Maurice de Vlaminck (1876-1958), born in Paris, was one of the painters who exhibited at the 1905 Salon d’Automne, considered the beginning of the Fauvism art movement. The name “Fauvism” came from a critic’s negative reaction to the exhibition, insulting the paintings on display as the work of “wild beasts” (“fauves” in French).

Fauvism was characterized by the use of highly saturated color, abstracted shapes and loose brushwork, a marked departure from the naturalistic, representational styles that dominated the art world at the time. Although de Vlaminck’s fame never quite reached the heights of fellow Fauvists like Henri Matisse, he had considerable success at exhibitions. Art dealer Ambroise Vollard, known for taking risks on avant-garde artists, bought his entire stock of paintings in 1906 and introduced him to ceramist Andre Metthey.

De Vlaminck and Metthey enjoyed a fruitful collaboration for several years, producing about 300 pieces together. De Vlaminck painted the decorations on the ceramics. While the subject matter is different –most of de Vlaminck’s best-known paintings are scenic, but his ceramics often feature flowers, like the vase pictured here — the vibrant colors and simple shapes that characterize his work are clearly visible. This vase sold for $1,905 at Fairfield Auction. Considering that oil on canvas paintings by de Vlaminck can sell for about $20,000, it’s arguably a bargain.

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Q: My grandparents immigrated to the United States at the end of 1800. On their way from Europe, they purchased two woven tapestries that have never been hung, shown or washed. Both have colorful scenes with people dressed in colonial clothes.

One shows four colonial-dressed people talking and having tea. In the corner is a dog reaching for an end table. It is on heavier material and measures 38 3/4 inches without fringe. Stamped on the reverse is what appears to read “Made in Belgium.” The second tapestry has people dancing and playing music. Please let me know the value of the tapestries and how and where I can sell them.

A: Tapestries have been made in Belgium since at least the 14th century. The country was Europe’s primary maker and exporter of tapestries by the 15th century, with strong rivalry between its French- and Dutch-speaking regions. Copies of paintings were popular subjects.

Your tapestries were probably copied from paintings, but the “Made in Belgium” mark shows that they were made much more recently. Items imported to the U.S. were required to be marked with their country of origin after 1891. The words “made in” were more common after about 1915. Tapestries experienced a resurgence in Europe about this time, influenced by the Arts & Crafts movement and modern art, but they were frequently made by machine. They were often made and sold as souvenirs. Tapestries like these usually sell for about $50 to $100 at general antiques and consignment shops, decorative arts auctions, and online.

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Q: I found some old black-and-white photographs of famous musicians in my basement. The names of the musicians are printed underneath the picture. I have Louis Armstrong, Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, and Muddy Waters. Can you help me find out how much they are worth?

A: Photographs of famous musicians like the ones you listed have been widely reproduced. You said the pictures have the musicians’ names printed on them, so check for other information, like the photographer’s name, copyright date, publisher, or edition number. These will help you determine the values of the photographs. If they are originals, they could be very valuable, and you may want to contact an auction house that sells photographs or celebrity memorabilia for more information. If they are copies, they are probably worth fairly little; about $10 to $20 each.

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TIP: Don’t put a runner or a vase on your wooden table if it is in sunlight. Eventually the finish will fade around the ornaments and leave a shadow of the items on the wood.

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Kovels answers readers’ questions sent to the column. Send a letter with one question describing the size, material (glass, pottery) and what you know about the item. Include only two pictures: the object and a closeup of any marks or damage. Be sure your name and return address are included. By sending a question, you give full permission for use in any Kovel product. Names, addresses or email addresses will not be published. We do not guarantee the return of photographs, but if a stamped envelope is included, we will try. Questions that are answered will appear in Kovels Publications. Write to Kovels, (Name of this newspaper), King Features Syndicate, 300 W. 57th Street, 41st Floor, New York, NY 10019, or email us at collectorsgallery@kovels.com.