Tuesday Treasures - June 16, 2026

This little bronze figure had been in the locked case at St. Vincent de Paul for a few months.  Finally it moved to an end cap and I could see it was only $1.50.  It's something quite interesting and unexpected!  It's a reptile, a protective amulet from Burkina Faso made in the lost-wax casting tradition in the 1960s-1970s.  Not made specifically for the tourist market, although they do show up as souvenirs, these were sold for local use and regional markets.  They were worn as pendants sewn onto cloths, hung in doorways, or attached to ritual bundles for protection from harm and home protection.  It's quite a bit smaller than in this photo! 

I went to a few garage sales a few weekends ago.  When things aren't priced I get concerned they will be over-priced, but in the case of these two prints I was wrong, they were well under-priced!

Fragrance in Bloom by Jean-Baptiste Robie (Belgium 1821-1910)  The publisher information is cut off at the bottom.  Most of these lithographs date from the 1940s.  $1 in an unsuitable frame, no mat.

A lithograph of Lone Wolf, from a painting by Alfred von Wierusz-Kowalski.  This was an extremely popular print in the 1930s-1940s, losing popularity in the 50s.  My grandmother had a smaller one in a plain frame hanging in her dining room.  The frame molding is pressed gesso with matte gold finish, and it is damaged.  I expected a much higher price than $1.50!

A very poor photo due to the glass. The second photo is too bright blue, so imagine the blue between the two!  If it were a complete rectangle it would be 20" x 16".

It has a lovely frame, and the damage isn't surprising for its age.  It looks like a repair was attempted.