Thomas Willis listed as having been born in Connecticut, there is ample evidence that he was born in Denmark and emigrated to CT as a young man. There are pervasive rumors that he lived and worked in New York City as a silk importer or a manufacturer of embroidery thread, which lead to his unique art form; however, his style and technique was fully developed while still living in Europe. Rumors aside, it is well documented that he worked prolifically creating portraits of yachts and steamers on commission for members of the American, New York and Corinthian Yacht Clubs, as well as others. His earliest work tended to be on plain colored silk backgrounds; soon his work featured oil painting on canvas backgrounds, thought to originally have been done for him by friends such as the renowned marine artist Antonio Jacobsen (who shared many of the same clients). It is believed that these artists taught Willis how to paint for himself, eventually becoming quite adept. As such, the painted backgrounds on Willis' work can vary from the still somewhat amateurish to the frankly sublime. He was, however, the only artist working in this unique medium and style, and his art is unmistakable and irrefutable.
Thomas Willis: Shamrock III and Reliance Crossing the Line, America’s Cup, 1903
By Thomas Willis
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
Thomas Willis: Shamrock III and Reliance Crossing the Line, America’s Cup, 1903. This mixed media picture is oil on canvas with silk and velvet fabric embroidered with silk thread. I...
Canvas, Paint
Silk Embroidered Hand Painted Seascape by Thomas Willis, circa 1890
By Thomas Willis
Located in Nantucket, MA
19th century silk embroidered and hand painted oil on canvas seascape by Thomas Willis (1850 - 1925), depicting a schooner-rigged racing yacht closely ha...
Canvas, Silk
Lake George Vintage Photograph, circa 1910
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
An unusual photograph, circa 1910-1920 where the letters Lake George are made of cutout photographs. Original frame-really a unique object with character and timeless character. Lak...
Paper
"Stagecoach Crossing" Original Painting by Sheryl Bodily
By Sheryl Bodily
Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID
Measures: 6" x 12" oil on board. Bodily received his early training from an uncle and furthered his artist education at Brigham Young University. Subjects rendered in oils include In...
Paint
Chinese Antique Signed Embroidered Silk Framed Painting
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Tall framed and matted Chinese embroidered silk painting depicting birds and flowers and shrubbery. Signed with calligraphy inscription and r...
Silk, Wood
Hand Painted On Silk 19th Century Hand Held Fan; American, Circa 1890
Located in Incline Village, NV
Lovely American hand held fan; hand painted subject on silk with fancy mother of pearl sticks; each with silver sequins border trim. Done in the Victorian manner with the main subjec...
Mother-of-Pearl, Silk
English Embroidered Silk Panel Of A Parrot, Circa 1890
Located in Atlanta, GA
A finely executed antique embroidered silk panel depicting a parrot perched on a branching limb, rendered with strong decorative clarity and highly controlled stitchwork. The bird is...
Silk
Painted Wood Relief Model of a Three-Mast Ship, 20th Century
Located in Buchanan, MI
A painted wood relief model of a three-mast ship 20th century With a plaque reading Oriol 1884, in a shadowbox frame. Measures: 26 1/2 x 13 1/2 inches (fra...
Canvas
$7,996
H 13.39 in W 9.85 in D 1.97 in
Enamel Plaque Depicting Napoleon Crossing the Alps, by Camille Fauré, circa 1930
By Camille Fauré
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
An enamel plaque depicting Napoleon crossing the Alps, by Camille Fauré, Limoges. French, circa 1930. Signed 'FAURÉ, Limoges France. N...
Enamel
$760Sale Price|20% Off
H 25 in W 31.5 in D 1.25 in
Antique Seascape Print of “The America” Winner of the Cowes Club Cup C1851
Located in Big Flats, NY
Antique Seascape Print of “The America” Winner of the Cowes Club Cup by Oswald W. Brierly C1851 Measures - 25"H x 31.5"W x 1.25"D This antique seascape print depicts 'The America',...
Paper
$1,345Sale Price|20% Off
H 70.87 in W 17.52 in D 0.04 in
Japanese Painting Meiji 1903 Scroll Suzuki Shoutoshi Nihonga New Year's Day 1903
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Product Description This is a work drawn by Matsutoshi Suzuki on New Year's Day, 1903, as you can see. The figure of the zodiac ``Snake'' and a jewel are depicted, and a poem of praise is attached to the top. 《Suzuki Shoutoshi》 Separate issue is a hundred times at first. A painter from Kyoto and a child of 100 years. He learned painting techniques from his father and was good at landscapes, flowers, and birds. He was a teacher at Kyoto Prefectural Painting School and Uemura Shoen...
Silk
$3,500
H 61.5 in W 35.25 in D 1 in
Framed Hand-Painted Parchment Painting of a Celestial Warrior with Silk Matting
Located in Yonkers, NY
A Qing Dynasty period hand-painted Celestial warrior on parchment with silk matting in custom frame. This Qing Dynasty period hand-painted depiction of a Celestial warrior is rich in...
Composition
Painting Naive Oil Four Cornish Lugger Spirit of Alfred Wallis
Located in BUNGAY, SUFFOLK
Lugger in full sail riding a wave past a lighthouse with land on the horizon. Characterful naive picture in the spirit of Alfred Wallis. Provenance: Pa...
Other
French Faience Nautical Pattern Plate, circa 1900
Located in Austin, TX
Large 19th French decorative plate with nautical pattern (boats, fishs baskets, lighthouse), circa 1900.
Ceramic
Thomas Willis Yacht Portrait - The Elmar
By Thomas Willis
Located in Savannah, GA
Thomas Willis (American, 1850-1925) A yacht portrait of The Elmar out of Sheepshead Bay, circa 1910s. Oil on canvas with silk and threadwork. The owner listed as Gus Rau was kn...
Canvas, Silk
Sold
H 23.5 in W 29.5 in D 4.25 in
19th C. Silk Embroidered and Hand Painted Seascape by Thomas Willis
By Thomas Willis
Located in Nantucket, MA
19th century silk embroidered and hand painted oil on canvas seascape by Thomas Willis (1850 - 1925), depicting the schooner-rigged racing yacht MARION W...
Canvas, Silk
Thomas Willis Silk Embroidered Seascape, circa 1890
By Thomas Willis
Located in Nantucket, MA
19th century silk embroidered and hand painted oil on canvas seascape by Thomas Willis (1850 - 1925), depicting a gaff-rigged racing yacht closely hauled...
Canvas, Silk
Thomas Willis Silk Embroidered Yacht Seascape, circa 1890
By Thomas Willis
Located in Nantucket, MA
Antique silk embroidered yacht portrait by Thomas Willis (1850-1925), depicting the schooner-rigged racing yacht America, the winner of the 1851 America'...
Canvas, Silk
Silk Mounted Oil on Canvas Seascape by Thomas Willis, circa 1880
By Thomas Willis
Located in Nantucket, MA
Silk mounted and embroidered portrait of a Schooner-Rigged Yacht, hand tied onto an oil on canvas Seascape, by Thomas Willis (Danish-American: circa 1850...
Canvas, Silk