along with a different S at the end of Brolis. The signatures on both of these two plates are very consistent and carefully done.
I'm no expert but I enjoy finding and researching interesting items. I will add photos as soon as I figure out how (new to CW), just another clue in the Brojdo mystery.