French Country · Encyclopedia · Antiques by family
Paintings, Posters and Prints
Oils and watercolors, Belle Époque posters, lithographs, engravings, frames and postcards. Each entry explains what the object is, how to identify and date it, what to check before buying, and what it is usually worth on the US market. 14 entries.
Posters & Advertising
Vintage Poster
Indicative US retail $50–$5,000 · typical $300
Lithographic posters from the Belle Époque to 1970s. Original stone lithographs show rich, slightly irregular colors with no dot screen under a magnifier; offset reprints show regular dots.
Vintage Sign
Indicative US retail $50–$2,000 · typical $250
Enamel, tin and neon signs. Porcelain enamel is fired in several layers onto steel and has a hard, glassy surface; reproductions are often thinner, printed on tin, with sharp, flat colors and artificial aging.
Travel Poster
Indicative US retail $100–$6,000 · typical $600
Railway and travel posters for destinations. Printer credits along the bottom margin (Lucien Serre, Champenois, Chaix, Alliance Graphique), artist signatures within the image and stone or offset lithography identify originals; most are linen-backed for conservation.
Advertising Poster
Indicative US retail $100–$5,000 · typical $500
Posters advertising products. Original stone lithographs show rich, layered color without a dot screen; printer credits along the bottom (Chaix, Vercasson, Devambez) and the artist's signature in the stone help identify.
Oil Paintings
Antique Painting
Indicative US retail $100–$10,000 · typical $600
Oil paintings and other paintings from the 17th to 20th century. Look at the back first: an old canvas is hand-woven with an irregular weave, stretched on a wooden stretcher with keys (wedges) in the corners, often with old labels, stamps of colormen (art suppliers) and exhibition labels.
Landscape Painting
Indicative US retail $150–$8,000 · typical $700
Paintings depicting landscapes, French Barbizon school. Look for signatures, located and dated inscriptions on the back, colormen's stamps and exhibition labels.
Oil Painting
Indicative US retail $100–$10,000 · typical $600
Paintings in oil on canvas or board. Turn the painting over: an old canvas is hand-woven, stretched on a wooden stretcher with corner keys, often with stamps of Paris colormen (Lefranc, Bourgeois, Tasset et Lhote) that help date it.
Portrait Painting
Indicative US retail $150–$10,000 · typical $800
Paintings of people. Judge the quality of the face and hands first: a skilled painter models flesh, eyes and fabric convincingly.
Frames
Picture Frame
Indicative US retail $30–$1,500 · typical $150
Antique frames in gilt wood and gesso. Real gilding shows red or ochre bole beneath worn gold leaf; gold paint looks flat.
Prints & Lithographs
Lithograph
Indicative US retail $50–$5,000 · typical $300
Prints made from stone or plate lithography. Original artist's lithographs are often signed in pencil and numbered (for example 45/150), printed on quality paper with a watermark or a publisher's blindstamp.
Botanical Print
Indicative US retail $30–$800 · typical $120
Prints of plants and flowers. An original print has a plate mark (the impression of the copper plate) around the image, printed Latin and common names, plate numbers and the engraver's and artist's names in small type below.
Engraving
Indicative US retail $30–$1,500 · typical $150
Prints from engraved copper or steel plates. An original engraving has a plate mark, a slight depression pressed into the paper around the image; fine, crisp lines and old laid paper with visible chain lines confirm age.
Postcards & Ephemera
Vintage Postcard
Indicative US retail $1–$100 · typical $5
Postcards from the early 20th century. Publisher names and numbers on the front, postmarks and stamps on the back help date cards.
Watercolors & Drawings
Watercolor
Indicative US retail $50–$3,000 · typical $300
Paintings in watercolor on paper. Paper quality (hand-made, with watermarks), signature, inscriptions and fading matter; check for foxing (brown spots), light damage, acidic mats that have burned the edges and trimming.
How we write these guides: identification notes are general guidance written by French Country; a style name, a region or a resemblance does not by itself date or attribute a piece. Price ranges are indicative US retail asking prices for antique and vintage examples in sound condition (dealers, specialist marketplaces and auctions), estimated and rounded as of November 2026; check recent sold results before relying on a figure. They are not appraisals or offers to buy or sell: condition, provenance and documentation can move a value far outside the range. For insurance, estates or sales, ask an independent, qualified appraiser for a written valuation.