Traditional Kidney Artist’s Palette

A handsome antique artist’s palette, crafted from richly grained mahogany and retaining the distinctive form of a traditional professional painter’s palette, with a shaped thumb opening and raised central hand rest.

The surface preserves the lovely evidence of its working life, with remnants of oil paint accumulated across the wood. Similar mahogany palettes associated with professional artists from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, including documented examples bearing artists’ names and inscriptions, share this characteristic construction and form. Though this could be an earlier example, with no markings it's conservatively estimated at early-mid 20th century.

A particularly charming piece of artist’s ephemera, the accumulated paint marks giving it an especially wonderful sense of history. Beautiful displayed in a studio, library, or among a collection of artist’s tools and objects.

Origin: Early-mid 20th century.
Material: Mahogany.
Dimensions: 24.5" L X 15.5" W.
Condition: Good antique condition with expected wear from age and use, including scattered surface scratches, abrasions, and remnants of dried paint throughout.