This impressive antique 19th C folk art painting is homemade and heartfelt, a loving tribute to a special Mother. An explosion of roses and forget-me-nots embrace a classical scroll upon which is inscribed this original poem:

Long we've sought dear mother

Some token of love to bring.

And bid you to ever remember

Your children around you still cling.

And daily we bring some blessing

Of joy, happiness, and love.

And will be guarding you ever,

'Tilll you join your dear ones above.

This text is rendered in ink in a decorative three color font meant to mimic the tiny thorns on moss roses with little pink buds for periods, commas, apostrophes, and dots - a little difficult to read, but oh-so charming and very Victorian in sentiment with its matter-of-fact mention of mother joining her dear ones above. The flowers have a loosely rendered under layer of graphite with ink and some kind of paint, I think egg tempera. I would guesstimate a date sometime around the American Civil War, perhaps a bit earlier - 1850's - 1860's, an impressive piece.

The frame is a particularly handsome deep American Walnut moulding with black painted accents and a beautiful, still bright double gold filet. This is quite a fancy frame.

CONDITION is good. There is some minor flaking on a couple of the buds and forget-me-nots, but for an amateur effort it is in remarkable shape and appears to be stable. Unsigned. I have not had this frame open. Measures an impressively large 25" H x 24 1/8" W overall, with a sight size of 20 1/4" H x 19 3/8." Weighs 8 pounds.

It's fun to imagine how the wonderful mother who received this as a gift must have felt. Perhaps she framed it in its extra fancy frame, or maybe her children saved their pennies for this special purpose. In any event, this is a beautiful piece of authentic Antique American Folk Art. Enjoy!