Hello again Kathy,
Thank you for your appraisal inquiries with Mearto. I apologize for the delay in your appraisal and thank you for your patience. The item presented appears to be a Chinese gouache painting depicting a sailboat with cranes. Unfortunately, I am unable to decipher the inscription and identify the artist. However, the inscription appears to partially read, "yue lao," which is the Chinese god of love. It is important to note that these inscriptions are typically proverbs or poems rather than signatures. The estimate provided is based on recent auction estimates and results of this comparable Chinese paintings, with similar imagery and similar size. The estimate is contingent on a full condition report. Please note asking or dealer prices may vary. Thank you and please take care.