Clementine Hunter *African Mask* in Blue iconic Clementine image **authentic** Start Price USD 4,200.00 Current Price USD 4,200.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Wednesday, October 22, 2008 End Time Friday, November 21, 2008 Location Southeastern US See more about 'Clementine Hunter *African Mask* in Blue' Description This African Mask painting, done in oil on canvas, is by the Southern folk artist Clementine Hunter. Hunter's signature changed over time, and her paintings can be dated by the form of her signature. The signature on this piece indicates it was painted in the late 1960's to 1970's.  This is consistent with the time frame in which Hunter began producing African masks as a new theme in her art, to supplement the traditional images of plantation life.Dimensions: 12 1/2" x 24 1/2".Condition is excellent. Signed CH with the backwards 'C'.Provenance: Gilley's Gallery, Baton Rouge, LA.The following information comes from the website of Gilley's Gallery, leading dealers and scholars of Hunter's work. "Clementine Hunter was born on Hidden Hill Plantation (now called Little Eva Plantation) near Natchitoches, Louisiana, in December of 1886. When she was a young girl, her father moved the family away from the harsh environment at Hidden Hill (the plantation that was supposedly the basis for Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin) to the more hospitable Melrose Plantation. Clementine lived at Melrose for most of the rest of life, moving just right down the road a few years before she died on January 1, 1988, at the age of 101. Melrose was a cotton plantation founded in the 1790’s by the freed Congo woman, Marie Therese and her son Augustin Metoyer. The plantation and its family were a focal point of the African and Creole cultures along the Cane River. During Clementine’s days there, it had become a small artist colony, where Louisiana writers and artists like Alberta Kinsey, Caroline Dorman, and Harnett Kane spent time with others such as William Faulkner and John Steinbeck. As the story goes, New Orleans artist Alberta Kinsey left some paints and brushes behind on one of her visits to Melrose in about 1940. Clementine, who had at this time turned from work in the cotton fields to work in the kitchen as the cook at Melrose, found the paints and brushes and asked permission to paint a picture of her own. She presented Melrose resident Francois Mignon with a painting of a Cane River baptism on a window shade, and her life changed forever. Clementine Hunter is Louisiana’s most famous female artist, and she is one of the most important folk artists of all time. Her work can be seen in the Smithsonian Institute, the New Orleans Museum of Art, the Museum of American Folk Art in New York, the High Museum of Atlanta, the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, the New York Historical Association, the Oprah Winfrey Collection in Chicago and many other museums and private collections across the country, including the newest exhibition at the Roger Ogden Museum in New Orleans, where the Clementine Hunter Educational Wing is expected to open soon."THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT ME AND MY AUCTIONSAll artworks I sell come from my personal collection. They have been purchased personally by me, from respected dealers and auction houses. I am always willing to share available information about a work and its provenance - just contact me. Everything is guaranteed to be authentic or I will refund the purchase price.The same goes for condition. I make every effort to describe my items and their condition accurately, including any signs of wear. Occasionally I miss something. If you feel this has happened, let me know! I will work with you to make sure you’re happy with the outcome.Unless I know you, I won’t ship an item to an address other than the one on your Paypal or ebay account.I can't be responsible for items lost through the mail. I use only shipping methods that provide tracking, but if you are still concerned, please purchase insurance. If it’s not shown as an option on your auction, ask me. Please note that I have a new policy for international shipping. Since I find it impossible to accurately estimate Global Express fees, I am now charging a generous shipping fee up-front and will refund any excess to you. This means you will only pay the actual shipping cost!If you know that you won’t be able to meet my auction terms regarding payment timing, please contact me before the auction is over – don’t wait until you’ve won the item to try to re-negotiate. I am very flexible if you communicate with me.Thanks for reading and happy bidding!    Place a Bid!