looks like you found the perfect piece, the width and placement from headboard to artwork is perfect. i like the tie-in with the equine statue and the suggestion for propping the lamps up on books is great - maybe find some second-hand books with tan/cream hardcovers and take the covers off so they match your zen theme. if you want more information on the "rules" (which can always be broken) for placing art above your bed check out this article with lots of examples.... Here is a link that might be useful: fill in the blank above your bed

Well hey, walkin--nice to see you pass through even if you can't help directly -- it's just nice to know you care :) lynn, hey, you want to split a membership? :) Do they have an entry for "group membership for the terminally 'frugal'"? And Thanks, Jodi! I found that too but of course you know I want to know...um...what that one piece they have on record went for :) I'm sure it's not much, but a girl gets curious... And amy, correct as always :). I also found some classic Oregon art pottery there today by Wally Schwab. I MUST stop (sure...with things like this waiting for me--yesterday I found an amazing, masterful opalescent gold/purple inside/crimson rim ribbed blown, signed glass vase--I should take pics. It's just incredible, the art around here). The Jennison is such a darling little picture -- I have it just to the right of my head, up against the wall. It's a little owl with huge eyes, peering out of a hole in a tree trunk. In oil pastel. In a simple very cool mitered walnut frame with an offwhite mat and nonglare glass. Her signature is in small opaque white caps, very easy to read. It's in a group display with two serigraphs, one huge, one smaller, that I got from my favorite gallery as well :)--all of them have a dominant vertical orientation to tie them together. Yes, I'm hopeless. :)

The Royal Albert Hall opened in 1871. I think the "signature" is supposed to be a Royal Hall programme, and Die Fliedermaus is a Strauss operetta. I think this piece is referencing favorite pieces of music. It almost looks like the cat is lying on top of a piano, with sheets of music in front, and the violin, metronome, and portrait are in front of a wallpapered wall. It's very intricate, no matter how it was done. Have you tried removing the back of the frame? Maybe you could find more information.

Thanks everyone ... I appreciate all the help and compliments I received on this! The rug isn't new, but it was my 3rd try until I got it "right" You know I didn't even think to move the picture up a little, to cover the box, but I will definitely do that. Unfortunately my whole house needs to be rewired, so I will have many more of these type holes to patching paint!