Antique Sewer Tile Yellow Kid Bank c. 1900 Collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb

Antique Sewer Pipe sculpture (and bank) depicting the Yellow Kid. Fear not, this fella isn't a racist relic from the past! The Yellow Kid was an American Icon and star of the Sunday comics. First appearing in the papers in 1895, the Yellow Kid grew to be a little baby icon. This figure dates to that era. For those of you who might not know, Sewer Pipe or Sewer Tile folk art figures were largely hand-fashioned by clay factory workers from leftover clay at the end of the day. There WERE some racist elements in the Yellow Kid comics, but it appears to have been the way it was back then. It was over 100 years ago. Of course there were. But this figure is benign. Here's what his creator Richard Outcault had to say about him in 1902: “The Yellow Kid was not an individual but a type. When I used to go about the slums on newspaper assignments I would encounter him often, wandering out of doorways or sitting down on dirty doorsteps. I always loved the Kid. He had a sweet character and a sunny disposition, and was generous to a fault. Malice, envy or selfishness were not traits of his, and he never lost his temper” Read more about the kid HERE on the Outcault Wiki page. He also invented Buster Brown! The form is scarce, but several other examples have turned up. Sewer Pipe Folk Art Pottery Bank figure of The Yellow Kid. c. 1900. Hand-signed on the base "P.O." Collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb. Posted on The Sewer Pipe Pottery Website HERE also.

The Boss Leaves Early. The Workers do Not Original vintage photographs collection Jim Linderman

The Boss Leaves Early.  The Workers do Not.  Original vintage photographs circa 1900
Collection Jim Linderman

Large Sewer Tile Sewer Pipe Folk Art Gorilla Bank 20th Century 15" Clay End of Day Pottery Sculpture

Large Sewer Tile Sewer Pipe Folk Art Gorilla Bank Early 20th Century 15".  Inscribed on chest "MARGIE" which could be the maker's daughter?  Likely based on King Kong..there have been numerous commercial banks with similar form sold over the years.  A massive piece weighing  nearly 13 pounds.  Collection Jim Linderman
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Sewertile Brick Clay Head of a Woman End of Day Folk Art Pottery Pipe Sculpture

Sewertile Brick Clay Head of a Woman End of Day Folk Art Pottery Sculpture.  19th Century.  The figure appears to have been built up over shards and leftover materials.  Collection Jim Linderman

Sewertile Sewer Pipe Victorian Folk Art Shoe End of Day Pottery

Sewertile Sewer Pipe Victorian Folk Art Shoe End of Day Pottery circa 1900
Collection Jim Linderman

Sewer Tile Sewer Pipe Folk Art Man with a Cap Wall Pocket End of the Day Pottery Sculpture

Sewer Pipe tile Folk Art Man with a Cap Wall Pocket End of the Day Pottery sculpture. No date.  Collection Jim Linderman

Sewer Pipe Folk Art Bust of a Man End of Day Sculpture circa 1900 - 1920

Sewer Pipe Folk Art Bust of a Man End of Day Sculpture circa 1900 - 1920
Collection Jim Linderman

Folk Art Sewer Tile Head from Grand Ledge Clay Product Company of Michigan End of Day Art

Michigan had several clay sewer tile factories, and like the others (particularly in Ohio) their workers would take unused clay at the end of the day and make whimsical pieces of pottery for friends.  This sewer tile head (with a pile of tiles stacked ready for transport in the Real Photo Postcard) is signed on the base Curtis Rugge who was a pretty good sculptor.  See also the essay by Marsha MacDowell and Kurt Dewhurst from 1980 titled The Sewer Tile Clay Pottery of Grand Ledge, Michigan. Interestingly, they point out that Michigan drew employees from Ohio to work for them...a small rivalry, but likely also an exchange of skills and ideas for pieces like this.  

Grand Ledge folk art Sewer Tile Head and Real Photo Postcard collection Jim Linderman

End of Day Folk Art Sewer Tile Head of a Man Pottery

End of Day Folk Art Sewer Tile Head of a Man  Early 20th Century Collection Jim Linderman

Antique Folk Art Sculpture Sewer Tile Pottery Man with a Feather in his Cap (and his boss in his hand) End of Day Work

Antique Folk Art Sculpture  Sewer Tile Man with a Feather in his Cap (and what appears to be his boss's head in his hand)  End of Day Work, usually items like this were produced after a long day.  In this case, the worker may be taking revenge on his boss.  Circa 1900 Collection Jim Linderman Dull Tool Dim Bulb

Similar piece on a Brick HERE

 

Teddy Roosevelt Presidential Sewer Tile Folk Art Clay Pipe c. 1900

Teddy Roosevelt Presidential Sewer Tile Folk Art Clay Pipe c. 1900.  Dug near Grand Rapids, Michigan.  Possibly from the Davis Pottery,  Doyle Pottery or Stiven Pottery works active in Grand Rapids at the turn of the century?  See clip from "History of the City of Grand Rapids"by Albert Baxyer, 1891.  Thanks and a tip "o" the hat to S.T.