Q: My father-in-law inherited this picture. He says it hung in the lobby of the Beargrass Distillery. The superintendent of the distillery gave it to my father-in-law’s uncle, who gave it to his brother, my father-in-law’s father. The sign says “Beargrass Distillery, Jefferson County, Kentucky.” The picture is framed under glass, or maybe the picture is actually painted on the reverse side of the glass. It looks like it has flaked gold in it. It’s 36 by 39 1/2 inches. There is a date etched or burned onto the bottom of the wood frame, “pat. Mar. 15th 1870.” Part of the paint in the picture has deteriorated and I can see some German newsprint behind it in one small area. Can you give us any information about the age and value of this picture?
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