Query: Esther Hunt item

[Mrs. Tina Harris]

I have happened across a piece signed "Esther Hunt". It is a 13" tall x
8 1/2" wide picture of an oriental girl standing sideways. She's holding
a covered bowl that appears to be burning incense. Anyway, my question
is: How the heck can I tell if this is an original or a copy? Esther did
watercolors on paper. This does not show any of the typical signs of a
"print". But since I do not know what "signs" to look for to ID a
watercolor, I am stumped!! The piece is old; the frame, hardware, and
back cover paper all reflect it's age. I would truly appreciate any
hints or suggestions that can help me determine what I have. (Yeah,
yeah. If I can't do it myself, I'll go see an expert...but I'd like to
be able to stand on my own 2 feet.)

Thanks so very much!
--
Mrs. Tina M. Harris
A Cozy Corner
Antiques & Gifts
-------------------
www.proptions.com/antiques

[Smorgass Bored]

Tina,
Have you put a jewelers loupe to it to see if there are any 'dot
patterns' or 'snowflake' patterns? A watercolor should be easy to spot
with a loupe... IMO Below is a list of her work
If you are interested in prices realized,go to www.adec.com and you can
look up 20 complete auctions with prices for $20

See more DETAILS on the selected lines:
HUNT, Esther Anna 1875 - 1951
Date of the sale, title of work and medium used 25/06/98 - Boy with
Orange - Watercolour/paper 25/06/98 - Lighting Lamps - Watercolour/paper
15/01/98 - Chinese Mother and Child - Watercolour/paper 01/07/97 - Young
Oriental Girl Eating Fruit - Watercolour/paper 11/06/97 - Two Asian
Women - Watercolour, gouache/paper 06/02/97 - Portrait of an Asian Child
in coastume - Watercolour/paper 03/12/95 - China Girl -
Watercolour/board 15/06/95 - 8 studies of Asian women and children -
Watercolour/paper 15/06/94 - Chinatown - Oil/canvas 13/06/93 - Young
girl with flowers - Watercolour 09/10/92 - A young Chinese girl at a
shrine - Watercolour 16/10/91 - Children in Chinatown - Oil/board
13/02/91 - China Town - Oil/canvas
See more DETAILS on the selected lines:
End of the list
ANOTHER MEDIUM for this artist, CHOICE: +

Doug W.
~>*)))>< Big fish eat Little fish ><(((*<~

[Mrs. Tina Harris]

Yes. I did look at it through a loupe. No dots or snowflakes of any
kind. I wasn't positive if this was enough to call it "real". The piece
feels "velvety" when I run my fingers over it, but really has no other
texture of any kind. Very smooth. Thank you for the info, Dave. I am
beginning to feel a tad bit of excitement over this piece, as my husband
and I found 2 other works of hers out on the internet, estimated auction
prices of $1,000-$1,500 a piece. (Picked up this little gem at a 2nd
hand shop... $.69)

--