Lot #55: "The Smiling Prospector" – Original Western Charcoal Sketch

While doing an estate sale clean out, I found hanging on a wall of the family room a "The Smiling Prospector" – Original Western Charcoal Sketch. A compelling and highly detailed original charcoal portrait of a rugged Western prospector. This piece captures a moment of lightheartedness, featuring a bearded man in period-accurate attire, leaning against a post or shovel handle. The artwork is noted for its expressive facial detail and classic Western Americana aesthetic. I am not an appraiser or collector, but with a little research I was able to determine the following information – • Artist: Don Merrifield (Signed "Don Merrifield" and "Merrifield" in the lower right corner). Merrifield is a known artist of Western Americana, recognized for his charcoal and graphite sketches of cowboy life and frontier characters. • Medium: Charcoal and graphite on heavy-weight paper. • Subject: A smiling, bearded Western figure, likely a prospector or pioneer. • Iconography: The subject wears a distinctive wide-brimmed hat featuring a crossed rifles emblem on the crown—a classic military or frontiersman insignia. Don Merrifield’s work often appears in Western art circles, particularly pieces dated from the late 1970s. This sketch showcases his signature cross-hatching technique and ability to imbue "Old West" characters with a sense of individual personality. It would serve an excellent addition to a collection of rustic decor or fine Western art. This piece would be an excellent addition to a collector’s collection of western décors or for someone’s family room. REFER TO THE PHOTOGRAPHS FOR FURTHER DETAILS. Pickup category timeslot {A}