Boy With Dog And Birdhouse Plate Appraisal

Norman Rockwell 'Boy with Dog and Birdhouse' Collector's Plate

This is a decorative collector's plate, primarily white with a golden rim. The central image depicts a classic Norman Rockwell illustration titled 'Boy with Dog and Birdhouse' (also known as 'The Painter'). The illustration features a young boy, likely in his early teens, with short dark hair, wearing a light blue shirt, green pants, and a brown apron. He is seated on a wooden crate or bench, barefoot, and attentively painting the roof of a small, white birdhouse red with a paintbrush. To his left, a white dog with brown patches, possibly a Jack Russell Terrier, stands on its hind legs with its front paws resting on the wooden surface, looking towards the boy and the birdhouse with curiosity. An old wooden wagon wheel leans against the wooden structure. In the foreground, near the boy's right foot, there's a spilled can of red paint and a paintbrush resting beside it. A larger, perhaps silver or grey, paint can is also visible. The background depicts rustic wooden planks, suggesting an outdoor or workshop setting. The artwork itself shows fine detail in the figures and objects, with a clear and vibrant color palette characteristic of Rockwell's style. The bottom left of the illustration clearly bears the signature "Norman Rockwell" in a cursive script, indicating the artist and the authenticity of the reproduced artwork. The plate appears to be in very good condition with no visible chips, cracks, or significant wear to the illustration or the golden rim, suggesting it has been well-preserved, likely for display purposes rather than utilitarian use. The lack of visible manufacturing marks on the front face suggests they are located on the reverse side of the plate. The style and subject matter highly indicate a mid-to-late 20th-century production, typical of collector plate series featuring popular artwork.