When a Dollar Really Meant Something

VINTAGE RESTAURANT or coffee shop signs are great examples of pop culture, and an excellent insight into the economic times of the day. Lay down a buck, get a meal and get change back. How cool.

Here’s a few to enjoy.

An Am repost from 1/27/08

Vintage Roller Skate Boxes

JOEY LIN HAS ONE of the best blogs on art and beautiful things I have seen. You can count on Joey to uncover some amazing objects, objects which will open your eyes and your imagination. His vision and mine seem to overlap so many times I feel as if I know him well—though we have never met in person.

These vintage roller skating boxes, hand embellished and decorated by by their long ago owners, are just a sampling of what he has to offer. Check him out on his blog Anonymous Works.

Objects of Power

(Above) Clown Babies: Custom mounted paper mache masks painted in polychrome. Manufactued by The American Mask Maufacturing Company, Finday, Ohio. 18 inches x 9 inches.

(Above) Detail

(Above) Strange Fruit: from India; Late 19th early 20th century; Redware in matt glazes of polychrome. Displayed dimensions: 5” (h) x 21-1/2” (w) x 17-1/2” (d) Sold as a set.


(Above) Detail.

(Above) Target Silhouette: c. 1940 - 1950; A live ammunition firing range “Target Silhouette” of the classic G man type; Midwest, United States; 42-1/2 (h) x 24” (w) x 3-1/4” (d)

(Above) Detail.

JOSHUA LOWENFELS HAS SOME OF THE MOST INCREDIBLE OBJECTS I have ever seen. His eye is second to none. He is the kind of guy who can go to the flea market and spot what others do not—the rare, the esoteric, the transformational object.

You can find his rare collection for sale on 1stDibs, the on-line shop for the best of the best from many different dealers—or you can visit Joshua’s on-line store here.

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.

Make Mine a Double

HERE’S A SWINGIN’ 1940s MARTINI TRADE SIGN FROM A COCKTAIL LOUNGE IN DENVER. As you can see, this is way cool when illuminated and would be great displayed up high or on the floor as a cocktail table. With a wonderful original blue paint surface, this baby stands 36 inches high and is 31 inches across the top. Made of sheet metal by an anonymous maker.

This item is located in the Urban Country Shop of 1st Dibs.

New Math

(Above) Primitive general store nut and bolt bin with 87 drawers; c. 1900.
(Above) Hand hooked and mounted rug (shirred), found in Pennsylvania; dated 1916.


(Above) Early 20th century folky 1915 banner weathervane.


(Above) Metal 7-Up advertising sign, 1950s.

(Above) Early 20th century circus banner, 7’ 11” tall x 9’ 2” wide.

(Above) Hand pieced and hand sewn early 20th century Amish mounted crazy quilt sham, 1914.

(Above) Primitive, over sized game board, c. 1940.


NUMBERS FASCINATE ME, ALTHOUGH I WAS ALWAYS TERRIBLE AT MATH. So, whenever I see numbers incorporated into a work of art, or on an object, I take an extra look. These numerical things were found on 1st Dibs.

R. Ege Antiques, St Louis

Whatever the season, Rick Ege's storefront window is worth stopping for. 
Here, I'm sorry to say you probably won't find anything your grandmother had... except maybe if your grandmother was Gertrude Stein or wa-aaay ahead of her time.

Rick Ege Antiques is located at 1304 Sidney Street in the historic Soulard District in St. Louis, and is by far my favorite place to look for great stuff. Rick's eye is one you can trust. If Rick has it— it's good, it's worthy, it's rare and it's wonderful. Normally, you would have to go to New York, Chicago or L.A. to find this level of quality. Rick is open every Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Stay tuned here, because in future posts I'll show you more great things.  The number to the shop is: 314.773.8500.