Edgar Leeteg Tahitian Man Mid Century Black Velvet Print Appraisal

Edgar Leeteg 'Tahitian Man' Mid-Century Black Velvet Print

This item is a vintage mid-century print on black velvet depicting a weathered Tahitian man, originally created by the famed American artist Edgar Leeteg (1904–1953), known as the 'Father of American Velvet Painting.' The portrait features a close-up of a man with graying hair and beard, rendered in a realistic style that emphasizes skin texture, wrinkles, and deep shadows. The color palette consists of warm ochres and browns for the skin, contrasting sharply against the absorbent black velvet substrate. The piece is signed 'LEETEG TAHITI' in the lower-left corner, accompanied by a small copyright mark indicating it is a licensed reproduction by 'Hawaii Arts Ltd.' likely dating from the mid-to-late 1950s or 1960s. The artwork is housed behind glass in a simple black frame with an off-white mat. Visible condition includes some dust accumulation under the glass and minor wear to the frame edges. The velvet appears to retain its deep pile, though there is some light reflection on the glass making it difficult to assess specific fiber degradation. This is a classic example of Tiki-age Polynesian Pop aesthetic, highly collectible for its kitsch value and association with Leeteg's Tahitian studio.