Saturday, September 25, 2010

The Carvings of Howard Ortman
















Born in April, 1894, in Pennsylvania. Howard Ortman moved to San Francisco when he was approximately 20 years old. He became a jeweler, working at both Granat Bros. and Shreves. He married in 1923, but had no children.

In his early seventies, following his wife's death, Ortman started carving intricate, finely crafted sculptures of mixed woods and marrow bones. The highly polished and detailed carvings are especially remarkable since Ortman had lost most of the sight in one eye. He carved over one hundred pieces in a 7-year career, but never exhibited anything in his lifetime.

Howard Ortman died in the early 1970's, leaving all of his work to a close friend.
[biographical information from The Ames Gallery]

Jesus Fragment




Remnant of an old stained glass window.

Available here.

Friday, September 24, 2010

1930 Carved Memorial Portrait of President William McKinley




By Claude C. Rader, Mannington, West Virginia.

Measures 13 1/2" x 11" x 1 1/2".

Early Custom Made Walnut Bowling Balls






Ok, so they're priced at $130,000. But when are you ever going to find another set of circa 1890-1910 custom made walnut bowling bowls with the rack?

Available at Wyeth.