Folk Art Risque Sliding Novelty Erotic Carving Large!

Folk Art Risque Sliding Novelty Erotic Carving Large!  Circa 1930.
Collection Jim Linderman

Little Women Folk Art Carvings by Anonymous

Wee whittled women.  Size 3" to 7" tall.  Found in New Jersey, circa 1940 - 1950.  
Collection Jim Linderman

Folk Art Mail Art 19th Century Bike and Bridge

Folk Art Mail Art 19th Century. A bike and a bridge! Mailed within New York state, 1888. Collection Jim Linderman

Large Folk Art Whirligig in the Sky

Large Folk Art Whirligig  original snapshot c. 1950? Collection Jim Linderman

Puma by Michigan Carver Fred Alten c. 1910-1945 Collection Jim Linderman

Collectors Joe and Lee Dumas discovered 156 carvings by Mr. Alten hidden in a backyard shack 30 years after his death.  There were 14 hand built cages holding the menagerie in darkness since Alten passed in 1945.  Collector Julie Hall wrote in the first catalog devoted to the work. "Alten's animals were "captured" in green wood cages with metal bars.  It was apparent that, once Fred finished a dozen or so animals, he stood them in cages, and then permanently fitted the metal bars around them in a rigid wooden frame."  "They were very strong, and I had to smash some of the animals to get them out…" Dumas is quoted in The Detroit News in 1986.  It appears now this figure was one of them.  I was told the tail was likely broken at that time.  It also explains why the figure was photographed here (Country Living Magazine September 1986) on their shelves positioned with no tail showing!  I also now have the tail.

Over the years, Alten's works have been added to many museums, some through purchase, others by generous donations.  A dozen standard works on folk and outsider artists include his work. 

Alten created his animals from several pieces of wood mortised together.  Joined portions are seen here.  He also often covered the carvings in wax while painting them and used a comb or pointed object to create a "hair" effect.  A good portion of this has been lost since the little fella was photographed, but it has knocked around a good while.  The puma was an orphan.

Shown here in Country Living Magazine 1986.

Puma Fred Alten c. 1920-1945.  Wood, was, original paint.  Collection Jim Linderman

Love During Wartime Anonymous Photographs Continuing Series

Pair of Vietnam-era amateur photographs.  Love During Wartime is a continuing series on Dull Tool Dim Bulb the Blog.  Collection Jim Linderman

Folk Art Tillie Toy circa 1930 Ashbury Park New Jersey Symbol Carnival Figure Original Paint

Handmade Folk Art Tillie, the famed character who represented the Ashbury Park, NJ arcade for a century.  Named after George Tilyou, the owner of Steeplechase Park in Coney Island…but it was the New Jersey Tillie who was saved by Bruce Springsteen fans.

"Tillie" Folk Art carving made from cigar box wood. Circa 1930.  Eyes move.  Collection Jim Linderman

I'm Not at the Outsider Art Fair Paris 2019 Edition post Anonymous Drawings of Startled 1950s Women

A surprising group of drawings by an anonymous west coast shut-in at this point known only as Ms. Daisy.  Each is 9" x 12" and there are hundreds. Each drawing has the date created on the reverse and most have a weather report!  (Cloudy today, sunny and hot, smog, etc…)  She lived into her 90s, and while institutionalized drew one every few days from 1952 until tapering off in the 1960s.

I have never had such a large group of work consecutively dated. The artist's work improves a bit over the years, but each retains this rather stark, naive singular look. One note in the reverse indicates "there is a convention on television so we can't watch our programs" leading me to guess these are an assortment of entertainers, soup opera stars and models of the 1950s.  Another note reveals workers are "removing the trees across the road." Only a few are identified by name but many could be identified.

I cannot say if the artist had training, or if the results were produced through practice. There are no duplicates.  Hundreds of 1950s women, each which reflect the times and the persistence of the artist. The overall effect of a dozen lined up is wonderful.

I will scan a few more soon. 

Six anonymous (Ms. Daisy?) Drawings of women 1957 - 1958.  Collection Jim Linderman

You might also enjoy the book Eccentric Folk Art Drawings: Obscure Drawings of the 19th and 20th century, a 250 page book of similar discoveries available from Blurb.com in softcover or an affordable ebook.  The link leads to a ten page preview and ordering information.  Thanks!

A few of the other outsider art fair posts are available HERE

Plein Air Portrait Painters

Two aspiring illustrators apply their craft outdoors.  Enjoy the Summer!

Original Real Photo Postcard inscribed on the reverse with date 1912 and
Original Snapshot inscribed on reverse with date 1953.
Collection Jim Linderman
Books and affordable ebooks by the author available HERE

The Unknown Superhero

The Unknown Superhero.  Anonymous watercolor on paper circa 1950 
collection Jim Linderman.  NOTE:  The Amazing Devlin Thompson located the source material!  It is apparently the Yellow Jacket, a Marvel creation!  Thanks Devlin.

 

   Browse and order books by the author available HERE

Vintage Figural Croquet Game Wicket Folk Art

Vintage Figural Croquet Wicket Folk Art.  22" tall.  Victory Products, Muskegon Michigan.  No Date (circa 1935 - 1940?)  Original paint.  Collection Jim Linderman

Pair of Birds Feeding Folk Art Schoolgirl Art by Audrey Kouba c. 1940 collection Jim Linderman

Pair of Birds Feeding Folk Art Schoolgirl Art by Audrey Kouba c. 1940 collection Jim Linderman
Books and affordable Ebooks by the author available from Blurb HERE

19th Century Folk Art Portrait Drawing c. 1850

19th Century Folk Art Portrait Drawing of Dr. H. S. Harper. Circa 1850.  
Collection Jim Linderman
See also the book (and affordable ebook) Eccentric Folk Art Drawings of the 19th and 20th Century available now.

Bettie Page by Rudolph Rossi Original 8 x 10 photograph tinted by hand c. 1953

Bettie Page by Rudolph Rossi Original 8 x 10 photograph tinted by hand c. 1953
Collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb

Boy Evangelist Press Photograph with touched up Bible Charles E. Jaynes Jr. 1938

Boy Evangelist Charles E. Jaynes Jr. and his hand embellished Bible. Original Press Photograph and paint 1938.  Photo by E. Stephen.  Collection Jim Linderman

Antique Folk Art Doll Wood Carving Late 19th / Early 20th Century

Antique Folk Art Doll Wood Carving.  Carved by hand with original paint, circa 1890-1920.
Collection Jim Linderman Dull Tool Dim Bulb

Scenes from a Texas Immersion Baptism Vernacular photographs 1927 San Antonio

Scenes from a Texas Immersion Baptism. Each stamped on reverse 1927 San Antonio.  Photographer Carl D. Newton.  Collection Jim Linderman

Ed Bortz

I am proud to present the 4th installment of the worst comic artists in the world series. The horrendous two-tone fetishistic images of one Ed Bortz! Even with his unusual last name, I was unable to find anything about him. A shame. Imagine the duo-tone nightmares he must have suffered as cross-hatched beards and brick-hard bosoms danced in his head, forcing him to jot down his most recent hilarious ideas at 3:00 am. Grisaille? NO, these miniature marvels demand a full palette of TWO colors! I turned these up in Michigan, likely sent home to the spouse by hunters and fishermen up north to drink. As Milwaukee publisher L. L. Cook (shame on you) is across the lake, maybe the cards snuck over on the ferry and multiplied like weeds in bait and ammo shops of Northern Michigan.

To see previous entries of the most putrid postcards in history, click subject heading below.

Four red and black postcards by Bortz. 1954, 1955 Collection Jim Linderman

Antique American Folk Art Sculpture Carving of the Spirit of Communication Golden Boy AT&T Statue

Antique American Folk Art Sculpture Carving of the Spirit of Communication Golden Boy AT&T Statue.  An early 20th Century folk art rendering of "Spirit of Communication" also know as Golden Boy.  The wood carving is 23 inches tall and mounted (with two screws from behind) on old plywood.  Golden Boy was one of the largest sculptures in New York City, second only to the Statue of Liberty in size.  Golden Boy was created as the corporate logo for AT&T in 1914.  The design was by Evelyn Beatrice Longman.  The 24 foot tall gold leaf statue was mounted atop 195 Broadway.  For decades, the image became familiar through use on AT&T telephone directories.  The statue remained in place until 1984, when it was moved to Madison Avenue, then to Basking Ridge, New Jersey.  It is now  standing in the lobby of SBC in Dallas, a company which adopted the AT&T name.

This piece could date anywhere from the original 1914 date to the 1930s.  At some time (originally?) mounted on a large piece of plywood with screws.  This protected the piece for decades.  Plywood came into common use around 1930.  Interestingly, the sculpture has been criticized for showing the AT&T Titan of Industry tangled in his own wires.

The piece could have been created by a talented hobbyist, maybe commissioned for the organization?  Used as a display for outlying branches?  It could even be a model involved somehow in production of the actual statue. 


Golden Boy Spirit of Communication folk art wood carving sculpture.  23" tall with original paint.  Circa 1930.  Collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb.
RECENT BOOKS (and affordable instant download ebooks) by the Author Here.

Punchboard or Punch Card Printing Block Lucky Ben

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In the old days, this would have been called a printer's block, but more specifically, this is a piece used to print punchboards.  Colorful, poster-size games of chance once popular in taverns.  Actually, anywhere a crook could make a buck.  A player would purchase a chance, then punch the board to see if their rolled up number inside awarded a prize.  They are illegal now for the most part.  Guess who got his start in organized crime peddling "chances" in this rigged game?  A very young Jack Ruby.  Mob-run punchboards in Chicago. 

Lucky Ben Punchboard Printing Block  Circa 1940 or so.  Collection Jim Linderman