Bertha Herbert Potter (American/Tennessee, 1895-1949) pastel on paper painting depicting an African American woman seated in a chair, knitting, with a ball of blue yarn in her lap. Signed below the hands. Housed in a carved, grey-washed frame with pierced and swept edges and painted sight edge. Signed center below the hands, "Potter" (smeared chalk) Sight: 23 1/2" H x 17 1/2" W. Framed: 29" H x 23" W. Biography: A painter, graphic artist, lithographer, and muralist, Bertha Potter was born in Nashville, Tennessee and died in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She studied at the School of Applied Arts and Design in New York City and then became active professionally in Nashville where she started an art school. She spent her last years in Santa Fe. (source: Peter Falk, Who Was Who in American Art).

PROVENANCE: Private Nashville collection; purchased from Stanford Fine Art, Nashville, 2004. According to the invoice, the painting was acquired from the estate of the artist. A copy of the 2004 receipt is available to the winning bidder.

CONDITION: Two 3-inch tears to right edge of paper; losses and light dampstaining to upper right corner and upper left edge. Examined outside of frame, not adhered to a backing.