**Originally Listed At $400**

An untitled watercolor of the Old Customs House in Monterey, California, ca. mid 20th century CE. Signed "G.W. Lipe (or Lipo)" at lower left. A gorgeous watercolor depicting the Old Customs House in Monterey, California - a Spanish Colonial style adobe edifice built in 1827 by the Mexican government in what was the Pueblow de Monterey, Alta California (present day Monterey, California) with bright blue open skies above. Standing before the building, with its Colonial Californiano door topped by a stained glass lunette window flanked by wrought iron grilled windows, is a handsome couple - a gentleman wearing a wide-brimmed cowboy had accompanying a lady in a canary yellow dress. The Old Customs House holds the distinction of being the first designated California Historical Landmark as well as the site where Commodore John Drake Sloat raised the US flag to declare that California was part of the United States. Size: 11.25" W x 8.25" H (28.6 cm x 21 cm); 19" W x 16" H (48.3 cm x 40.6 cm) including custom mat and frame

Provenance: private Los Angeles County, California, USA collection

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#135996

Wear to gilding on the wooden frame (lower right) and tiny nicks to frame edge as shown. Gallery paper on verso has a small tear from rubbing against the hanging wire. Watercolor has not been examined outside the framing, but appears to be in excellent condition.