American Schoolgirl Watercolor, ca. 1825
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GUEST:
I picked it up at a local charity sale in my hometown, got it for a dollar. I thought it was cool because it looked old. Be interesting to find something out about it.
APPRAISER:
Of all the things that was at the charity sale, what made you choose this?
GUEST:
It was very interesting. I thought I noticed the old glass in it, and it has some stuff written on the back of it. I, I just thought it was cool.
APPRAISER:
Well, we have this wonderful little scene of seven maidens here. And as you mentioned, there's the back. So let's take a look at what it says on the back, which is, "The flowers will all fade and the fruit will decay." This is a religious message. It goes on to talk about Jesus Christ and how things just eventually fall apart. Yet, there are these wonderful maidens on, on the front. Any idea of who they might be?
GUEST:
No, I thought it was a bridal party when I looked at it, because this one woman don't have any flowers in her hair, and all the others do.
APPRAISER:
I think it is probably referring to the Seven Sisters. They were in the Pleiades, and it is part of Greek mythology. They were children of Atlas. This piece was painted by, probably, a schoolgirl in the early 19th century. And so when you were schooled as a young woman, you got a background in, certainly, religious education, but then also Greek mythology. It is a wonderful depiction where this young schoolgirl has carefully done each little face. And I'm guessing that what it was was part of this young girl's book.
GUEST:
Mm-hmm.
APPRAISER:
We don't know who she was.
GUEST:
Right.
APPRIASER: But we know that young women were schooled in these kinds of arts. I love the way it's framed. It's got a period frame, early 19th century. I would leave it the way it is, perhaps put in between the two pieces some paper that would help the burning, the acidification of the paper that the work is on.
GUEST:
Right. The paper almost looks like it's fabric instead of paper. Or is it, is it the way it's made?
APPRAISER:
No, I think it's just a beautiful linen paper. It was painted in the United States, probably East Coast, perhaps New England or Middle Atlantic states. And it is 1820, 1830. It's an early piece of American schoolgirl work. And a lovely, charming thing. I would say, if I saw it at auction, I would estimate it in the $3,000 to $5,000 range.
GUEST:
(whispers) Wow.
APPRAISER:
Yeah.
GUEST:
(mumbles)
APPRIASER: Yeah, yeah.
GUEST:
(laughs)
APPRAISER:
And, and I think that it would do much better.
GUEST:
Yeah.
APPRAISER:
I mean, this could bring $7,000, $8,000.
GUEST:
That's amazing.
APPRIASER: At auction.
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