Some Great Textiles

Concentric Square Quilt USA
circa 1940,
Graphic Concentric Square Quilt,
Hand-stitched black, yellow and gray African American quilt made of rayon.
Via 1st dibs and Just Folk
(Click image for larger view)NEW ENGLAND HOOKED RUG WITH RECLINING DOG American
ca. 1860-1880
Hooked rug with a dog in the center surrounded by a red floral border. Made in New England, wool construction, probably Massachusetts. A great early example, nicely executed, with strong colors. Wool construction.
Via 1st dibs and Jeff R. Bridgeman Antiques
(Click image for larger view)

(Above)

African American Pine Burr Quilt

American
1920’s
Exceptional African American Pine Burr quilt. All hand quilted and pieced. Found in Selma, Alabama. Fantastic color placement and design. These quilts were made with leftover fabric and clothing. These quilts are very labor intensive and would take many years to finish. A simple frame is needed for this quilt to hang on the wall. We do not have it attached to a frame in the image. Framed it will hang appropriately on the wall. This quilt makes a very dynamic wall hanging.
(Click image for larger view)

(Above) Detail of Pine Burr Quilt. (Click image for larger view)

African American Concentric Squares Work Clothes Quilt

American
1940’s
Very bold African American Concentric Squares Work Clothes Quilt. Made from discarded work shirts by Eunice Taylor, Winston County, Alabama(Click image for larger view)

(Above)

African American Abstract Quilt. Attributed to Gees Bend, AL

American
1940’s
Attributed to Lucy Mooney Gees Bend, Alabama, Circa 1930-40. The backing is made from 100 pound welfare sacks issued by the US Government, and says: “The Department of Welfare...Donated by the people of the United State of America - Not to be sold or exchanged.” This quilt is an amazing abstract wall hanging.
(Click image for larger view)

(Above)

African American Memorial Work Clothes Quilt

American
1930’s
African American made double sided Memorial Quilt. Wonderful abstract wall hanging. Constructed from the work clothes of a loved one that had passed on. Also some strips of vintage ticking. Made by Annie Rogers, Creedmoor, N.C.
(Click image for larger view)

(Above)

Gees Bend African American Concentric Squares Quilt

American
1940’s
Gees Bend, AL African American Quilt made by Clementine Kennedy (1904-1974). Concentric squares or housetop variation.
Via 1st dibs, Urban Country Antiques
(Click image for larger view)

(Above)

Yo Yo Rug

United States
circa 1930
A painstakingly executed graphic textile in beautiful colors, this “yo-yo” mat reflects the light in subtle ways to create an astonishing wall hanging.
(Click image for larger view)


IF YOU ARE CONSIDERING A NEW COLLECTING AREA, YOU MIGHT CONSIDER high-quality American textiles, such as quilts or hooked rugs. For example, African American quilts are often characterized by their freedom from the traditional rules of quilt making. Often made from hand-me-downs and scraps of fabric, these quilts are often pieced as things fit—or by following a vaguely defined and always changeable design. Abstraction is the word that best defines them—beautifully balanced in a way that allows chance to play a role in the design. But if you like tradition—there are plenty of other quilts and hooked rugs to fill that need. Either area you wish to collect in, there are still opportunities to find nice examples for under $500. As for the rarest and most collectible examples in an category, the sky is the limit for cost.

All examples via 1st Dibs.

Japanese Boro Textiles

(Above) 19th c. Japanese cotton futon cover called “Boro” made from recycled indigo dyed cloth in patches joined together. Click image for larger view.

(Above) 19th c. Japanese Boro. Click image for larger view.

(Above) Detail of above. Click image for larger view.

(Above) 19th century Boro textile. Click for larger view.

(Above) Detail. Click for larger view.

(Above) 19th century Boro textile. Click for larger view.

(Above) Detail. Click for larger view.


(Above) Boro Cotton Kimono, Yamagata Prefecture (Northern Japan) c. 1900


I OWN A SINGLE JAPANESE BORO. IT REMAINS ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL OBJECTS IN MY COLLECTION. Boro textiles were made in the late 19th and early 20th century by impoverished Japanese people from reused and recycled indigo-dyed, cotton rags. What we see in these examples are typical—patched and sewn, piece-by-piece, and handed down from generation-to-generation, where the tradition continued. These textiles are generational storybooks, lovingly repaired and patched with what fabric was available. Never intended to be viewed as a thing of beauty, these textiles today take on qualities of collage, objects of history, and objects with life and soul.


Objects found at kimonoboy.com, and 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.

Mask of the Lamb

HOW WONDERFULLY CREEPY IS THIS? This haunting mask, symbolic of the innocence of a lamb, represents a rare and previously unknown character example likely used in fraternal lodge ceremonies. It’s origin is New York State, and is circa 1880s to 1900. I love it because there is absolutely nothing innocent about this. If I saw someone with this mask on, I’ll expect to hear next: “It rubs the lotion on the skin.” (Silence of the Lambs)

Of course, this is from Joshua Lowenfels and can be found on 1st Dibs here.

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.

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.

Pimped Out Vintage Rides

(Above) Anonymous vintage snapshot, c. 1930. Child in pedal car.
(Above)

c.1940 Original French Bentwood Pedal Roadster

France circa 1940’s Awesome unrestored French 40’s bentwood roadster pedal car.


(Above)
Detail of inside of French Pedal Roadster
(Above)

Mid-20th C. Folk Art Wood Biplane Pedal Car Toy

USA 1950’s Custom made Mid-20th C. Folk Art wood biplane pedal car toy – purchased from an engineer’s estate, made for his grandchildren in the 1950’s.


(Above)
Detail of inside of Bi-Plane Pedal Car
(Above)

The Ultimate Pedal Car American Art Deco

USA circa 1935 This American Art Deco steel pedal car dates from the 1930’s, is painted in salmon and ivory with gleaming chrome and a Persipex windshield … and a caboose that can carry a picnic lunch, toys or refreshments. It measures 63” long including the caboose.
(Above)

Vintage Peugeot Toy Race Car

France circa 1960’s Peugeot Decorative or functional children’s race car.(Above)

Vintage Metal Toy Peddle Airplane / Car

USA circa Mid-20c Vintage Metal Toy Peddle Car

(Above) Another view, for scale.
(Above)

“Hypnotic” Scooter

USA 1940’s/1950’s Wonderful, graphic and visually stimulating, vintage child’s scooter. Great folk art sculpture. Easily at home in either a modern or casual country home; makes a bold and playful statement.

MANY PEOPLE KNOW THAT I COLLECT VINTAGE SNAPSHOTS. Over the years I have seen many pictures of kid’s pedal toys. I always envied most of them, because they were so beautiful. I had a tricycle and a bike, but the expensive pedal toys were not so often found in my neighborhood. But check these out! Just the fact that these scooters and pedal toys have survived to be enjoyed today make them rare and… expensive. But for the right collector, they would be important additions to a serious collection.

All of these toys were found on1stdibs

Lotería - Mexican Game of Chance

Click any image for closer view.




Click any image for closer view.


Click any image for closer view.


LOTERIA IS A MEXICAN GAME OF CHANCE THAT DATES AS FAR BACK AS THE 15TH CENTURY. Actual vintage cards are highly collectible, but this framed set of three is pretty spectacular. This set dates to around 1900, and what I like here is the authenticity of the framed set. These cards, representing exotic places and things, were most likely framed for the simple visual beauty they brought to a home. These were found via 1stdibs.

Measurements: height: 27.3 cm (10.8 in.) width/length: 27.3 cm (10.8 in.)

Materials/Techniques: Printed cardboard, wood

Location: Europa 2345 Lillie Ave, PO Box 1198 Summerland, CA 93067 USA

Phone: 805-969-4989

E-Mail: europa@silcom.com