Antique French Oval Watercolor of Yellow Roses in Gilt Metal Laurel Frame

A small French watercolor of yellow tea roses spilling from a deep blue bowl, painted in an oval with the confidence of someone who had done this before and intended to do it again. The petals are worked in buttery yellows and blush, with white highlights picking out the edges. The soft blue-gray ground makes the whole arrangement look lit from within. Signed lower right.

It sits in its original gilt metal frame, stamped with a running border of laurel leaves and berries. There is no glass, so the paper's texture and the brushwork read clearly up close. The reverse is backed in a pale green embossed basketweave paper, held by four small brass tabs, which is a lot of finish for the side nobody sees.

Small enough for a bookshelf, a bedside table, or a gallery wall of other things that are small and lovely.

Details

• Origin: France
• Medium: watercolor on paper
• Frame: gilt metal with laurel-and-berry border; no glass
• Signed lower right
• Dimensions: 5.25" × 4"
• Condition: light wear to the frame and paper consistent with age; the backing paper is lifted slightly at one edge. Please review all photos.