DAHLIAS, YELLOW--OIL PAINTING-1800'S--EXTREMELY APPEALING TO THE EYE

MINNA ALEXANDER IS THE ARTIST OF THIS VERY LOVELY OIL PAINTING. AS YOU CAN SEE PORTRAYS, WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE YELLOW DAHLIAS, IN THE OLD SCHOOL ON TOP OF A PRETTY MATERIAL. WHAT INTRIGUES ME IS THE USE OF THE LITTLE TOY OR ANIMAL NEXT TO THE VASE, WHICH MAKES ME BELIEVE IT WAS MEANT TO BE AS FLOWERS FOR THE BIRTH OF SOMEONE OR BIRTHDAY...WHAT IS YOUR INTERPRETATION???.... I DO NOT HAVE ANY IDEA WHO THE PAINTER IS OR WHEN EXACTLY IT WAS DONE. I DO KNOW THAT IT WAS DEEPLY APPRECIATED BY MY AUNT, FROM WHOM I INHERITED IT, AND HAD IT IN A SPECIAL PLACE. MY AUNT, BY THE WAY, WAS AN ART CONNOISSEUR AND DEALER IN ART AND JEWELRY. THE FRAME IS BEAUTIFUL AND DOES JUSTICE TO THE PAINTING. HAS A SMALL DAMAGE ON THE TOP. THE PAINTING'S MEASUREMENT IS: 15 1/4" X 17 1/4" WITH FRAME; 22 1/2" X 24 1/2". SHOULD YOU WISH FOR ME TO PROVIDE MORE PICTURES OR ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, I WILL BE HAPPY TO DO SO.