Elmer Wachtel Landscape Oil, ca. 1915
GUEST:
I inherited it from my father. My sister and I got to choose which paintings we wanted, and I chose this one.
APPRAISER:
Do you know how your father acquired the painting?
GUEST:
He started collecting paintings when he was quite young-- well, in his 30s, I believe. And he had several paintings. So this is just one of them. Probably, I would say, he might have bought it in the '40s.
APPRAISER:
Do you have any idea what your father might have paid for this painting?
GUEST:
I haven't the slightest idea.
APPRAISER:
It's a beautiful landscape by Elmer Wachtel, who was a California Impressionist.
GUEST:
Mm-hmm.
APPRAISER:
One of the most notable California Impressionist painters. He was born in 1864 in Baltimore...
GUEST:
Mm-hmm.
APPRAISER:
And then grew up on a farm in Illinois. He moved to California for a bit before he went to formal art training.
GUEST:
Mm-hmm.
APPRAISER:
But a fun fact: when he was in California, he taught himself how to play the violin...
GUEST:
Oh!
APPRAISER:
And ultimately became the first chair at the L.A. Philharmonic. So, uh, he was a multitalented artist. He then went to study under William Merritt Chase for a bit, and then at a school in London where he trained, ultimately moving back to California, where he painted landscapes.
GUEST:
Mm-hmm.
APPRAISER:
He met his wife in 1904, so he was about 40 when he met his wife...
GUEST:
Mm-hmm.
APPRAISER:
Marion Wachtel-- uh, Marion Kavanaugh at the time.
GUEST:
Mm-hmm.
APPRAISER:
She was also an artist.
GUEST:
Mm-hmm.
APPRAISER:
And they traveled around California. Uh, they specially equipped a car with easels, and, and painted in the plein air style.
GUEST:
Okay.
APPRAISER:
This was most likely done during that time period.
GUEST:
Mm-hmm.
APPRAISER:
Around 1910 or 1915.
GUEST:
Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.
APPRAISER:
It's an oil painting on canvas board, and it's signed lower left with his stylized signature...
GUEST:
Mm-hmm.
APPRAISER:
After, uh, his last name.
GUEST:
Yeah.
APPRAISER:
The painting is in wonderful condition, by the way.
GUEST:
Mm-hmm.
APPRAISER:
Have you had it restored?
GUEST:
I have had it cleaned, I think when I first inherited it.
APPRAISER:
Have you had it appraised?
GUEST:
Uh, several years ago, we did. The gentleman said that he thought it was about $17,000. And... But I don't know if it's gone up or gone down from then. But I was just curious to find out.
APPRAISER:
Well, California Impressionism has retained its value.
GUEST:
Mm-hmm.
APPRAISER:
So it's a... There's still a very strong market for paintings like this. And I would say currently, at auction, you could conceivably expect to get $35,000 to $45,000.
GUEST:
Wow.
APPRAISER:
So an insurance value, based on that, could be somewhere in that $70,000 range.
GUEST:
Okay, okay. Wow, that's-- I'm impressed.
APPRAISER:
Good.
GUEST:
I'm very happy.
APPRAISER:
Good.
Appraisal Details
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