‘Several years ago, the current owners bought this painting for just 50 pence from a local charity shop, along with a few other items,’ reveals Christie’s specialist Sarah Reynolds. ‘The picture was flaking badly, which might explain why it had been overlooked.’ Risdon believes it’s likely the painting was a commission from the sitter, since he has seen both the green chair and the ceramic dog in other works by the artist. Apparently Harvey was a collector of Staffordshire china and owned a number of Staffordshire dogs, like the one seen in this painting, so they may well have been props in his studio that the unknown sitter picked up. ‘The subject and the colouring are typical of Harvey’s work, but the signature is more unusual... ...it is being offered for £5,000-8,000 — which would represent rather... (http://www.christies.com/features/Sarah-Reynolds-with-a-painting-acquired-in-a-charity-shop-for-50p-8165-1.aspx?sc_lang=en&cid=EM_EMLcontent0414483C_0&cid=DM87220&bid=83715272)