Weekend Random Images

(Above) Table by Chul An Kwak, via DesignBoom



(Above) Illustration by GAYLE PORTER HOSKINS (American, 1887-1962). Leaving in a Rush. Oil on canvas. 20 x 19 in.; Via Heritage Auction Galleries.

(Above) Old shooting target in form of pig, via 1stDibs


(Above) Contemporary photographer Stanko Abadzic, represented by iPhotoCentral

(Above) A pair of large carnival punks from a carnival, hand-painted, mid-20th century. Via 1stDibs.



(Above) Circa 1955 Buick Special police car, spotted in Illinois. Photo by John Foster.


(Above) Action Comics, DC, 1940; Via Heritage Auction Galleries.


SO, WHAT’S GOING ON THIS WEEKEND? LAYING LOW, YOU SAY? Well, start your Saturday with a few cool images right here, follow the links and explore. See you Monday!

O Say Can You See?

(Above) circa 1930’s
Folky wood Carving of Uncle Sam with an old original painted surface. Possibly used originally as a mailbox holder in a rural setting. Click image for larger view.




(Above) Patriotic American shield (c. 1919-1929) with 13 stars to reflect the 13 original colonies, arranged in two rows, with a large star in the center of the top row. The construction consists of a large sheet of artist’s board, laid over a shaped strainer frame, made of thick pine. The hand-painted, red, white, blue, and gold polychrome paint survive in an excellent state of preservation, with light craquelure. Click image for larger view.



(Above) c. 1890 42 star American flag. Washington state was the 42nd state to enter the union. This flag was never official as four other states entered the union that same year. Wonderful hand cut and stitched folk art stars. The binding is marked 1890. Click image for larger view.

(Above) Circa 1904. Theatrical flag curtains open on a star spangled presentation of candidates, “For president/ Alton B. Parker/1904/ For Vice President/ Henry G. Davis/ 1904” with a banner promoting “Good government for the people.” Portrait of Parker derived from artwork copyrighted 1904 by George Prince. Reference: Threads of History," Collins, Smithsonian Institution, Plate 872. Click image for larger view.


AFTER THE FOURTH OF JULY 2010, here’s a look back at some vintage items worthy of fireworks!

Via 1stdibs.

Vintage Carnival Items

(Above) Abstract carnival game board. Made by the St. Louis Carnival Company. There is a faint mark on the back from the company. Great primary colors. The object was to get your ring around the box to win the prize. Click image for larger view!

(Above) 1930’s/1940’s A highly vivid and entertaining stool of circus origins. Possibly used as a clown or elephants prop, etc. An Americana sculptural curiosity with contemporary visual allure and appeal. Click image for larger view!
(Above) Here’s a nice collection of three vintage Knock Down Dolls or Punks from a Carnival or Circus. All 3 characters have their own personality— all double sided and retain their original wood bases. Click image for larger view!


(Above) Large carnival midway game clown head. Made by the Game Time Company in Litchfield, Michigan. C. 1950’s. Click image for larger view!
(Above) Penny toss boards were a feature in traveling carnival midways. Essentially a con game, the gathered crowd would toss pennies in the hope of landing in a square without touching bordering lines. It goes without saying that the carnie kept most of the pennies. An extremely colorful and graphic, and by now relatively rare bit of American carnival history. Click image for larger view!
(Above) Great pair of carnival “knock-down” punks found in the south, c. 1930s. Quite possibly one-of-kind. Click image for larger view!
(Above) Decorative boxing banner in beautiful pastel colors painted on canvas for the Robert N. Clark show in Bakersfield, California, c. 1930. Click image for larger view!


ONCE FOUND AT CARNIVALS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, these vintage items are highly collectible today and are found in museums and private collections all over the world. I found these items on the site called 1stDibs. All are for sale.

Gamesmanship

(Above) Rare, Hand Painted Ring-toss Game, c. 1930s. Click image for larger view.

(Above) Pennsylvania Game Wheel With Striking Graphics, c. 1890-1900. Click image for larger view.


(Above) Parcheesi Marble Game, c. 1940s. Click image for larger view.


(Above) Oversized Primitive Checker Board With Numbers. Click image for larger view.

(Above) St. Louis Carnival Company Marble Game. Click image for larger view.

(Above) 19th Century Painted Chinese Checkers Game Board.
(Above) Carnival Penny-Pitch Board, 1930s. Click image for larger view.

(Above) Three Extraordinary Carnival Knockdown Heads. Click image for larger view.

(Above) New England Parcheesi Game Board Table (1840-1860). Click image for larger view.


EVERYONE LOVES GAMES. We played with them as children and hopefully still do as adults.

These hand made games from yesteryear were found on the Web site 1st Dibs. Enjoy.

Electric Color

Click any image for larger view.



IT’S GREAT TO FIND SOMETHING with great paint or patina—especially something with hard wear and tear indicative of honest, hard use. Usually you think of the term “great paint” as a referring to a 19th century piece of painted furniture. But this metal Skil tool case is one of those more recent items (1960s - 70s) worthy of display to people with a special eye.

Available here.

Sandstone Carving of Capt. Miller

Click on any image for larger view.

HERE IS A RARE, AMERICAN folk art carved sandstone bust that recently sold on 1st Dibs. The piece, they believe, came from Connecticut, and is from the early 19th century. This life-size bust depicts a “Capt Miller.” The piece shows traces of paint and is really magnificent.

Height: 24 in.
Depth: 9 in.
Width/length: 22 in.

A Beautiful Set of Three

(Above) Three Shaker bonnets. Click any image for larger view.



Click any image for larger view.


A BEAUTIFUL SET OF 3 SHAKER BONNETS, WITH SUBTLE COLOR VARIATIONS, hand folded and stitched. American, c. 1870’s - 1880’s. Found at Heir Antiques, on 1st dibs.

Great Paint and Patina

(Above) 1850-1880 19th C. BLUE PAINTED WALL CUPBOARD WITH ARCHITECTURAL DOOR, FROM ILLINOIS OR INDIANA. Click image for larger view.

(Above) Detail. Click image for larger view.

(Above) 1880-1890 19th C. FOLKY, FIRE ENGINE RED ORIGINAL PAINTED TALL ONE DOOR JELLY CUPBOARD. ALL ORIGINAL HARDWARE AND SHELFING. GREAT CUT OUT FEET AND FORM. FANTASTIC AND FOLKY COLOR. GREAT CONDITION FROM PRIVATE COLLECTION. Click image for larger view.

(Above) Detail. Click image for larger view.
(Above) 1840-1860 FOLKY 19th C. ORIGINAL PAINTED, SAGE GREEN PIE SAFE WITH DRAWER. WONDERFUL ORIGINAL WORN PATINA AND HARDWARE. GREAT PAINTED AND PUNCHED TIN DOORS AND SUPER HIGH CUT OUT FEET. BEAUTIFUL PAINTED PINE AND THREE SHELF INTERIOR. GREAT CONDITION AND COMES FROM A PRIVATE COLLECTION IN THE MIDWEST. Click image for larger view.

(Above) 1850-1860 19th C. ORIGINAL GRAY PAINTED 1 DOOR, HANGING WALL, CHIMNEY CUPBOARD FROM NEW ENGLAND. ALL ORIGINAL SURFACE AND SQUARE NAIL CONSTRUCTION. Click image for larger view.

(Above) Detail. Click image for larger view.
(Above) 1860-1870 19th C. ORIGINAL SALMON OVER BLUE PAINTED NEW ENGLAND BLANKET CHEST. MADE WITH EARLY CUT OUT LEGS AND SQUARE NAIL CONSTRUCTION. PINE WOOD AND GREAT SURFACE. Click image for larger view.

(Above) 1860-1870 19th C. ORIGINAL CREME PAINTED WALL CUPBOARD FROM OHIO FARMHOUSE. GREAT SURFACE. ALL ORIGINAL HARDWARE. SUPER CONDITION. ALL SQUARE NAIL AND PEG CONSTRUCTION. Click image for larger view.

(Above) Detail. Click image for larger view.

(Above) 1860-1870 19th C. EARLY ORIGINAL MUSTARD PAINTED MEAL BIN WITH GREAT SURFACE. SUPER EARLY COLOR WITH A CANTED SHAPE. FROM PENNSYLVANIA. VERY CLEAN INTERIOR. Click image for larger view.

(Above) 1870-1880 19th C. ORIGINAL WHITE PAINTED TWO DOOR CUPBOARD WITH ORIGINAL HARDWARE. GREAT WASHED INTERIOR. WONDERFUL ORIGINAL PATINA, FOUND IN PENNSYLVANIA. Click image for larger view.


I HAVE SPOKEN BEFORE ABOUT HOW SURFACE WEAR AND PATINA CAN BE THE OUTWARD INDICATORS OF AUTHENTICITY, NOT TO MENTION construction, style, materials, and provenance. For objects such as these—utilitarian cabinets, blanket chests, cupboards, pie safes and such, original paint and surface wear are what you cherish, not hide. These examples, from Jeff R. Bridgman American Antiques, were found on 1stdibs.com. Enjoy, this Sunday, colors like mustard, sage, red, white, blue and gray in all it’s worn and lovely splendor.