Some Tough Women in Overalls Pipes and Suspenders

Some pretty convincing role players!  Original Photograph circa 1890 Collection Jim Linderman

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A Mean Calf Wean Calf Weaner Mask Farm Primitive

Being a vegetarian, I don't have to worry much about this Hannibal Lecter mask, which is actually a device used to wean a calf from his cow mom.  The idea is (or was…they are apparently made of nylon now) That Bessie junior would approach Bessie senior to feed, and Big Bessie would kick her away.  Seriously.  I thought dogs with those satellite dishes on their heads after surgery looked funny!  Seems pretty extreme to me, but then I'm urban, not rural.

We kicked it around the antique mall for a while, but I knew what it was.  

Calf Weaning Mask  Circa 1900.  Ouch.

Truly Terrifying Folk Art Lion 19th Century Handmade

Folk Art Lion from Hell! As much taxidermy as folk art, this terrifying lion must have certainly been part of a menagerie, as whoever made him was magnificently talented.  Wooden teeth, fake eyes, an actual animal skin around a internal frame of unknown material.  The mane is gone, long gone, and replaced with another piece of animal skin tacked on with brads.  Extraordinary!  The entire body is hand-stitched, possibly with sinew...and the lion is ten inches long.

19th Century Folk Art Lion Collection Jim Linderman

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CDV Photographer Trade Card Salesman Sample Photographica collection Horton Grand Rapids Jim Linderman

 

Photographer O. W. Horton of Monroe Street in Grand Rapids Cleans his Studio.  Circa 1855.

Orsamus W. Horton was one of the first daguerreotype photographers in Grand Rapids, MI.
Later he created Stereo photographs.  In 1916, on his passing, he was referred to as "Grand Rapids First Photographer" and was also the first to install a skylight.  He was also known as "Practical Photographer" and listed his location at "Foot of Monroe St."

Original Carte de Visite Photograph circa 1855 Collection Jim Linderman
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One Trick Pony Snapshot Photograph

A one trick pony.  Original anonymous snapshot circa 1935 Collection Jim Linderman

Large Folk Art Carved Ball In A Cage Whimsy collection Jim Linderman

What is the secret to carving a ball in a cage?  There isn't one, other than turning off the TV.

Carved Whimsy no date 8" tall  Collection Jim Linderman

Goofus Glass Carnival Glass FREE Origin of the Collectable RPPC collection Jim Linderman

Carnival Glass was largely given away or sold cheap, as you can see here, at carnivals.  The booth reads FREE but I am sure they had some angle.  It is also called "Goofus Glass" as the decoration was cheap and wore off, hence people felt it was goofy or that the seller had tried to "goof us" according to Wiki.  It is highly collectable today, but according to me this real photo post card is far more scarce than goofus glass. Not only does it show the questionable source of the glass, it has a few sleazy carnies hovering around for the photo.


"FREE" Carnival booth with glass and notions Real Photo Post Card dated on reverse 1908 Collection Jim Linderman


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Homemade Handmade Paper Doll 1950s Folk Art Glamor with Tape

A handmade and homemade paper doll with scotch tape midriff.  Likely a collaborative work with help from Mom or an older sister.  Circa 1950  Collection Jim Linderman

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Retro Modern Mid Century Design Cat FOLK ART ?

Retro Modern Mid Century Cat FOLK ART ?

Retro Modern Mid Century meets a whittler or amateur woodworker in this pair of folk art cats.  Hilarious.  The form is as familiar as an Eames chair, but these folky felines were apparently made in the basement.   Abstracted American Caticus.

The American Pet Products Association say there are 86.4 million cats in the United States. As you can see from the quick screen grab below, there may be that many sculptures as well.

Pair of handmade (signed) abstracted cat carvings of pine,  circa 1950  Collection Jim Linderman

Human Detective Art versus the Courtroom Artist Pale by Comparison to Pulp

What do they mean here?  As opposed to bloodhounds?  Now that we rely on cyberslueths more than gumshoes, it is nice to be reminded of the days when a hard working human dick brought in the perps.

Human Detective was lurid, but then so is 48 hours (and the knock-off on A&E The First 48) both which are gripping…and as long as we have criminals, we'll have headlines, even if they come in digital form.

The best Human Detective covers are painted.  Later, tricked-up photographs were used, but one could hardly tell the difference, with all the hyper-realistic color and primary color luridness added.  Still great. 

Here is a question:  How come today's courtroom artists suck by comparison to the old-timers?  Seems to me that market, if one were a commercial artist looking to dominate a field, is ripe for a lurid illustrator rather than a quick sketch artist.

Two lovely books which reproduce covers of True Crime pulps are, first, the way totally cool Cyanide and Sin: Visualizing Crime in 50s America, which was published in a limited edition of 3,000 copes (and comes with a huge fold-out cover) and True Crime Detective Magazines 1924-1969.  Both are great.

Fiery Red Character Wig Which Temporarily Retards Flame

Character unspecified, but if you click and enlarge, you will see the small print reads "treated to temporarily retard flame."  Hmm.  I don't see a time estimate, but I would walk junior around the neighborhood with a large spritzer bottle just in case.  He might peer down into a pumpkin.

I recall reading years ago a funny thing about writer, director and genius John Waters.  He claimed one of his numerous collections was "banned toys" which he would rush out every shopping season after the consumer product safety made their lists.  I don't know if he was kidding or not, but every time I see a set of Lawn Darts in an antique mall (you know....those heavy darts not intended to fall straight down into a kid's head) or, as above, a halloween costume literally made out of tinder...I think of Mr. Waters.  I think I have ALSO figured out who the character here is.  Torchy Recall, the consumer bandit.

Unsafe Character Wig Style "Red Flowing" NO MANUFACTURER or date on package!  Collection Jim Linderman

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Kindergarten Toy Orchestra! 1930

Kindergarten Toy Orchestra 1930  Original Photograph by "Olson" 1930 Collection Jim Linderman

One Race Many Cultures Vintage Photograph collection Jim Linderman

There is only one race, the human one.  There ARE many cultures.  I am glad to be living during the years we finally realize it.  These sisters in geisha garb realized it before most of us, I guess.

Untitled Anonymous Snapshot (African-American Women In Japanese Geisha Garb) circa 1920?
Collection Jim Linderman

Antique Carnival Coin Toss Gameboard collection Jim Linderman

Circa 1940 Carnival Game Board (Penny Toss) painted on linoleum.  Linoleum used to be called "kampticon" and was invented way back in 1864, and as such is yet one more "mid-century modern" thing which is in fact not mid-century or modern at all…like plywood.  Both go back well over 100 years, and both are now antique…so take that stuff out of the "modern" wing folks.

Carnival Game Board collection Jim Linderman

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Fantasy Drawings by African-American Artist Asa "Ace" Moore collection Jim Linderman

 

 

A group of the recently discovered erotic fantasy comic illustrations by Asa "Ace" Moore, African-American from Ohio, circa 1935.  

All Original Drawings circa 1935 collection Jim Linderman

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Big Folk Art Wood Carved Head Sculpture

Carved and painted bust.  Life Size!  Collection Jim Linderman 

Women with Dummies Female Ventriloquist with Vent Figures Vintage Photographs

Women with Dummies

Are ventriloquist dummies any less creepy when being manipulated by women?  Well, I don't see them as creepy at all, I see them as complicated, handmade and hand carved folk art objects with long and noble careers.  The dummies, that is.  The women with their hands up Woody's crotch might be a little strange, but the dolls (or using the proper term "vents" ) are fine with me.

Striving to be gender friendly in all endeavors, the author spent a decade collecting antique vintage photographs of ventriloquists with their tool, and while I cannot say total equality was achieved, I dare say you have never seen so many pictures of the "fairer" sex with blockheads before.  Dummy dames? 

I'M WITH DUMMY Vent Figures and Blockheads by JIM LINDERMAN | Make Your Own Book

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Jumbo Target Game with Bell Original Paint

No date or manufacturer, but it must have had packaging which would identify it.  Rusted bell in center and 12" across with fold-out wire stand. 

OId Airplane Whirligig Weathervane on a Pole Photograph collection Jim Linderman

 Anonymous snapshot, No Date Collection Jim Linderman

Incongruous Group of Boxers and Banjo Cabinet Card Photograph collection Jim Linderman

Original Cabinet Card Photograph Circa 1880 Collection Jim Linderman