Watercolors with porcelain (china). Benjamin Walter Spiers, artist. Living from 1845 to 1894, he was a London painter of genre scenes and still-lifes. 

Studies. 1876. British. Watercolor. Benjamin Walter Spiers, watercolorist (1845-1894). Bears signature, inscription and date Scratch Club Marks/December 1976/”Studies”/B. W. Spiers (on label affixed to the reverse). Image © Bonhams 2001-2022. Artwork itself in the public domain due to age. Fair use license. via https://www.bonhams.com/auction/27488/lot/7/benjamin-walter-spiers-british-1845-1894-studies/

Worthless old knicknacks and silly old books. 1878. British. Pencil and watercolor heightened with bodycolor on paper. Benjamin Walter Spiers, watercolorist (1845-1894). Signed with initials and dated B.W.S./1878 on the lower right; inscribed This snug little chamber is cramm’d in all nooks/with worthless old knicknacks and silly old books/Thackeray’s “Cane-bottomed Chair”/by B.W. Spiers/70 Hereford Rd/Bayswater (on an artist’s label on the reverse of the frame). Image © Bonhams 2001-2022. Artwork itself in the public domain due to age. Fair use license. via https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/23944/lot/36/

Old China.1879. British. Watercolor and pencil on paper. Benjamin Walter Spiers, watercolorist (1845-1894). In the public domain due to age. via https://www.meisterdrucke.uk/fine-art-prints/Benjamin-Walter-Spiers/319590/Old-China,-1879-(toilet-and-pencil-on-paper).html

Out and about with Czech painter Václav Brožík who worked in the Academic style. Living from 1851 to 1901, he studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague.

Mistr Jan Hus před Kostnickým koncilem (Master Jan Hus before the Constance Council.) 1883. Czech. Oil on canvas. Václav Brožík, painter (1851-1901). Collections of the Old Town Hall, Brožík Hall, Prague. In the public domain in the United States because the artist died over 100 years ago. via https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Vaclav_Brozik_-_Hus.jpg

Zvolení Jiříka z Poděbrad za krále českého. (Election of Jiřík of Poděbrady as King of Bohemia.) 1898. Czech. Oil on canvas. Václav Brožík, painter (1851-1901). Collections of the Old Town Hall, Brožík Hall, Prague. In the public domain in the United States because the artist died over 100 years ago. via https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Vaclav_Brozik_-_Volba.jpg

Polyxena z Lobkovicochraňuje ve svém domě královské místodržící Slavatu a Martinice, svržené z oken královského hradu v Praze roku 1618 (Polyxena of Lobkowitz safeguarding the royal officials Slavata and Martinic, thrown out of windows of the royal castle in Prague in 1618.) Undated, by 1901. Czech. Oil on canvas. Václav Brožík, painter (1851-1901). Image source: dorotheum.com. In the public domain in the United States because the artist died over 100 years ago. via https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Brozik_Vaclav_017.jpg
Tu felix Austria nube (engagement of Louis Jagiellon to Maria Habsburg). 1896. Czech. Václav Brožík, painter (1851-1901). Collections of the Kunsthistorisches Museum and the Belvedere Museum, Vienna. In the public domain in the United States because the painter died over 100 years ago. via https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:V%C3%A1clav_Bro%C5%BE%C3%ADk_-Tu_felix_Austria_nube2768a-b-_Kunsthistorisches_Museum.jpg

Antique hand-fans. All of these from a current Sotheby’s auction catalogue. Please note that a few which were made in the 18th and 19th centuries have elephant ivory sticks and guards. To my mind that makes it all right to use here. If it bothers you please look at the other two.

Hand-fan with a painted vellum leaf depicting various scenes of agricultural labor, contained by broad decorative borders depicting flora, fauna and chinoiserie figures. Elephant ivory sticks and guards, the sticks finely pierced with foliate patterns and and creating silhouette scenes against the mother-of-pearl ground of an elegant group with a horse-drawn carriage. The pierced guards with a ground of colored foil. 1760-1770. Image © 2021 Sotheby’s. Fair use license. via https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2022/hotel-lambert-une-collection-princiere-volume-v-lecrin/an-ivory-and-painted-vellum-fan-1760-1770?locale=en

Hand-fan with the vellum leaf depicting a mythological scene, possibly Diana and Actaeon. Pierced horn sticks with stylized foliate patterns. The pierced guards with a central medallion of a vase of flowers surmounted by a ribbon and a plaque containing the number “662”. Early 19th c. French. Image © 2021 Sotheby’s. Fair use license. via https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2022/hotel-lambert-une-collection-princiere-volume-v-lecrin/a-horn-and-vellum-fan-french-early-19th-century?locale=en

Horn and silk hand-fan. Pierced and sequined silk leaves the horn sticks and mounts studded with silver. 19th c. Image © 2021 Sotheby’s. Fair use license. via https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2022/hotel-lambert-une-collection-princiere-volume-v-lecrin/a-horn-and-silk-fan-19th-century?locale=en
Hand-fan with a chicken-skin leaf and elephant ivory sticks and guards. The ivory sticks and guards pierced with floral motifs and a fine mesh ground enclosing scenes of musicians and painters, bound using a mother-of-pearl washer, the chicken-skin leaf depicting a group of chinoiserie figures within vignettes of fruit, flowers and insects. Mid 18th c. Probably French. Image © 2021 Sotheby’s. Fair use license. via https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2022/hotel-lambert-une-collection-princiere-volume-v-lecrin/an-ivory-fan-probably-french-mid-18th-century?locale=en
Lace and mother-of-pearl hand-fan. The sticks and guards in finely pierced mother-of-pearl and heightened with gold foil, the sticks including two engraved portrait medallions, the guards centrally featuring an ornate monogram studded with diamonds and a lady with a fan surmounted by a cherub. The leaf in Ponte-de-Gaze lade with a floral pattern. The box being marked Spaulding and Company/Jewelers and Silversmiths/36 Avenue de l’Opera/Paris. 1890-1900. Made in Paris, France by Spaulding and Company. Image © 2021 Sotheby’s. Fair use license. via https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2022/hotel-lambert-une-collection-princiere-volume-v-lecrin/a-lace-and-mother-of-pearl-fan-by-spaulding-1890?locale=en

Imagery from the “Report on the United States and Mexican Boundary Survey” made under the direction of the secretary of the Interior for the 34th Congress in 1858 by William H. Emory.

Noco-Shimatt-Tash-Tanaki, Grizzly Bear. Seminole Chief. 1858. American. Page 76. Chromolithograph. Arthur Schott, artist. Sarony and Company, New York, lithographers. Collections of the Peter H. Raven Library, Missouri Botanical Garden. In the public domain due to age. via https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/91674#page/76/mode/1up

Falls of the Rio Salado. 1858. American. Page 93 of a Report on the United States and Mexican Boundary Survey done by William H. Emory for the 34th Congress. Sarony and Company, New York, lithographers after a drawing by J. E. Weyss. Collections of the Peter H. Raven Library, Missouri Botanical Garden. In the public domain due to age. via https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/91674#page/93/mode/1up

Lipan Warrior. 1858. American. Page 108 of a Report on the United States and Mexican Boundary Survey done by William H. Emory for the 34th Congress. Sarony, Major, and Knapp, New York, lithographers after a drawing by A Schott. Collections of the Peter H. Raven Library, Missouri Botanical Garden. In the public domain due to age. via https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/91674#page/108/mode/1up

My new romance novel “Cloudlands: the House on Emeralda Key”.

Good morning! I do other kinds of creative work too and so am posting with a copy of the front cover and an Amazon link as I am beyond thrilled as it took two years from start to finish and I am thrilled it is done. Thinking some of you might be interested in reading it too. The characters are fictional but everything else is researched to my research standards that you see here with the various posts. Thank you for following me! Sarah.



https://www.amazon.com/Cloudlands-Emeralda-Sarah-Guest-Perry/dp/B0B6XSNPVX/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=sarah+b+guest+perry&qid=1659191041&sr=8-1

Visions of an older America. Landscapes by Asher Brown Durand. Living from 1796 to 1886, he was part of the Hudson River School..

Landscape. 1859. American. Oil on canvas. Asher Brown Durand, painter (1796-1886). Signed and dated A B Durand 1859 on the lower left. Collections of and image © the Princeton University Art Museum. Artwork itself in the public domain due to age. Fair use license. via https://artmuseum.princeton.edu/collections/objects/27252

Progress (The Advance of Civilization). 1853. American. Oil on canvas. Asher Brown Durand, painter (1796-1886). Photo credit: Travis Fullerton. Collections of and image © Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Artwork itself in the public domain due to age. via https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Progress_by_Asher_Brown_Durand.jpg

Kaaterskill Landscape. 1850. American. Oil on canvas. Asher Brown Durand, painter (1796-1886). Collections of and image © the Princeton University Art Museum. Fair use license. Artwork itself in the public domain due to age. via https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1850,_Durand,_Asher_Brown,_Kaaterskill_Landscape.jpg

Glass champagne coupes (flutes) from Viennese firm A J & L Lobmyer. Founded in 1823 they are still in business.

Floral form shaped enamel champagne coupes (flutes). ca. 1900. Art Nouveau/Jugendstil. Glass. Austrian, made in Vienna. A. J. and L Lobmyer, makers. Maker’s marks: signed with makers marks on the underside. Image © 2022 Incollect.com. Fair use license. via https://www.incollect.com/listings/decorative-arts/tablewares/lobmeyr-champagne-flower-form-enamel-art-glass-1905-299431

Five clear glass champagne coupes (flutes) with flaring bowls with cut gilt edges, gilt zigzagging decoration with gilt dots and festoons and three stylized acanthus leaves. Plain stems with two nodules, the bases with matching decoration.ca. 1900. Art Nouveau/Jugendstil. Austrian, made in Vienna. A. J. and L Lobmyer, maker. Maker’s marks: Signed J&L Lobmyer. Image © 2022 Dorotheum GmbH & Co KG. Fair use license. via https://www.dorotheum.com/en/l/7270225/#

Ten gilt heightened enamel decorated glass champagne coupes (flutes). ca. 1900. Art Nouveau/Jugendstil. Made in Vienna, Austria. A. J. and L Lobmyer, maker. Maker’s marks: Marked to the underside. Image © 2022 Andrew Jones Auctions. Fair use license. via https://www.andrewjonesauctions.com/auction-lot/a-set-of-ten-austrian-lobmeyr-gilt-heightened-ena_EB94BC5AB4

Have a drawing room just like Marie Antoinette’s Trianon. Rococo designs taken from Adolph Hoffman’s 1800 work “Holzsculpturen und Möbel in Rococo : Stühle, Sessel, Tische, Schemel, Guéridons, Uhrgehaüse, Consolen, Spiegel- und Bilder-Rahmen, Ornamente, etc.”

Plate C2, Page 2 of Holzsculpturen und Möbel in Rococo : Stühle, Sessel, Tische, Schemel, Guéridons, Uhrgehaüse, Consolen, Spiegel- und Bilder-Rahmen, Ornamente, etc. Collections of and digitalized by the Smithsonian Libraries. In the public domain due to age. via https://archive.org/details/holzsculpturenun00hoff/page/2/mode/1up

Plate C3, Page 3 of Holzsculpturen und Möbel in Rococo : Stühle, Sessel, Tische, Schemel, Guéridons, Uhrgehaüse, Consolen, Spiegel- und Bilder-Rahmen, Ornamente, etc. Collections of and digitalized by the Smithsonian Libraries. In the public domain due to age. via https://archive.org/details/holzsculpturenun00hoff/page/3/mode/1up

Plate C8, Page 8 of Holzsculpturen und Möbel in Rococo : Stühle, Sessel, Tische, Schemel, Guéridons, Uhrgehaüse, Consolen, Spiegel- und Bilder-Rahmen, Ornamente, etc. Collections of and digitalized by the Smithsonian Libraries. In the public domain due to age. via https://archive.org/details/holzsculpturenun00hoff/page/8/mode/1up

Plate C17, Page 17 of Holzsculpturen und Möbel in Rococo : Stühle, Sessel, Tische, Schemel, Guéridons, Uhrgehaüse, Consolen, Spiegel- und Bilder-Rahmen, Ornamente, etc. Collections of and digitalized by the Smithsonian Libraries. In the public domain due to age. via https://archive.org/details/holzsculpturenun00hoff/page/17/mode/1up

Plate C28, Page 28 of Holzsculpturen und Möbel in Rococo : Stühle, Sessel, Tische, Schemel, Guéridons, Uhrgehaüse, Consolen, Spiegel- und Bilder-Rahmen, Ornamente, etc. Collections of and digitalized by the Smithsonian Libraries. In the public domain due to age. via https://archive.org/details/holzsculpturenun00hoff/page/28/mode/1up

Art Deco/1920s era hand-fans, taken from the June offerings of Fan d’eventails, Paris.

Brisé synthetic fan, with a case for blush in the top of the guard. Maker not known. Image © Fan d’Eventails, Paris. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/novelty-hands-fans/3266-beauty-set-art-deco-novelty-fan.html

Advertising fan for Perfum by Morny with Essence Mystérieuse, Parfum Distingué de Morny written on the back. Gauze leaf with stencil fabric painting. Bone sticks. Art Deco. Image © Fan d’Eventails, Paris. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/advertising-fans/3270-perfum-by-morny-art-deco-advertising-fan.html

Wild grape hand-fan. Paper leaf painted with a stencil similar to how wallpaper was printed with wooden sticks and guards. Missing reverse lining. 1900-1920. Maker not known. Image © Fan d’Eventails, Paris. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/art-nouveau-fans/3265-wild-grappe-fan-circa-1900-1920.html

19th century orchids, painted by American artist Charles Storer. Living from 1817 to 1907, he also painted landscapes and still-lifes.


Orchids from Nature. 1902. American. Oil on canvas. Charles Storer, artist (1917-1907). Signed and dated Chas. Storer/1902 on the lower right. Signed and dated ORCHIDS, painted /from nature by/Charles Storer,/1902. on the reverse, identified on a label from The Boston Art Club affixed to the frame backing. Image © 1999 – 2022Bonhams SKINNER, INC, Fai use license. via https://www.skinnerinc.com/auctions/4110M/lots/39

Still Life of Orchids in an Urn. 1900. American. Charles Storer, artist (1917-1907). Image source mutualart.com. Artwork in the public domain in the United States because the artist died over 70 years ago. via https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Still_Life_of_Orchids_in_an_Urn.png

Cypripedium Bellatulum. 1898. American. Watercolor on paper. Charles Storer, artist (1817-1907). Image source: Arader Galleries, New York City. Artwork itself in the public domain in the United States because the artist died over 70 years ago. via https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cypripedium_Bellatulum_by_Charles_Storer,_1898,_watercolor.jpg