Naive, Folky postcard illustration for Singer Trailer Park in Florida.

Here is a naive, folky illustration used to advertise the Singer Trailer Court in Pensacola, Florida. The artist isn’t identified. I can’t find anything about the place. This is a “linen” postcard popular from 1930 to 1950. A great anonymous drawing. Singer Trailer Court original postcard c. 1950 Collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb

Handmade antique Paper Doll from Texas made of Leather and Fabric Scraps Armed! c. 1935

Handmade Paper Doll made of leather and assorted fabric depicting an armed cowgirl (!) Texas origin c. 1935. Note holster and pistol. Was the maker influenced by Bonnie Parker, who with Clyde Barrow was robbing Texas banks until they were shot in 1934? Note Holster and gun. I purchased this set from the daughter of the maker, so this is a special set. I’ll take good care of it. ** **Handmade “paper” doll set of leather and fragments of fabric. Circa 1935, Texas. Collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb the Blog. #paperdolls. #paperdoll #folkart. #texas. #handmade. #homemade.

Folk Art Homemade Pot Holder depicting a JUG !

Homemade Folk Art Pot Holder of a JUG! Crochet. Frankly, this is one great handmade pot holder. I figure it dates between “depression era” and “mid 20th century” and appears to be old but never used. (Vintage pot holders are the last affordable folk art) Vintage pot holder collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb the blog.

Blanch Ackers African-American Folk Art Details from six works. Black History Month

I’ve written about Blanch Ackers before as I have a handful of drawings,but I’m sharing these close-up photos to show how detailed her work is. Every blade of grass is drawn! Blanch Ackers moved from Arkansas to near Detroit, Michigan in 1943. In 1985 she found employment in a Foster Grandparent program and was introduced to art by Christine Hennessay, an art teacher. She was over 70 years of age when her first drawings were produced. Essentially "memory paintings" the work reflects strongly the African-American experience in the Southern United States where she spent her childhood. Blanch Ackers passed in 2003 at the age of 88. Ms. Ackers has a wikipedia entry, and her works are held by the University of Michigan Art Museum Blanch Ackers. Details from six untitled drawings, c.1990 Collection Jim Linderman

"No Trump" Folk Art Cat Handmade Card Game Suit indicator c. 1950

A “no trump” card came is one where no suit is designated as the trump suit. The highest card wins the trick. This is a vintage Bridge card game “tally” which is set to remind players the match has no trump or to indicate the suit which is. Interestingly, in British Slang, “to trump” is a common term for flatulence. Folk Art Cat suit indicator in cat form, Mid 20th Century. Collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb

Woman in Profile Snow Sculpture with Hidden Humans Providing Contrast

We wouldn't be able to see this great snow woman without the family behind her holding up a black blanket for contrast. Original Snapshot, early to mid 20th c. Collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb

ORIGINAL WOOD CAUTION WET RIDE carnival sign collection Jim Linderman. Original Paint. Circa 1940

This is my ORIGINAL WOODEN "Caution Wet Ride" carnival sign, circa 1940, which has been widely reproduced without my permission by unscrupulous eBay scammers who now sell cheap knock-offs printed on METAL. This despite the obvious wood grain on my piece. I posted it originally years ago. eBay is basically a platform for people who should not be in business. Alas. There are actually two sellers shilling cheap copies of my sign. No credit, no reward. Shameful. From my experience, the sellers may take it down when I complain to them, but they seem to come back in the next cycle. There have been other examples of things I own being reproduced. Unfortunate and screw them. Shameless. At least they haven’t figured out yet to print it on a wooden board or how to age the paint. Original hand painted carnival sign reading CAUTION WET RIDE c. 1940. Collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb.

Primitive handmade Victorian Table Mat Folk Art

Primitive handmade Victorian Table Mat Folk Art. Vibrant (and unusual) colors and hand stitching on this velour mat. 20" x 20" with curious stichings surrounding the center. Collection Jim Linderman c. 1900

Figures at Rochers Sculptés in Rothéneuf, France. Real Photo Postcard collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb

Figures at Rochers Sculptés in Rothéneuf, France. Real Photo Postcard collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb

Tramp Art folded Paper two part Frame with Heart

Tramp Art folded Paper two part Frame with Heart. Collection jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb

Human Fly. Pair of real photo postcards of a Human Fly scaling buildings collection Jim Linderman

Human Fly. Pair of real photo postcards of a Human Fly scaling buildings. Early 20th Century, both shown in detail

Primitive Box in Blue Paint Michigan Origin late 19th, early 20th c. Collection Jim Linderman

Primitive Box in Blue Paint Michigan Origin late 19th, early 20th c. 20 inches long Collection Jim Linderman

Large Antique Native American Woodlands Storage Basket

A VERY large Native American storage basket from the Great Lakes region. 28 inches tall and over 50 inches around. Found in Michigan and possibly of Chippewa origin. Natural dye splints with “Potato” stamped decoration. The Chippewa (also known as the Ojibwe) are traditionally considered a Woodland Native American tribe. Their culture and lifestyle developed in the Great Lakes regions. I believe this dates from the late 19th or early 20th century. The basket lid has a considerable dark patina.There are a few splint breaks around the rim and some chips on the sides but is well-persevered overall. One of the largest Antique Woodlands basket I have seen. Large Woodlands Tribe storage basket with handles, lid and potato-stamped decoration. Late 19th, Early 20th Century. Collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb

Collection of Ball in Cage Folk Art Whimsey Carvings

Folk Art Whimsey Carvings AKA Ball in Cage wood carvings. Dull Tool Dim Bulb Archives.

Emil Gerke Folk Art Whirligig Field Near the Grand Coulee Dam Two Views

I do not know if Emil Gehrke, above, imagined his whirligigs turned into color and moved to a new property near the Grand Coulee Dam, but they were. Dull Tool Dim Bulb the Blog

Happy New Year airbrushed, embossed and diverse

An airbrushed and embossed HAPPY NEW YEAR to ALL! Each one is a little bit different, but then diversity is our strength. I have my shoulder to the wheel for the mid-terms. Dull Tool Dim Bulb the Blog.

Dick Dillon's Mechanical City in Real Photo Postcards

I had a cheap promo RPPC of “Dillon’s Mechanical City” years ago but didn’t post it as the piece, or city was apparently from Denmark and I was concentrating on domestic folk art environments. Plus the photo was unclear. Over the holidays I was reminded by Natalie Curley who sent me a real photo postcard of the place. I found the rest! Enlarge these, it’s remarkable. I also found a few ads from Billboard Magazine, then covering the “amusements” market as well as music. There is little useful information on promoter Dick Dillon, who paid to move this mechanical masterpiece from Denmark to East Liverpool, OH in the early 1950s. He also TOURED it around some…it took three giant trucks to move it! The cards hardly show the size. Dillon took it around the midwest in a caravan and parked the trucks in a semi-circle for tours. I consulted the writings of Amazing A.C. Stencell, whose book is the only source I can find. “…Dick Dillon from Youngstown, OH…had acquired a miniature village made in Denmark that consisted of 251 animated characters, 30,000 working parts and 50 European scenes. He told people that the builder took eight years to carve it with a pocket knife.” Dillon covered it in canvas with a few carvings in front but charged for the full tour. I do not know where the thing ended up! When these RPPC images were produced the thing was called the “defenseless” mechanical city, which leads me it may have been a World War 2 reference (?) Group of Dillon’s Working Mechanical city real photo postcards c. 1950 collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb #folkartenvironment #DickDillon. #carnival. #sideshow.

Unusual Sewer Pipe Pottery Monkey hand painted.

There were several dozen Sewer Pipe factories in the area around Ullrichsville Ohio. J.W. Moore comes to mind. This piece is incised with the company stamp "Superior Clay Corp. from Ullrichsville. Interestingly, the company stamp often indicated the maker! This piece appears to have been "Handcrafted by Phillip (Patterson)?. PAINTED Sewer Pipe Pottery is uncommon, but this piece looks to have been an "inventory" item, so there may be more with paint. The paint isn't just "slopped" on, it's well done. The date is unknown but is old. Mid to early 20th Century. Sewer Tile Monkey painted by hand. Collection Jim Linderman

Bettie Page Wood Carving Folk Art c. 1960 collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb

Bettie Page Wood Carving Folk Art c. 1960 collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb

Jim Linderman collection of Antique Wooden Folk Art Figures shown mid 1990s Articulated Figures and Whirligigs

Jim Linderman collection of Antique Wooden Folk Art Figures shown mid 1990s. Articulated figures and whirligigs