Monday, June 30, 2014

American Folk Art Cane



An American folk art carved cane with creatures (ducks?) consuming a hunter and his dog.

Sold for $10,500.00 (w/o premium) at T.W. Conroy Auctions, April 30, 2006.

Antique Clown Doll


Sold for $256.00 on eBay.


Thursday, June 26, 2014

Philip Chabot



Philip Chabot (1899-1982) was an artist who was first exposed to whittling near the Penobscot Indian Reservation in Canada. His grandmother was a Penobscot who traveled with Buffalo Bill Cody in his Wild West Shows. During WWI he was an airplane photographer. He was a successful inventor and trained and accomplished taxidermist who later worked for The American Museum of Natural History and the NY Zoological Society, traveling the world on research exhibitions. His works went on public exhibit a couple of times, but for half a century were relatively hidden away.

Available at Anonymous Works.

Folk Art Weightlifter






Circa 1950's folk art carving of a weightlifter. Incredible form!

Available at Anonymous Works.

Monday, June 9, 2014

Prisoner with a Glass Eye

A circa 1920's San Quentin prisoner with a glass eye.

Available here.

Nude Bettie Page

A never before seen nude photo of Bettie Page taken on May 28th, 1951 by photographer Peter Basch. Peter Basch photographed thousands of women during the span of his career and actually did not realize that he had done a photo shoot with the later famous Bettie Page until some 30 years afterward.

Available here.

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Bangwell Putt Doll

Clarissa Field of Northfield, Massachusetts, was born blind in 1765. This doll was made for her and she fancifully named it Bangwell Putt. Bangwell lacks facial features but her ten carefully constructed fingers suggest the importance of touch in Clarissa's world. Bangwell has a homespun body and is dressed in 18th century fashion, including corset. Clarissa kept Bangwell until she died in her eighties. Bangwell Putt is thought to be the oldest surviving rag doll in North America.

From the Memorial Hall Museum.

Monday, June 2, 2014

Hand of God

"Hand of God" headstone carving at the cemetery of the Jones Creek Baptist Church, the oldest church in Long County, South Georgia, dating to 1810.

More here.