What a special find! I found a set of three hand-colored etchings by the German artist Max Schnös (1889-1964) at an Estate sale full of German antiques and other vintage items. Each is pencil signed by the artist with the landscape subject inscribed in pencil at the lower left in pencil as well. My research indicates that Max Schnös' etchings were usually black and white (although some are colored) Being hand colored by the artist himself would make them more scarce and collectible.

Details of the images in the pieces -

#1 - Maintal mit Schloss Banz (Main Valley with Banz Castle) - Banz Abbey (German: Kloster Banz), now known as Banz Castle (German: Schloss Banz), is a former Benedictine monastery, since 1978 a part of the town of Bad Staffelstein north of Bamberg, Bavaria, southern Germany.

#2 - Staffelberg Original Radierung (Original Etching) - The Staffelberg is a hill in Bavaria, Germany. It is part of the Franconian Switzerland and one of the most important landmarks in Franconia. First settlements date from the Neolithic. Romans, Celts and Franconians followed. During the La Tène period the Celtic oppidum of Menosgada was built on the plateau of the Staffelberg. This piece also has a printed Staffelbrg M. Signos in the lower left hand corner. This is a rework of that original etching by Mr. Schnös.

#3 - Staffelstein - At the foot of the Staffleberg hill lies the town of Bad Staffelstein.

Each is framed in a simple wood frame with black paint. That paint is applied to show the wood grain and has an antiquing finish. The corners are tight and there is only slight chipping in the wood of the frames. Two of the three have backing paper that indicate Madigans, one is newer cardboard. All have hanging wires. They are behind glass. They originally had scotch tape around the edges of the back that has disintegrated with age and only has residue remaining. All three have the same pencil notation along the wood frame back that I believe indicates inventory numbers from the original gallery - 43297-Longhi 11.20 ON5 C2666. This confirms my assumption that they were sold as a set.

The noted flaws to the pieces are a looseness in their placement in the frames, which could easily be remedied by new nails/brads. The #1 piece has a spot of water damage on the outside matting in the bottom right and top right corners. The other two appear free of marks. All three would benefit from cleaning under the glass.

Background on the artist - Max Schnös (1889 -1964), belonged to the generation of artists who were influenced by the social and artistic renewal movement at the turn of the century and participated in the formal language of the avant-garde with high-quality works. As a trained graphic designer, he translated the power, colour and form of new art into contemporary advertising graphics, including product advertising and emergency money. In Nuremberg, Munich, Dresden and London, he specifically sought contact with the scene of independent artists.

It was recommended that I keep them as a set by the gentleman who appraised them for me. He also noted a value of $550 - $650 for that set and I am listing them considerably below that price to allow a collector them to go to a new home that appreciates their artistry and history.

Dimensions: 11 3/4" x 9 1/2" - #1 & #2 are horizontal, #3 is vertical