James Lockhart Lithograph Appraisal

Vintage James Lockhart Cat and Kittens Lithograph

This item is a vintage offset lithograph print by the renowned wildlife artist James Lockhart, featuring a mother long-haired cat and her five kittens. The artwork displays a realistic illustrative style characteristic of mid-to-late 20th-century nature art. The feline family is depicted resting on and around a stone wall, surrounded by delicate green foliage and small pink wildflowers. The color palette is dominated by warm ochre, sienna, and ginger tones in the cats' fur, set against a cream-colored background. The print is housed in a wide, beveled wooden frame finished in a deep burgundy or mahogany-colored lacquer. The signature of the artist, 'James Lockhart,' is visible in the lower right corner of the print within the plate. The construction suggests mass-production for the home decor market, likely dating from the 1960s or 1970s. Regarding condition, the frame appears structurally sound but shows minor scuffing and dust accumulation, particularly along the top edge. The print itself exhibits some minor yellowing or 'toning' consistent with age, though there is no immediate evidence of water damage or significant fading. The overall craftsmanship represents a standard mid-century commercial framing quality, intended for aesthetic charm rather than as high-end fine art.