A few years ago, I found this picture in a junk shop for about $1.00 and bought it for the frame. I needed it for framing a piece of embroidery. However, once I had it at home I took a closer look at the picture, which seems to be a watercolor.
It is a whimsical composition of a stork carrying a baby suspended above two little girls and a boy amid delightful flowers and hearts.
The more I looked at it, the nicer it seemed, so I have kept it. It now hangs in my bedroom.
As for the artist signature, I can make out something like "Pario" in the lower right corner.
On the back of the frame an inscription is written in black marker on cardboard:
"Love for Baby"
designed by Marion
for Gordon Fraser, Bedford
England
Pasted above this is a business card for "Gallery Frames/ Ermita, Manila", indicating that this was framed in the Philippines.
It seems strange, though, that such a nice picture should be backed with regular cardboard and wide sticky tape.
One of these days I will remove the backing to see what is underneath, and to give it a proper acid-free backing.
To visit other show and tell posts, please go to Kelli’s.
Thanks for stopping by. I hope you found this picture as delightful as I have. Please leave your comment and come back again soon.
That is a sweeeeeeet painting. You should try to contact the gallery to find out who the artist is/was. You could then google his/her name and maybe see some other works of art by the same artist :-)
ReplyDeleteThat is an adorable painting! How fun to discover more and more about it!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely watercolor. It's so soft and serene. I like the history on the back as well.
ReplyDeleteLaTeaDah
What a pretty picture, I'm not surprised you decided to keep it :)
ReplyDeletegorgeous [I personally, would leave the backing on it....or save it somehow...that tells a whole history of the painting!]
ReplyDeleteHappy show n telling
Oh, what a wonderful find. I just love this one.
ReplyDeleteThats pretty painting and i like painting too. Happy weekend.
ReplyDeleteDon't you wish it could talk? I mean, the journey it made to end up in your hands and then treasured! Pretty interesting!
ReplyDeleteConnie
What a delightful painting!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Constance ~ Don't you wish it could talk and tell you of the journey it took to reach your hands?
Glad you didn't junk the true "find" for the $1 frame!!
ReplyDeleteSusan
Carrie I googled "Gordon Fraser" because the name sounded familiar. He was a famous British publisher. I think you should look into this watercolor. It might be valuable... :)
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, the picture is delightful! Where's the Antiques Roadshow when you need them? :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet watercolor, a very lovely piece. I think there is a treasure behind the backing. Linda
ReplyDeleteLovely painting! Thrifting is so fun!
ReplyDeletexo
mary
hoganfe handbags
It's such a sweet painting! You do well to take care of it.
ReplyDeleteI would have trouble parting with it, too!
ReplyDeleteThat is delightful!! I love water colors!! It would be so cool to know the history of that picture!!
ReplyDeleteI love that picture--I would have bought it too--ohh, I am curious as to what may be behind it.
ReplyDeleteJulieann
What a nice Show and Tell! The painting is beautiful! It looks a little familiar, I'm wondering if I've seen something like it before. I'm glad you left it in the frame!
ReplyDeleteKatherine
Absolutely beautiful-I enjoyed looking at it. Thanks for sharing!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great discovery for $1. An interesting story of the prints history.
ReplyDeleteKathy b
Amazing find, I would be
ReplyDeleteso curious and the back
would be ripped off.
I would have to see
what's under the
cardboard.
Thank you all for your comments. This is one of my favorite items.
ReplyDeleteYes, Teach, I did a Google search too and found that Gordon Fraser, Bedford, England published various titles in the 1950's. The framer in Manila, Philippines had nine shop locations. Some time ago, an art appraiser friend looked up the artist in ArtFact but had no result.
I will continue to seek information.
Carrie
So sweet - I don't blame you for looking for more info on it! I'll bet it just makes you smile every time you look at it! :)
ReplyDeleteSo sweet - I don't blame you for looking for more info on it! I'll bet it just makes you smile every time you look at it! :)
ReplyDeleteThis is such a sweet painting. I am glad you didn't take it apart. It is amazing to find things like this that obviously have a history. You wonder who, what, where and when... Love, Esther
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting piece! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet little painting and it has its own mystery too!
ReplyDeleteIt looks like an illustration. Maybe from a book and the gifter had it framed. Too bad there's no date.
ReplyDeleteMama Bear
Dear Oak Rise Cottage! First of all, thank you for visiting Thatchwick Cottage. I am so pleased I found you (or you found me). I love Oak Rise Cottage! You also gave me lots of ideas. Sandy Lynam Clough, a Christian artist, also has published lovely tea books and has a special tea network. She's in Texas, too far for me! I will visit again! Eleanor at Thatchwick
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet picture!
ReplyDeleteManuela