Late Victorian genre painting. Who's the artist ?

I bought this late Victorian genre painting at an auction. Possibly signed with a small three leaf clover in the carpet. Oil on mahogany panel. 22.5 cm x 17.5 cm x 1.0 cm. The picture frame might not be the original. Who's the artist ?

 

that frame looks like a bank vault......!!!

Can we get closer shots of the image and clover mark........Please !!

( does anyone still say please......)

 

I hesitated with a photo of the possibel signature, because I couldn't get it better than this. But I hope it makes an identification of the artist possibel.

 

seeing it now....I'm thinking more of a design element than a siggy....

unless someone has seen it used before.........

 

...part of rug design

 

If it is part of the rug design it would 1. be much more flat due to the perspective. 2. be repeated all over the rug.

 

It looks like a red ball to me.

 

Young girl playing ball in a library ! Do you really believe that ?

 

All I know is what I see there. It's not a matter of belief. Whatever it is seems to be holding the paper from falling down to the level of the floor.

 

Can you please post as good a photo as you can of the entire image area (the painting itself, excluding the frame). We may be able to tell you more if we can see the details of the painting.

 

I agree with Bakersgma. It could be a ball of twine or yarn. Whatever it is, it definitely has dimension and is holding the paper away from the floor. If the frame isn't original, perhaps there is a signature that is obscured by the frame. Can you remove it from the frame? The frame is fabulous.

 

And a photograph of the painting's back too including frame.

Debora

 

That appears to be a ball for use in the popular Victorian indoor pastime, Carpet Ball.

Debora

 

The frame is absolutely amazing. The picture gets a little lost in it. It is charming in its way but I think it is a little naieve, a little flat. And yes, any more information at all, please.

 

Thank you all ! Here's another photo without the frame. The backside is grey without any texts or signs. I hadn't heard of Victorian indoor balls, but you learn as long as you live. If you've identified the artist then don't hesitate to tell me !

I'm not a big fan of the picture frame. I'm not even sure if it's the original. Probably older than the painting. According to a dresshistorian is the painting from 1890-1900. I'm having a new more discrete gilded wood frame made.

 

Is it on a panel or a canvas? It would help to see a photograph of the back.

 

As I told in my first posting, it's on a mahogany panel. Greystained. No text og signs. The frame I bought the painting in was a little too big for the painting, so probably not the original frame. Therefore I added the 'white' wood to make it fit.

 

If you don't want that old frame, I'll be happy to dispose of it for you.