Featured Thrift Store Find Home Run!? - Rare Robert F. Gilder painting From Probate Court; How to Clean?

I saw this painting while at a thrift store & almost passed it by, but it was about the only new painting I'd found so far so I picked it up to look it over. When I looked at the back I read about it being one of 100's that had been delivered to the Sarpy County, Nebraska probate court.
I'd never seen anything like this on a painting so I googled the artist name - imagine my surprise when I saw his paintings valued in the $1,000's (1 sold on eBay for over $2,000!) and that his work did not appear for sale very often!
Has anyone seen a sticker like this on a painting/art before? Can I say it's more rare as it came from his private collection that wasn't intended for sale?

But my main question I have is; it's dirty - how could I clean it? (was going to try a rag dampened with warm water but thought I should wait & ask here first to be safe!)
It also has a flea bite size fleck of paint missing (3rd Photo - to right of center where snow meets the grass & trees - how much does that hurt it's value?
I thought Friday was one of the best thrift store treasure hunting days when I found a over sized Keds high top sneaker display piece - but this is right up there!
Thank you for any help, I appreciate it very much!



BELOW TAKEN OUTSIDE HOPING FOR "CLEANER" LOOKING PAINTING - BUT IT WAS CLOUDY & ABOUT TO RAIN

 

Suggest you not clean it for resale and don't worry if your photos make it look yellowed. A buyer can have it professionally cleaned.

Doubt there is any need for concern for the paint loss, just state that it could use a good cleaning and there is a tiny paint chip missing - as you've shown here.

 

I was thinking the same. Just thought if it was easy to clean it'd be worth a lot more - but if there's a chance of hurting it I'd rather do as you suggested.

 

This chance always exists. It's a beautiful painting and someone will buy it without your extra effort. The fact that a chip is missing would make me tend NOT to want to clean it myself. Also, after Hurricane Katrina, I cleaned one of my own oil paintings ONCE and that once was enough!

 

Excuse the volume but... DON'T CLEAN IT. That is work for a professional. And a buyer will prefer to use his/her own (trusted) resource.

Debora

 

LLLLLLLLove it

 

Lovely frame. Here's his obituary from the NYTimes. March 9, 1940.

Debora

 

I wouldn't claim rare because came from his workshop. The reverse might have been true. The artist might have thought it not of saleable quality. One has no way of knowing (although the fact that it was so nicely framed would indicate it was valued by someone.)

Debora

 

Not exactly the most interesting subject matter and odd perspective

But love the colours, and the way it's painting

 

I think it's from a collection he did called snow scenes or Nebraska snow or something snow (I read it today & already can't remember it sheesh - sorry)

 

Has anyone seen or heard about his works going to a probate court? I didn't find anything & it's most interesting to me.

 

There is nothing unusual about this sticker, it was applied by the appraiser for his estate. Henry F. Kieser was from Nebraska and probably a friend of the artist. Even though he was the administrator of the estate he may not have had access to the studio, therefore officers of the probate court most likely worked with the appraiser to build an inventory and value of the estate. Pretty standard stuff.

 

I think it's absolutely beautiful and very glad I clicked to check it out.
But I actually clicked because I'm trying to find out how to clean a painting that I have in my possession that's also dirty. I'm not going to sell it and I don't think it is worth more than a few hundred at most. I've tried to have professionals give me an estimate to clean it. One was kind of snooty and said he only does museum pieces, another said send me measurements and a photo but he never got back to me after I did that. The third one never got back to me period. So good for you the recommendation is to not do it because it seems impossible service to find.

 

One thing I can suggest trying is bread crumbs.

Basically it can remove surface dirt without causing harm to the painting

Rubbing lightly of course

I've tried it before and it works

Maybe try a small area first and see how it goes

If the paintwork is at all flakey or fragile don't, but if it's pretty stable its worth a try

 

So do I.

 

For cleaning
Read up before you try it (if you can bring yourself to try it) but I believe saliva on a q-tip is used sometimes.

 

Yes, it is. Or on some cotton wool.

 

I'm going to wait I think - maybe I'll try first on one of the many "factory" paintings I thought were home runs! lol

 

The late great Greg mentioned the spit method he had learned from the Met several times. Here are some of his posts on the subject.

https://www.antiquers.com/search/99905333/?q=saliva&o=date&c[node]=10&c[user][0]=78

 

A quote, classic Greg:

"We kept jars in the refrige with our salvia and other peoples who "saved" it for us."