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  Robert Schellin, “Sunflowers”, Oil on Board 1935

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  Victor Arnautoff, The Felt Hat, Oil on Canvas c. 1930

  VICTOR ARNAUTOFF (1896-1979) USA

  The Felt Hat c. 1930

  Oil on canvas, white gold frame

  Signed: V. Arnautoff, lower right

  Exhibited: Art Center San Francisco, 1931 (see image of the review in the San Francisco Examiner, July 12th, 1931)

  For more information see: The New Deal for Artists, Richard D. McKinzie (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1973), Coit Tower, San Francisco : Its History and Art

  Painting: H: 26” x W: 21”
  Framed: H: 32 ½” x 27 ½”

  Price: $60,000

  Victor Arnautoff created paintings and watercolors, focusing on portraits, still lifes and rural landscapes in his early years, and moved to more socially conscious themes later in his career. Arnautoff was a native of Russia, to which he returned during the 1960s after thirty years in the United States. He came to San Francisco from Russia via China, bringing his wife and children with him, and studied at the California School of Fine Arts studying with Ralph Stackpole and Edgar Walter before going to Mexico. There he worked as an assistant to the famous Mexican muralist Diego Rivera. During the 1930s, Arnautoff worked as project director and one of the artists selected to create the famed Coit Tower murals, he played a key role in determining the political and social content of the frescoes painted in the San Francisco landmark. His own contribution, City Life, appears to be a lively, non-political melding of downtown San Francisco scenes; however, closer study reveals two leftist newspapers on the newsstand, while the city’s most mainstream daily, the San Francisco Chronicle, is strangely missing. Arnautoff also painted frescoes in the Military Chapel at San Francisco’s Presidio, in the Anne Bremer Library of the San Francisco Art Institute, and in high schools and other buildings in the Bay Area. He was a professor of art at Stanford University from 1939 until his retirement in 1963.

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  Joseph Raskin, Seaside scene, Oil on Canvas c. 1920 -1925

  JOSEPH RASKIN   (1897-1981) USA

  Seaside scene  c. 1920 -1925

  Oil on canvas, gold leaf frame

  Signed:  Jos. Raskin  (lower left)

  For more information see: Who Was Who in American Art,
  (Madison, Conn.: Sound View Press, 1985), p. 505

  Canvas: 25 1/4” x 21 1/4”
  Frame: 31 1/4” x 26 3/4”

  Price: $35,000

  Born in Nogaisk, Russia, Joseph Raskin made a name for himself as a painter in New York City, where he was also recognized as an etcher, teacher and writer.  He studied at the National Academy of Design and, in 1921, received a fellowship from the Louis Comfort Tiffany Foundation.  A member of the American Artists Congress, Raskin’s work was exhibited at the Schervee Gallery (Boston) in 1927, Tricker Gallery in 1939, the Schneider-Gabriel Gallery in 1941, Steinway Hall in 1942, and the American Artists Association in 1945.  Raskin’s work may be found in several museum collections including the Carnegie Institute in Pittsburgh, the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in Philadelphia, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond, and the Corcoran Gallery of Art  and National Academy of Design, both in Washington, D.C.

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  Asprey & Co., Important Cardinal Sculpture gem set with natural rubies, 18K gold and amethyst quartz, signed,1980

  ASPREY & CO. LTD. (founded 1781) London, UK

  Important Natural Ruby Gem Set 18K Gold Cardinal Bird Sculpture   1980

  Finely chased and chiseled 18K yellow and white gold realistically rendered sculpture of a Cardinal bird set with
  85+ carats (approx.) of natural gem quality oval and round cut Burmese rubies (GIA certificate) further heightened with enamel eyes and blackened gold face plumage details, the 18K gold and natural ruby cardinal sets atop a natural Amethyst crystal “mountain rock” with a tooled and gilt (script mark) on the leather under-pad.

  Marks: A & Co. (in a quatrefoil), Crown mark, 750 (gold standard mark) Lion’s head (London assay mark) “F” date mark for 1980, tooled and gilt Asprey (script mark) on the leather under-pad

  Provenance: Privately commissioned by the Sultan of Brunei’s younger brother, Prince Jefri Bolkiah who also later became the owner of Asprey & Co in the 1995. This rare sculptural 18K gold and natural ruby Cardinal was handmade by the finest jewelers and work masters in the workshop of the London Asprey & Co. located above the flagship store at 167 New Bond Street.

  H: 3 ¾” x L: 5 3/4” x W: 1 ½”(Cardinal only)
  H: 6” x W: 6 ¾” x D: 5 ¾” (with Cardinal atop natural Amethyst crystal rock)

  As one might guess, a large part of the animal symbolism of the cardinal comes from the brilliant red color of the males. In fact, its name is derived from the royal red vestments worn by Catholic cardinals. This shock of red, especially against the stark backdrop of winter snow, is a magnificent sight. The male cardinal reminds us passion, warmth and vibrancy is available to us – even under the cloak of Winter’s grey clouds. Interestingly, the more bold and bright his color is, the more successful the cardinal will be at prolonging his lineage. Dull colored male cardinals are less likely to mate successfully than bright colored ones. True to the fire of his color, the crimson cardinal has got some major spunk. He will aggressively defend his territory, and fight attackers with ferocity. Indeed, they have been known to fight ghost males (their reflections) in mirrors for hours on end. Both male and female give us glorious songs. Along with peeps and pips and warbles, the tuned ear can also hear “cheer, cheer, cheer!” Very appropriate to the animal symbolism of cardinals, because they are a delight to both eyes and ears. The cardinal makes a fantastic animal totem. It reminds us to hold ourselves with pride, not ego pride but rather the cardinal asks us to stand a little taller, be a bit more regal and step into our natural confidence as if we were born to lead with grace and nobility. Those who attract the cardinal as their totem are naturally energetic, love life, and happily help others where and when they can!