Friday, October 29, 2010

alfred hair appraisal


Here's a classic from Alfred Hair, 24 x 48 upson of course, pristine condition with original crown molding frame. I appraised this one for an estate about 6 months ago.

I've had a few of these golden sunrise seascapes, 48 and 36 inchers, mostly he did the longer ones. There's one of these in the Fitch traveling highwaymen display thing he's got going. Or there used to be.

Anyway, these are classics. Enjoy the pic.

Saturday, October 23, 2010

Fake Livingston Roberts on eBay


Be careful out there.
This link, while it lasts, takes you to a L Roberts fake or mis-attribution on eBay 10/23/10.

http://cgi.ebay.com/HighWayMen-L-Roberts-Vintage-Swamp-Landscape-/170555564910?pt=Art_Paintings&hash=item27b5e7636e

Well here we go, boys and girls. I understand how this can happen, but.........
here's what the seller writes in his description : (copy/paste)

After much research the Highwaymen signed their work in many formats / ways depending on what they had and could afford for tools and paint at that time.
I personally cannot portray that this is one of Livingston Roberts earlier pieces- but it does carry the ambience of one through his style, technique and vivid colors.
All of Livingston Roberts paintings of Florida landscapes are painted in oils on Upson board or Masonite. He signed each work in a way unusual for many Highwaymen –
******by scratching "L. Roberts" into the wet paint with a PALETTE knife.******



First he states that Roberts always scratched in the signature. Then he shows a nice close-up of a painted-on signature. Go figure.

L Roberts sometimes painted on his signature, so this seller/researcher's first premise was incorrect to begin with. Although signed L Roberts, the signature was not done by "highwayman" L Roberts, maybe it was done by Leo Roberts or Lenora Roberts or Lucy Roberts, an amateur grandmotherly hobbyist/painter.

The signature is wrong, one indication is that Livingston used a lower case "b", as in L, RObERTS" when he signed. Don't know why, but he did.

I might as well mention that the style is wrong, the technique is wrong and Livingston painted on canvases and canvasboards as well as upson and masonite.

The most obvious difference between this painting and a genuine L Roberts painting is the talent level portrayed by the finished product. Livingston was talented.

This L Roberts, whoever it may be, ain't what you could call "talented".

Or maybe someone just added the signature for fun and possible profit, although that would be against the law, so that certainly wouldn't happen, eh ?

Be careful out there.

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Appraise and evaluate highwaymen paintings

Well, here's how you get a stronger google presence, I'd have to guess.
Seems to have worked for THEM, let's see if it works for me.

This is copy/pasted from another site with only the names changed to protect the guilty.

GUILTY OF WHAT ? (you may ask)
Guilty of nothing, sez I.

Her you go, boys and girls. It is what it is.

Florida Highwaymen Painting. Sell Highwaymen art and paintings. Appraise Highwaymen painting and art. Buy Highwaymen paintings and art. - Florida dealer and appraiser of Florida Highwaymen paintings and art. Appraise Highwaymen - Our appraisers evaluate, appraise and value your Highwaymen painting. Appraisers of single Highwaymen paintings to complete Highwaymen art collections. We will purchase Highwaymen paintings outright or offer you the best consignment terms in the industry in the next fine art exhibition. Our marketing and West Palm Beach venue are unparalleled. Florida Highwaymen artists and works remain in strong collector demand. Contact us for appraisal consultation for your Florida Highwaymen paintings or other works of fine art. We travel Florida for fine art and collections.

Highwaymen collectors should contact us for our current offerings of Highwaymen paintings.

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Harold Newton Market Report





Harold Newton Market Report.


You pronounce it "ray-poor" like the Colbert Report.


Anyway, it's all good news. The season is upon us and the investment quality listed and deceased highwaymen market resurgence has begun.


Two classic 1960's Harolds have sold for decent money, rather than lowball give-away prices around $1000.00 that the plain ones sell for.
The savanna is a 24x48 upson board
The sunset is 24x36 upson

The reason, of course, is that they are high end drop dead gorgeous examples of his work, and when you want the best, it always costs a premium.


Here they are for you to enjoy. Look at them separately, together they clash, each with it's own charm and look.