HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Off to New York for a few days. Going to check out the Martin Ramirez show at the American Folk Art Museum. Happy Halloween!

Three Early RPPC's of "Pipe Dreams"

Illustration from the 1877 Phernological Journal Magazine

Group of Six 19th and Early 20th Century Articulated Figures

Actually, the one on the right is a grain scoop...

19th Century Painted Tintype of Girl with Floating Head

Vintage Photos of "Yellow Kid" Halloween Costume on Parade Float

Muddy Waters - "Got My Mojo Workin" 1963

American Folk and Blues Festival, 1963.

Late 19th century Angel Carving

At Pook & Pook auction.

Strange 19th century Miniature Framed Silhouette

1950 Topsy Turvy Mask of Two Faces

Premium from the Tip Top Bread Company. Circa 1950.

Handmade Cover to an 1884 Hand-written Dictionary of Latin Quotations

With applied wallpaper cover. Signed Anna Trothe, March 14, 1884.

19th Century Cabinet Card of Woman with Mirrors and Brushes on Dress

When I posted a similar cabinet card a few weeks ago, I thought that this form of late 19th century advertising was a complete anomaly, but apparently there was at least one other company that decided to cover a woman's dress with various tools of the trade.

This one is for Wood Bros. Pharmacy in Elmo, Missouri. The woman has bottles, brushes and mirrors all affixed to her dress. Currently available on eBay through seller "genest".

Click Here to see the earlier post.

1950's Nude Carving of a Woman

Just scary.

Vintage 1920's Photo of Red Cross Flag

A while ago, I did a post of a vintage photo of a great Red Cross quilt. Well, here's another Red Cross piece, not quite as nice, but still pretty interesting.

Click Here to view the original post.

1890's Cabinet Photo of an African American Woman Preacher

Incredible shot. Illegible writing on the back.

19th century Folk Art Carving of a Grotesque

Sold for $7,000.00 at James D. Julia.

Here's the auction house description:

UNUSUAL CARVED FOLK ART FIGURE OF A GROTESQUE MAN. Possibly a parade effigy, the oversized head grotesquely carved with pointed ears, irregular teeth, oversized nose and brow, with protruding blue eyes, the sculpted hair painted brown. Clothed in green tailcoat buttoned at the front to a winged collar. The arms nailed in a backswept position, the legs with gray pantaloons outstretched in a forward position as if the figure were meant to be in a semi-reclining/seated position. Demeanor of the carving is not dissimilar to a grotesque wooden puppet carving. SIZE: 36" overall l. PROVENANCE: From the McCormick Estate in Chicago. It is believed that this figure was perhaps an effigy or parade figure, originating from the Haymarket Labor Riots of 1884. It is from this conflict that the concept of a 40-hour work week and the Labor Day holiday originated. CONDITION: Retains original old surfaces, with original paint. Large segment of nose missing, both ears missing a section. Piece of winged collar also missing. Legs and arms now nailed to body. Large part of each foot missing. Nail on back between shoulders, probably functioned as a hanger for figure.

Folk Art Rocking Horses in Vintage Photos

1920's Photo of Folk Art Animal Carving in Front Yard

1901 Folk Art Carved Train Whistle Whimsey with Two Carved Faces

Still whistles real good!

1910 Experimental Home Portraits of The Girl with the Circle Background

Incredible pair of portraits I was lucky enough to acquire from James Lamkin recently.

Here is his description:

A pair of experimental home portraits of the girl with the circle background
Original vintage photographs
Gelatin silver prints, album paper fragments on the verso and light indentations from these on recto, dots of emulsion loss on the large image from contact with an album surface, otherwise excellent and extremely rare pieces, circa 1910

3 x 4in. and 4 x 5 7/8in.

Large Articulated Figure of a Railroad Man

Except only his cap remains. Found in Jackson County, WV.

Post-War Melancholic Portrait

Early Folk Art Carved Erotic Canes

From the upcoming Kimball Sterling auction.

Amateur snapshot from 1939 New York World's Fair

One of the best images I've seen of the Trylon and Perisphere.

It still eludes me...

Art Issues #1. Premier issue of the seminal West Coast art magazine from Gary Kornblau.

I have the entire run except the first issue.

I bid too low.....again. When will I ever learn.....

Early 20th century Star of Bethlehem and Bar Quilts

From the upcoming Pook & Pook auction of The Machmer Collection.

Photo credit: Pook & Pook

Daguerreotype of Painting of a Woman

Billie Holiday - "Fine and Mellow" on "The Sound of Jazz" 1957

I won't bore you with the whole back story of this historic recording. Needless to say, one of the most incredible live musical performances of all time.

Anonymous Pillar of Sports and Political Figures

Circa 1940.
Photo credit: Carl Hammer Gallery.