Lee Reynolds Burr Original Painting
Lee Reynolds Burr is a name that appears frequently on mid-century paintings found in estate sales, vintage furniture shops, and online marketplaces. For collectors and appraisers, the name can be confusing: what is a true “Lee Reynolds Burr original,” and what is a studio piece? This guide explains the history, signatures, materials, value drivers, and practical steps to identify and appraise works bearing the Lee Reynolds name, with a focus on clarity and market reality.
Who Was Lee Reynolds Burr?
Lee Reynolds Burr (often signing works as “Lee Reynolds”) was an American artist and entrepreneur who founded Vanguard Studios in Van Nuys, California, in the mid-1960s. Rather than a traditional fine-art atelier, Vanguard Studios operated as a decorative-art studio to supply large, hand-painted works tailored to the era’s interiors. Department stores, furniture showrooms, and decorator galleries nationwide sold these pieces, which were often sizable, modern, and highly textural.
Key facts:
- Period of activity: Primarily 1960s–1980s.
- Business model: Studio production. Multiple staff artists executed designs and motifs developed under Burr’s direction.
- Subjects and style: Abstracts; cityscapes; sailboats; florals; trees; figural and mask-inspired motifs. Heavy impasto acrylics, palette-knife textures, metallic highlights (gold/silver), sand or pumice additives, and Masonite or canvas supports. Many works were diptychs or triptychs.
- Signatures: Most commonly “Lee Reynolds,” sometimes a fuller “Lee Reynolds Burr,” and occasional variants. Many studio-produced paintings carry the “Lee Reynolds” signature as a brand rather than an individual artist’s mark.
Understanding the studio model is essential: most paintings bearing the “Lee Reynolds” signature are hand-painted originals in a literal sense, but many were executed by studio artists, not by Burr himself.
Studio vs. Artist: What “Original” Means Here
In the Lee Reynolds ecosystem, “original” can mean two different things:
Studio original: A hand-painted work produced at Vanguard Studios, commonly signed “Lee Reynolds.” These are not prints. Multiple near-identical versions of popular designs exist because staff artists followed the same templates and palettes.
Personally executed by Lee Reynolds Burr: A hand-painted work executed by Burr himself. These are less common and can be harder to distinguish without provenance. Some bear a fuller signature (“Lee Reynolds Burr”), dates, dedications, or atypical stylistic nuance. However, signature alone is not definitive proof, and there is no official catalogue raisonné.
Important implications for value:
- Studio originals command modest prices compared to fine art, reflecting their decorative intent and repetition across the market.
- Works personally executed by Burr can bring higher prices, but authentication is challenging and largely reliant on provenance, stylistic scrutiny, and expert opinion.
How to Identify a Lee Reynolds/Vanguard Studios Work
Use the following factors holistically; no single trait is determinative.
Signature: Typically “Lee Reynolds” in script or block, usually in a lower corner. Variations exist. A fuller “Lee Reynolds Burr” signature or an inscription/dedication can indicate personal involvement but is not a guarantee.
Labels and stamps: Many pieces retain a back label reading “Vanguard Studios, Van Nuys, Calif.” Sometimes you’ll see a style number, title, or set designation (e.g., Part I/II for diptychs). The absence of a label doesn’t rule out Vanguard—labels fall off—but a surviving label is helpful.
Support and materials:
- Supports: Stretched canvas or Masonite/board.
- Medium: Acrylic predominates, often with sand/pumice for texture; metallic leaf or metallic acrylics are common; occasional collage elements.
- Frames: Period frames are typically walnut, gilt, or brushed metal, sized to large-format canvases (e.g., 24×48 inches, 30×60 inches).
Motifs and execution:
- Cityscapes with gold/silver highlights and strong vertical palette-knife strokes.
- Abstracts with dense impasto and metallics.
- Boats and seascapes with simplified forms.
- Florals and trees rendered with stylized textures. Because the studio repeated successful designs, you’ll often find similar compositions with minor variations.
Pairs and sets: Many came as matched pairs or triptychs. Surviving full sets generally bring a premium over single panels.
Condition patterns:
- Flaking or lifting of metallic leaf/foils, especially at edges and high-relief textures.
- Surface grime or nicotine staining from decades of display.
- Frame rash, corner dings, and separation on wide frames.
- Repairs and overpaint detectable under raking light or UV.
UV examination:
- Acrylics may fluoresce weakly; UV helps reveal later overpainting, adhesive residues from labels, and surface grime patterns. It is not a conclusive authentication method but is useful in condition assessment.
Market Values and What Drives Price
While asking prices online can be exuberant, realized prices for “Lee Reynolds” studio works remain in the decorative-art tier. Market levels vary by region and platform, but the following observations are consistent:
Typical studio originals:
- Small to medium single works: commonly in the low hundreds.
- Large single works (oversized, strong metallics): mid-hundreds, occasionally pushing higher.
- Matched pairs/diptychs: generally higher than singles; condition and subject can push prices into the upper hundreds or above.
Personally executed works by Lee Reynolds Burr:
- Less commonly encountered; verified examples can command a premium. Depending on size, condition, subject, and strength of provenance, these can reach into the low thousands, but results vary widely due to authentication uncertainties and buyer confidence.
Strong value drivers:
- Scale: 48 inches and larger appeal to interior designers and bring a premium.
- Sets: Complete diptychs/triptychs in original frames.
- Desirable subjects: Striking abstracts and metallic cityscapes tend to outperform.
- Color: Neutral palettes with gold/silver are highly usable in contemporary interiors.
- Condition: Clean, original surfaces and intact frames are significant positives.
- Provenance: Documentation linking the work to a gallery, original purchase receipt, or direct chain of ownership can add confidence and value, especially when asserting personal execution by Burr.
Value limiters:
- Heavy damage to metallic leaf or delamination of textured media.
- Poor-quality reframing or lost pairs.
- Overcleaning, amateur restoration, smoke exposure, or sun-fade to pigments.
Pricing reality check: Many pieces offered as high-value “originals” are indeed hand-painted but are studio works. Rarity and personal authorship claims should be supported by documentation to justify higher estimates.
Conservation, Framing, and Care
The materials used in these works reward careful handling.
Cleaning: Avoid water, household cleaners, and solvents. Metallic leaf and textured acrylics can lift or burnish easily. Dust gently with a soft, dry brush; for stubborn grime, consult a conservator experienced with acrylic and mixed media.
Stabilization: Flaking metallics and delaminating textures should be addressed professionally. Temporary measures include storing flat (face up) and avoiding vibration until treated.
Environment: Maintain stable humidity and avoid direct sunlight. Acrylic paint is more UV-stable than oil but can still fade; metallic leaf may tarnish if exposed to moisture or pollutants.
Framing: Original period frames can be part of the appeal and value. If reframing is necessary, retain the original frame (even damaged) for provenance. Use proper hangers for large works and pad the frame rabbet to avoid abrasion.
Transport: Large, textured surfaces are vulnerable. Wrap with glassine over the paint surface, add corner protectors, and box securely. Avoid plastic films directly on impasto.
Selling, Insurance, and Documentation
Selling venues: Regional auction houses, vintage furniture/decorator galleries, and reputable online marketplaces that specialize in mid-century modern design often provide the right audience. Large-format sets can do well when styled and photographed properly.
Photography: Use diffused light, straight-on shots, and close-ups of signature, texture, frame corners, labels, and any condition issues. Include scale references.
Insurance: Insure at fair market value (what a willing buyer pays on the open market) or retail replacement value if insuring for replacement through a gallery or decorator source. Provide measurements, images, and any provenance.
Documentation: Keep any labels, receipts, or appraisals. If a back label is loose, store it in an archival sleeve and note its origin. For claims of personal execution by Burr, written evidence is invaluable.
Quick Appraisal Checklist
- Identify the signature: “Lee Reynolds,” “Lee Reynolds Burr,” or variant; photograph it clearly.
- Check the reverse: Look for a Vanguard Studios label, title, style number, or set designation.
- Measure the work: Height, width, depth; note if part of a pair or triptych.
- Confirm materials: Canvas or board; acrylic with metallics and texture additives are typical.
- Assess condition: Pay special attention to metallic leaf, impasto peaks, corners, and frame integrity.
- Photograph thoroughly: Front, reverse, signature, labels, details, and any damage.
- Evaluate subject and palette: Abstracts and metallic cityscapes often perform best.
- Compare to known studio motifs: Determine if it follows a common template or seems atypical.
- Gather provenance: Receipts, gallery tags, previous appraisals, or family history.
- Research comparable sales: Focus on realized prices for similar size/subject/condition.
- Consider conservation needs: Note if cleaning or stabilization is warranted.
- Decide venue and pricing strategy: Studio work vs. likely personal execution requires different positioning and price expectations.
FAQ
Q: Who was Lee Reynolds Burr, and why are there so many “Lee Reynolds” paintings? A: Burr founded Vanguard Studios, a decorative-art studio that produced hand-painted works for the mid-century retail market. Many paintings were executed by staff artists and signed “Lee Reynolds” as a studio brand, which is why they are widely encountered.
Q: Are Lee Reynolds paintings valuable? A: Most are valued as decorative studio originals and sell in the hundreds, with higher prices for large, desirable subjects, complete sets, and excellent condition. Works demonstrably painted by Burr himself can bring more, but require convincing documentation or expert assessment.
Q: How can I tell if my painting was personally executed by Lee Reynolds Burr? A: Look for stronger provenance (receipts, gallery notes, inscriptions), atypical subject matter, and a fuller signature or date. However, signature alone is not proof. Without documentation, authentication relies on informed opinion and comparative analysis.
Q: Should I reframe my Lee Reynolds painting? A: Original period frames contribute to the look and marketability. If the frame is unstable, consider professional conservation or careful reframing. Retain the original frame for provenance even if you replace it.
Q: What’s the safest way to clean it? A: Avoid liquids and chemicals. Gently dust with a soft, dry brush. For grime or lifting metallics, consult a professional conservator. Improper cleaning can permanently damage textured and metallic surfaces.
By understanding the studio’s history, recognizing common materials and motifs, and using a structured appraisal process, you can accurately position a Lee Reynolds Burr painting—whether a decorative studio original or a rarer personally executed work—in today’s market.
