Posted 14 years ago
bentfish
(2 items)
I found this painting in an old farmhous ethat was being torn down, I know that it is some kind of promotion painting from the N.K. Fairbank Company. The artist signiture is J LeRoy. Is this a real painting? Is it worth anything? From the back I can tell that it was a promotion item that you could order.
Any info would be great!!
I have one of these also.
Have you found out anything about it?
I have that same image with an advertisement printed on it.
I have one similar to this. It is a yard long print by Paul de Longpre with a date of 1901. It is covered with old wavy glass in a frame of unknown origin. The back of the print has all the information about how you get this print as well as other prints for packaging from Fairy Soap, or "circles" from Fairbank Tar Soap make by the N.T. Fairbanks Company. Five "circles" and a six cent stamp! Not sure if the stamp was to mail the print back, or used as payment. Or you could get them for 10 labels and "circles" - no stamps. I think the back is almost as exciting as the print itself...a real piece of turn of the century Americana. I believe my print is the one that is listed on the top back of yours "Home Sweet Home". I found this one in a back corner of a closet at my Father-in-Laws old home place in North Mississippi in the Delta country. The paper on the back of it was extremely brittle, so I removed it, and that is when I found the back info. I had a piece of glass cut for the back, so I can show off the back as well as the front! I found your post while I was trying to find out some more info on it. Yours is listed on mine as "Playful Kittens" No. 21.
I believe they are called chromolithographs.
No...I need to take that back...since the back also states Fairbank bought the plates for these. I think that indicates just lithographs. Not sure.
i have been collecting N K Fairbank product & promos for over (45) years. Originally these litho prints were giveways w/ (5) "Tar & Glycerine Soap" circles, but later on they were renumbered & given away for (20 - 50) proof of purchases for "Fairy Soap" & "Santa Claus Soap".
i *thought* that the measurement of "Playful Kittens" was only 15" x 20", so i'd be interested in someone measuring their print. i have (19) of the (35) giveaway litho prints that i know of & am missing this print.
FYI Paul de Longpre also did the giveaway litho print "Home Sweet Home" wh/ was a "yard long" (9" x 32") (pic below). As far as the value of the prints, UNframed they sell for $35 - $75 on ebay.
i am obviously an idiot because i cannot figure out how to post a pic on this forum.
We have a J. LE ROY (with nameplate) picture also...with three cats two of which are kittens and then the mother. It is a parlor scene, an original oil. It is rich in depth, very well done. It was bought at auction at Sloan's of Maryland for $2,400 in the 1980's.
Jules Gustave LeRoy, French, (1856-1921). He can be found on the Internet in a search along with more than 25 of his pictures of almost all cats. His father of very similar name also painted some cats. The son put the cats in some mischievous settings, in baskets, and etc. Not much is known about him. If you can't find him and his pictures on the Internet...ask me here and I'll provide.