The following is a description of a painting auctioned on ebay, item number 190585788558. It ended on the 15th October 2011, the item received 36 bids and winning bidder paid £657.77.
Potential bidders should have considered the following:
1, Does the seller know anything about J Lawrence Isherwood……….No, they admit to not knowing anything, they have just found out a little about him from the web and newspaper articles.
2, Do you have to know anything about the artist to sell one of his painting……….No
3, Are they stating that this is a genuine painting by J Lawrence Isherwood……….No, the seller is admitting they have no history or provenance for the painting and because of this reason, they are selling it as in the style or after Isherwood.
4, Is a painting sold as being in the style of, or after an artist usually a genuine painting by the artist it seems to be by………..No
5, Should the description start with………. J L Isherwood British artist, giving the impression that the painting is by this artist if it is being sold as after Isherwood.
6, Have you been misled…………Not if you read the description properly
The description………
J.L.ISHERWOOD BRITISH ARTIST (1917-1989)
THIS PAINTING IS OFFERED WITHOUT RESERVE . OIL ON BOARD.
I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT THE ARTIST APART FROM WHAT I HAVE MANAGED TO RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND FROM NEWSPAPER ARTICLES THAT I HAVE READ. IT IS CLEAR THAT HE WAS A POPULAR ARTIST IN THE NORTH WEST OF ENGLAND IN PARTICULAR IN WIGAN.
THE SUBJECT OF THIS PAINTING IS BOATS IN A HARBOUR OR AN INLET BESIDE LAND. ON THE VERSO THERE IS WRITING THAT READS FISHING BOATS THERE IS THE WORD MALTA AND ISHERWOOD TWICE. IN THE BOTTOM LEFT HAND CORNER THERE IS A SIGNATURE OF ISHERWOOD.
I HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING IF THIS IS A GENUINE PAINTING BY ISHERWOOD AS I HAVE NO HISTORY OR PROVENANCE, IT IS FOR THIS REASON THAT I MAKE IT VERY CLEAR THAT I AM SELLING THIS PAINTING IN THE STYLE OF OR AFTER ISHERWOOD.
GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR BIDDING.
DO FEEL FREE TO E-MAIL ME WITH ANY REASONABLE QUESTIONS OR SEE MY SITE FOR OTHER ITEMS FOR SALE..
Added 26th November 2011
Another couple of paintings added to ebay by the same seller using the same method of description have once again received many bids. The item numbers are 190603910632 sold for £195 and 190603912734 sold for £245, both listings finished 27th November 2011.
And yet another has gone on 2nd Dec 2011, item number 190609432028, this one is actually signed Isherwood.
On the 13 Dec 2011, another one has been listed from the same seller, item number 190614858185 . It has the same type of vague description starting with the Isherwood name and DOB etc. The painting has a signature of Isherwood, in kind of copied style, because of this, I have shown the painting below, but I am also putting in in the suspect gallery.
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