Set (4) Nathaniel Currier Lithographs American Country Life--Four Seasons C1855
By Currier & Ives
Located in Incline Village, NV
It is rare to have the opportunity to acquire all four of these scenes at once, especially in this very good all original condition; and housed and professionally framed in fine quality and attractive bird's eye maple wooden frames with preservation backing and frontal protective glass (important when dealing with 170 year old lithographs); all are the more rare and desirable large folio sheet examples in fine original color. The larger folios are more rare because they appealed to the wealthier sector of the population and were more expensive, thus fewer were made, albeit, knowing their more discerning customer base, there was more attention given to detail; hand coloring, and quality for example. All examples had been framed and housed in museum quality conservation backing for over 80 years. I have had each one professionally taken apart and inspected visually and examined with a black light and loop; as a result, I guarantee and can attest to the accuracy of my descriptions of each folio. I then had the folios professionally remounted in their original frames with an upgraded preservation backing (see images for viewing original folios out of frame and for confirmation of inspection). When available these lithographs are typically acquired individually, in varying condition, and often unframed. Other examples are often reproductions or "tear out sheets" from coffee table type books. These lithographs have no tears, no touch up paint, and no glued or taped repairs. This iconic and highly desirable set of four lithographs by Nathaniel Currier (1813-1888) dated 1855 from the American Country Life series depicts; Spring "May Morning"; Summer "Summer Evening"; Fall ""October Afternoon"; and Winter "Pleasures of Winter". All four images are produced from the paintings of well known artist Frances (Fanny) Flora (Bond Palmer (1812-1876). She painted typical American scenes of daily American life that were used by Currier for years to come. She was an accomplished artist by the time she migrated to the United States from England, and Currier commissioned her to do the country scenes for this series. Each of the original images are toned lithographs with applied hand painted watercolor. The series of four reflects affluent life styles in each of the four seasons by showcasing grandiose homes and glamorizing the rural way of living as urban areas became more densely populated with the tidal wave and arrival of immigrants. Nathaniel Currier began his lithograph business in 1835 with hand colored images portraying outdoor panoramic, historical, pastoral, and landmark scenes and events, with which the middle class and the wealthy sought to decorate their houses. James Ives (1824-1895) was his accountant) and would join him later in 1857 to help run the business. Each of the hand painted lithographs is embellished with script text in the bottom margin of the folio "Entered according to art of congress in the year 1855 by N. Currier in the clerk's office of the southern district of N.Y." "F.F Palmer...
1850s American Victorian Antique Currier & Ives Furniture
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