Miners Supplies Dept. (The General Store)
Mechanical print/Lithograph on textured paper board • Alice Smith (Signed in plate, upper left)
Style & Movement
Americana / Folk Art Revival
Medium & Technique
Color lithography with faux-canvas texturing; likely produced as a commercial decorative print.
Creation Period
Mid-20th Century (circa 1940s-1970s) depicting a 19th-century frontier scene.
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 12 x 16 inches; Landscape format in a wide beveled wooden frame.
Subject Description
A nostalgic Western frontier scene featuring a 'Miners Supplies Dept' general store with brick and wood siding. Figures in 19th-century attire are depicted in front of the shop, which is adorned with numerous advertisements for dry goods, hardware, and equipment. The composition uses a flat, illustrative perspective characteristic of mid-century decorative Americana.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Fair to Good; shows visible signs of aging including surface foxing and paper acidification.
Estimated Market Value
$20 - $50 USD
Auction Estimate
$10 - $30 USD
Provenance History
Likely mass-produced for the mid-century home decor market; no specific high-value gallery provenance visible.
Art Historical Significance
Representational of the mid-20th-century American trend for nostalgic, frontier-themed interior decor. It reflects the post-war idealization of the 'Old West' rather than being a primary historical document from the 1800s.
Notable Features
Features the printed signature of Alice Smith; the frame includes a gold-painted inner lip typical of mid-century commercial framing styles.
Condition Issues
Visible foxing (brown spotting) across the image and frame, possible sun fading of pigments, and localized scuffing on the wooden frame surface.
Conservation Recommendations
Keep away from direct sunlight and high humidity to prevent further foxing. Professional cleaning could be performed but may exceed the monetary value of the print.