Make your automobile smile. Buy one of these chromed Art Deco mascots for it. All of these from a recent Bonham’s auction.

“Stork” mascot in chromed metal, based on the famous design by Francois Bazin. Mounted on a period radiator cap. 1935. Maker not shown. Image © Bonhams 2001-2021. Fair use license. via https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/27140/lot/49/?category=list&length=12&page=5

“Serpent” mascot in nickel plated bronze, on a chromed locking radiator cap. 1920s. French. J. A. Bebin, maker. Image © Bonhams 2001-2021. Fair use license. via https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/27140/lot/54/?category=list&length=12&page=5

“Lady water-skier” mascot in chrome plated die-cast metal, mounted on a radiator cap. 1930s. American, made in Chicago by Krone and Sebek. Image © Bonhams 2001-2021. Fair use license. via https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/27140/lot/55/?category=list&length=12&page=5

Automobile mascot modeled as a winged nymph in the nude holding the chains of an aquaplane board. Chrome plated die-cast alloy mounted on a radiator cap. 1930s. British. Maker not given. Image © Bonhams 2001-2021. Fair use license. via https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/27140/lot/56/?category=list&length=12&page=5

Portraits of Native American chiefs. “The aboriginal portfolio : a collection of portraits of the most celebrated chiefs of the North American Indians.” Published in Philadelphia in 1835, it is the work of James Otto Lewis (1799-1858).

“Kee-O-Kuck or the Watching Fox: The present chief of the Sauk tribe and Successor to Black Hawk.” Page 1. Painted by J. O. Lewis at the great treaty of Prairie du Chien in 1825. Lehman and Duval, Philadelphia, engravers. Gregory Javitch Native Peoples of the New World Collection, University of Alberta Libraries. In the public domain due to age. via https://archive.org/details/bp_1389667/mode/1up

“Nabu-Naa-Kee-Schick or The One Side of the Sky. A Chippewa chief.” Page 2. Painted at the Treaty of Fond du Lac (on Lake Superior) by J. O. Lewis in 1826. Lehman and Duval, Philadelphia, engravers. Gregory Javitch Native Peoples of the New World Collection, University of Alberta Libraries. In the public domain due to age. via https://archive.org/details/bp_1389667/page/n1/mode/1up

“Waa-Na-Taa or the Foremost in Battle: Chief of the Sioux Tribe.” Page 3. Painted by J. O. Lewis at the Treaty of Prairie du Chien in 1825. Lehman and Duval, Philadelphia, engravers. Gregory Javitch Native Peoples of the New World Collection, University of Alberta Libraries. In the public domain due to age. via https://archive.org/details/bp_1389667/page/n2/mode/1up

“The Little Crow: A celebrated Sioux Chief.” Page 12. Page 3. Painted by J. O. Lewis at the Treaty of Prairie du Chien in 1825. Lehman and Duval, Philadelphia, engravers. Gregory Javitch Native Peoples of the New World Collection, University of Alberta Libraries. In the public domain due to age. via https://archive.org/details/bp_1389667/page/n12/mode/1up

James Otto Lewis started out as an engraver in Philadelphia around 1815. Fascinated by what he learned of the western territories, as a young man he went west in 1819. Traveling with the governor of the Michigan Territory Lewis worked for the United States government painting official portraits of Native Americans in the course of his employment which included attending numerous treaties and ceremonies so these are painted from life. Learn more about him here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Otto_Lewis. Quite a few so more for later posts, too.

Watercolors of flowers. American. Annie Gooding Sykes, artist. Living from 1855 to 1931, she was the daughter of a silversmith. Studied at the Cincinnati Art Academy.

“Still Life with Chrysanthemums.” Undated. American. Watercolor and gouache on artist’s board. Signed in watercolor on the lower left. Image © Swann Auction Galleries. Fair use license. via https://catalogue.swanngalleries.com/Lots/auction-lot/ANNIE-GOODING-SYKES-Still-Life-with-Chrysanthemums?saleno=2575&lotNo=71&refNo=778303

“Gladiolus Garden.” ca. 1900. American. Watercolor on cream wove paper. Signed in pencil over red ink on the lower left. Image © Swann Auction Galleries. Fair use license. via https://catalogue.swanngalleries.com/Lots/auction-lot/ANNIE-GOODING-SYKES-Gladiolus-Garden?saleno=2575&lotNo=72&refNo=778301

“Lillies in Bloom.” 20th c. American. Watercolor. Signed on the lower right. Image © 1stDibs.com, Inc. 2021. Fair use license. via https://www.1stdibs.com/art/drawings-watercolor-paintings/landscape-drawings-watercolors/annie-gooding-sykes-lillies-bloom/id-a_421482/

Masks of the Zuni, taken from the 23rd annual report of the Bureau of American Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, J. W. Powell, director. 1901-1902.

“Mask of ᵗkĭa’nilona (Owner of Springs): Front and Rear Views.” Page 75. Collections of the Boston Public Library. Kahle/Austin Foundation and Omidyar Network, digitalizing sponsor. In the public domain due to age. via https://archive.org/details/annualreportofbu23smit/page/n75/mode/1up?view=theater

“a: Mask of Ko’yemshi; b, c: Mask of Ko’mokätᵗsi: Front and Rear Views.” Page 91. Collections of the Boston Public Library. Kahle/Austin Foundation and Omidyar Network, digitalizing sponsor. In the public domain due to age. via https://archive.org/details/annualreportofbu23smit/page/n91/mode/1up?view=theater

“Mask of A Sayaᵗhlia (Warrior God).” Page 181. Collections of the Boston Public Library. Kahle/Austin Foundation and Omidyar Network, digitalizing sponsor. In the public domain due to age. via https://archive.org/details/annualreportofbu23smit/page/n181/mode/1up?view=theater

The post is taken from imagery at archive.org but I got the idea here https://publicdomainreview.org/collection/zuni-masks and have used their descriptions instead of making them out myself to save time. More coming from this fabulous work!

Paintings of the Generalife Gardens in Granada, Spain. Near the Alhambra. Different artists. All beautiful.

“Generalife Gardens, Granada.” Undated. Spanish/Catalan. Santiago Rusiñol, artist (1861-1931) Signed “S. Rusiñol” on the lower left. Image © 2021 Sotheby’s. Fair use license. https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2021/tableaux-dessins-sculptures-1300-1900/the-generalife-gardens-granada

“The Garden of Generalife, Granada, Spain (Alhambra).” 1939. American. Oil on canvas. Theodore Wores, artist (1859-1939). Collections of the Crocker Art Museum, Sacramento, California. Image © Crocker Art Museum. Artwork itself in the public domain due to age. via https://www.crockerart.org/collections/american-art-before-1945/artworks/the-garden-of-generalife-granada-spain-alhambra-1939

“Generalife, Granada.” 1910. Spanish. Oil on canvas. Joaquín Sorolla, artist (1863-1923). In the public domain in the United States because the artist died over 100 years ago. via https://www.wikiart.org/en/joaqu-n-sorolla/generalife-granada-1910

Cook, Francis Ferdinand Maurice; The Theatre Generalife Gardens by Moonlight, Granada, Spain; Sir Francis Cook Collection; http://www.artuk.org/artworks/the-theatre-generalife-gardens-by-moonlight-granada-spain-137875

“The Theatre Generalife Gardens by Moonlight, Granada, Spain.” 1960. British. Oil and mixed media on panel. Francis Ferdinand Maurice Cook, artist (1907-1978). Image © estate of the artist. Collections of and © Sir Francis Cook Art Gallery. Fair use license. via https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/the-theatre-generalife-gardens-by-moonlight-granada-spain-137875

Landscapes, paintings of a Cuba that isn’t coming back. American, painted by Edmund Darch Lewis. Living from 1835 to 1910, he also did marine oils.

“Santiago de Cuba.” 1871. American. Oil on canvas. Signed, dated and titled “Edmund D. Lewis, 1871, Santiago de Cuba” on the lower left. Image © Christie’s 2021. Fair use license. via https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-5561710

“View of Cuba.” 1860. American. Oil on canvas. Signed and dated “E. D. Lewis 1860” on the lower right. Image © 2021 Heritage Auctions. Fair use license. via https://fineart.ha.com/itm/fine-art-painting-american/edmund-darch-lewis-american-1835-1910-view-of-cuba-1860oil-on-canvas17-x-32-1-2-inches-432-x-826/a/5423-68183.s

“View of Cuba.” 1860. American. Oil on canvas. Image source Artdaily.com. In the public domain in the United States because the artist died over 100 years ago. via https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:View_of_Cuba_by_Edmund_Darch_Lewis,_1860.jpg