Grapefruit Moon Gallery

Original Art from the Grand Age of American Illustration

art deco

I am pleased to offer a wonderfully executed original pastel by Rolf Armstrong that was used as a College Humor Magazine cover (February 1933) and also as a pair of Brown & Bigelow calendar prints titled Lets Go Places and a cropped “head only” version titled Florence published a few years later in 1937. A skillfully executed and elaborately detailed (and large for the artist) pastel of a sassy, beret-wearing blonde and her Scottish terrier. Classic good girl imagery by the father of American Pin-up.

Lets Go Places

Artist: Rolf Armstrong

A glamorous and devine large rendering of beautiful screen star siren Gene Tierney in pastel done in 1936 and used for a cover of True Confessions Magazine, January 1940. A defining work by noted Brown & Bigelow pin-up artist and prolific cover illustrator Zoe Mozert . Mozert executed over 400 covers for such titles as Screen Book, True Romance, True Confessions and Randolph Hearst’s American Weekly. This is an examplatory example of Zoe’s Hollywood Portraiture and is in pristine condition with original gilt ornate frame.

Gene Tierney

Artist: Zoe Mozert

A fantastic and phrenetic original art deco era illustration of a nude nymph sea sprite and friends riding a school of flying fish ! Original use is unknown; looks like a pulp cover or perhaps an early Science & Invention cover to these eyes . A defining and whimsical example by the American Artist Charles W. Pancoast, who is credited with illustrating the 1907 edition of BLACK BEAUTY: The Autobiography of a Horse by Dodge Publishing Company, New York.

A Nude Sea Sprite On A Flying Fish

Artist: Charles Pancoast

A boldly executed rare surviving art deco cover illustration by noted American artist, Frank McIntosh. McIntosh is best known for his Hawaiian-style menu art for Matson Line cruise ships. He was the main cover illustrator for Asia magazine from 1925-1934. Today these issues are in great demand because of their exceptional stylized art deco covers. A rare opportunity to buy an original McIntosh cover illustration painting.

Japanese Musicians

Artist: Frank McIntosh

An original art deco pastel by noted cover illustrator and sometimes pin-up creator, Victor Tchetchet. Illustrating the interior story by John Erskine titled Thargelia. Face is very Rolf Armstrong-esque. A worn tear sheet of the cover is included in the sale, nicely framed and double matted in a vintage gesso period frame.

Thargelia

Artist: Victor Tchetchet

A delightful if somewhat macabre and seemingly allegorical take on an interior nude Harem Scene. Eerily rendered grotesques, satyrs, nymphs, and a female nude in the forefront — ravished by age — cavort in a whimsical Middle Eastern aesthetic interior. Painting is unsigned but guaranteed to be an original work by this well-listed and exhibited artist. A fresh estate auction buy, where a large collection of Brown original paintings were sold over a several month period straight from the artist’s descendents’ estate. Beautifully framed in a period, ornate gesso wood frame as seen and mounted on original suede as presented by artist and found.

Art Deco Nude Harem Scene

Artist: Bob Brown

This is a rare opportunity to purchase an original Art Deco Era pastel by undoubtably the finest female pin-up illustrator of this Golden Age! This large and breathtaking nude retains its original frame which was also hand-painted by the artist, Mabel Rollins Harris. Harris was a leading illustrator during the 1920’s and 1930’s and did calendar work for Brown & Bigelow and the Thomas D. Murphy Company, of which this is an example. Her original pastels are scarce and seldom come on the market. I just located a published version of this piece it is shown here and included in sale. It is completed artwork and, to these eyes, the finest of Harris’ creations.

Sprite of Springtime

Artist: Mabel Rollins Harris

A rare surviving original cover illustration painting done for a series titled Seven Ages Of Woman for Randolph Hearst’s American Weekly Magazine. This cleverly depicts the lovelorned writing of the preverbial “Dear John” letter only in this case it is “Dear Henry”. Mr Clive had numerous wives and presumably got sent a few of these himself. This image is titled The Break-Age. Marked on verso and signed lower right.

The Break-age

Artist: Henry Clive

A charming original oil on canvas by noted Calendar artist Charlotte Becker. Rare, original commissioned calendar art retains verso label with work order instructions, dated with detailed instructions for printing specifics. The calendar company is not identified on label, additionally there is a verso label for Max Rosenstein Art Shop on the backing paper, with a Philadelphia address. This is a very popular enduring image and a rare opportunity to own the original painting. Beautifully framed in its original gesso painted art deco frame.

Child Sleeping With Toy Rabbit

Artist: Charlotte Becker

 

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