Attributed to Thomas Skynner (fl. 1840-1852), Portraits of Philip Malory and his wife

Attributed to Thomas Skynner (fl. 1840-1852)Portraits of Philip Malory and his wife, a pairPencil, pen, ink and watercolourWith inscription Philip Malory and wife/a great great uncle on the reverse of the portrait of the man15 x 10cm (5¾ x 3¾ in.) (2)Probably New England.Provenance:David Wheatcroft Antiques, MassachusettsPurchased from the above by the present ownerTo be sold without reserve The Pinkers Collection of British, American and European Folk Art This charming collection of folk art takes its name from a diminutive 17th Century cottage on the Kent coast where it has hung and grown in size over the last twenty years. It includes watercolours and oil paintings from the 17th to the early 20th Century. Many are in their original frames and in remarkably fresh condition. Despite its rural location and the provincial subject matter of the works it is a truly international collection and many of the lots have come from some of the most important collectors and dealers in folk art on both sides of the Atlantic including Robert Young, Denzil Grant and Charles Plante in England and David Wheatcroft, Joan Brownstein and Austin Miller in America.Folk Art has been described as 'the unselfconscious creativity of academically untrained artists' (Robert Young, Folk Art, 1999) and it is this quality that gives many of the works an immediacy and playfulness that has chimed with generations of collectors. Some of the pictures, by journeymen artists, artisans or amateurs are provincial reinterpretations of more sophisticated works, such as the early 18th Century Yate family portraits (lot 122). Others have a joyful disregard of accepted ideas of scale, perspective and colouring, giving them a timeless quality which draws parallels with 20th Century artists including Alfred Wallis and John Nash, such as View from La Moinerie (lot 120) and the American School Portrait of a girl (lot 103) has an Outsider Art quality reminiscent of the Art Brut movement founded by Jean Dubuffet. Regardless of their origins this unique and varied collection is the manifestation of the vision and passion of a true collector. Condition Report: Man: The sheet has been hinge mounted to the card mount in two places at the upper edge. The sheet is sandwiched between a card mount which is also taped closed but this could be un-taped easily. There is some discolouration to the sheet as well as some general handling creases throughout. There are two small areas of tearing to the lower left corner (largest approx 2cm). There is evidence of previous restoration to the area right of the man's head. There is a horizontal crease running through the man's neck the length of the sheet, probably caused by folding. Small area (approx 4mm) of retouching to the blue border. Other minor creases and wear to the edge of the sheet commensurate with age. Some undulation to the sheet under the glazed frame. Unexamined out of taped closed mount. Lady: The sheet has been hinge mounted to the card mount in two places at the upper edge. The sheet is sandwiched between a card mount which is also taped closed but this could be un-taped easily. There is some discolouration to the sheet as well as some general handling creases throughout. There is a large diagonal crease running from the upper left edge to the centre of the lower left edge. A possible tear (approx 2cm) to the lower right corner. There is an area of pronounced creasing to the lady's right arm. Other minor creases and wear to the edge of the sheet commensurate with age. Some undulation to the sheet under the glazed frame. Unexamined out of taped closed mount.Condition Report Disclaimer