Circle of Paul de Vos

Anonymous sale, New York, Christie's, 9 October 1991, lot 49a (as attributed to Ferdinand van Kessel).

The copper is flat and stable. A decorative image is presented underneath an uneven varnish. The paint layer has thinned throughout and is slightly abraded in some areas, such as the body of the cat. Some spots of paint loss are visible, especially on the darker reds of the table cloth at bottom right and on the green curtain at top left. There is cissing of the surface on the backgammon board possibly due to an old restoration that used bitumen. Inspection under UV shows some small dots of retouches scattered on the top left corner that are also visible to the naked eye. Further retouching is likely, but reading under UV is impeded due to the varnish. It is offered in a carved gilded frame with minor losses.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.