Whose signature is this?

June 19, 2019 9:17 AM

Trying to figure out the name of an artist. The painting in question was a gift, purchased in the 80s either somewhere in Europe (with London a good possibility) or New York. I doubt it was super expensive at the time. Can’t help beyond that, sorry :/ Pic of signature inside.

Signature

Looks like “Lou” or maybe “Lois”? Then “Zuu”? “Zhou”? Help

posted by cotton dress sock to Media & Arts (13 answers total)

Can you post the whole painting? That might help narrow it down
posted by bq at 9:31 AM on June 19, 2019 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Fair point :) Here it is!
posted by cotton dress sock at 9:36 AM on June 19, 2019

First name looks like it could possibly be Joe. Second name looks like it starts with Q, but “Quu” or “Qun” don’t really make sense as names?
posted by ejs at 9:41 AM on June 19, 2019 [2 favorites]

Joe or Lou Quin?
posted by TravellingCari at 9:45 AM on June 19, 2019 [3 favorites]

There's a James Quin who's still active in the UK, and as a non-expert I could see the same artist painting yours and the painting linked there. But the first name in the signature doesn't look like "James" to me.
posted by Johnny Assay at 10:22 AM on June 19, 2019 [2 favorites]

I think the first name is probably Lou; the "u" in both names looks nearly identical. The surname definitely starts "Qu" but the last letter is a mystery. It almost looks like two cursive "r"s. Does Qurr sound like a name to anyone else?
posted by orrnyereg at 10:30 AM on June 19, 2019 [1 favorite]

Joy Qui___sy?
posted by Iris Gambol at 10:40 AM on June 19, 2019 [3 favorites]

There are three strings of characters, the last looks like 86, as in painted in 1986. Just to throw out something different for the surname:

Joe Leem 86
posted by SaltySalticid at 10:46 AM on June 19, 2019 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Sorry if the pic isn't the clearest - the last two characters are "84", I'm pretty sure.

(Thanks so much, everyone! I'll search for all these possibilities!)
posted by cotton dress sock at 11:22 AM on June 19, 2019

Response by poster: Does that first name look like "Joy" now (with part of the Y rubbed or faded out) to anyone else?
posted by cotton dress sock at 11:24 AM on June 19, 2019 [3 favorites]

I really think the first letter is an L, not a J. My guess is Lou Quil.
posted by Weeping_angel at 11:43 AM on June 19, 2019 [1 favorite]

Yes, that does look like a Y.
posted by MountainDaisy at 12:45 PM on June 19, 2019 [1 favorite]

Lou Jenn sr., Indianapolis industrialist, is my guess. Lou invented the Jenn Air stove. He was an art collector but I didn't know he was an artist,
posted by Old Timer at 2:15 PM on June 19, 2019 [3 favorites]