A Cactus Pebble Sculpture by Visionary Artist Ben Hartman Folk Art Environment

It’s Ben Hartman posing with a pebble masterpiece. I guess I would call it a cactus thingamajig for birds. Not only is his amazing environment saved, it looks fantastic! Original Real Photo Postcard circa 1930 Collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb. See More at www.hartmanrockgarden.org #outsiderart #visionaryart #folkart #yardart #jimlinderman #dulltooldimbulb

Totem Pole Park in Crescent City CA is a bit of a mystery. There is little written about it. This, and a dozen other RPPC images of the place were taken by Frank Patterson, who worked the area with his camera 1920 to the 1950s. His archives are held at Oregon State University Libraries. There is a photo of the apparently non-indigenous artist in this 1941 issue of Popular Mechanics…but unless my eyes fail me they don’t list his name! The piece claims the artist made 2800 pieces with his Boy Scout ax, and that “hundreds of his samples can be seen…along highways of the west coast.” Well, I dunno. I posted another of his works (a gorilla in chains) on a previous blog post. The set of cards don’t reveal anything on the reverse. A few other carvings which make no sense are included. I believe the place is gone. Totem Pole Park formerly I Cresent City, CA. Painted Stump Octopus collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb. Other images from various sources.

Circus Carnival Back Half of a Zebra Man ? Original Photograph c. 1930

Bonus Post. Zebra and back half of a zebra man? Original snapshot c. 1930ish? Collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb

Lillian M. Trafton Schoolgirl Folk Art Handmade booklet with Drawings c. 1900 Collection Jim Linderman

Four pages from the lovely handmade and hand drawn book of Lillian M. Trafton. I was able to find one girl with that name born 1892 in Massachusetts. There are eight pages of illustrations including the cover with original ribbon tie, but I scanned my favorites. Booklet made by Lillian M. Grafton c. 1900 Collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb

Large Folk Art Sculpture / Bust.

Large folk art sculpture I've had around 20 years. I'm not sure how old he is, but the bark fell off not long after I found him and put him inside. 18 inches tall and as big around as a telephone pole. Carved Folk Art bust 20th C. Collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb

Antique Folk Art Bird Whirligig

Antique Folk Art Whirligig. A simple abstracted bird original paddles. Circa 1940 or so. Collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb

A real Yellow Submarine for One!

A real Yellow Submarine! It's only about ten feet long,looks homemade. I think Ringo could fit in. Yellow Submarine Michigan. Photo Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb

Apple Antique Die Cut Forms for cutting Victorian Scrapbook stickers

Apple Antique Die Cut Forms. Victorian lithograph paper “scraps” were originally sold in gummed sheets which had to be hand cut with scissors. A bit Later, factory cutting tools of razor sharp metal with wooden centers sheared them out. Two examples of apple cutters. There was no reason for anyone to dapple paint one of these apples…I don’t know if it was done in the factory or later for the antique aftermarket. The sticker scraps are still being made…Seen any apple computer stickers lately?

Moon Mullins and his little brother Kayo Folk Art Sculpture from Florida. RPPC

Moon and Kayo cartoon characters Moon Mullins and his little brother Kayo Mullins. Moon is my kind of guy, his name derives from Moonshine…during prohibition. Kayo is his little brother, named after a “K.0.” which is slang for a knockout punch. Tough guys with stogies and plenty of big schemes. They were created by Frank Henry Willard (1893 - 1965) The strip debuts in 1923 and ran for 67 years. An images of the fellas follows here with the real photo postcard from Sun City, Florida. A hand written note atop appears to date the figures to a 1947 trip to the Little Manatee River. I like their shadows too…must have been a sunny day in Sun City. Moon Mullins Real Photo Postcard 1947. Collection Jim Linderman Dull Tool Dim Bu

Goofy Mid-Century Drawing of a Man inventing the Internet

Check out this cool mid-century guy who invented the internet so he could look up teeth! Well…maybe he invented the iPad. An original drawing and an accompanying 8 x 10 photograph with a skull being investigated. Dated 1966, I think these could have been, like, patent drawings or something for the future which is here! Goofy drawing 1966 and goofy photo by visionary “Williams” with no other information. Collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb

Visible Pumps and the American Dream. Petroliana Vintage Photograph

A photo of the American Dream. Note on the reverse indicates this is “Mother, Dad and Kay”. No location, but somewhere between places. Cities Service Oil Company started in 1910 and became Citgo around 1980. The gas pumps are a type known as “Visible” pumps which were the standard around 1927 until the late 40s. Mom made the sandwiches and I presume Kay added the blue. Original photograph c. 1930. Collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb #gas. #petroleum. #petroliana. #dulltooldimbulb. #vintagephoto. #Visablepump

Bettie Page with Bangs and without Bangs.

From a scrapbook circa 1955 - 1960 it’s Bettie Page with and without bangs. There is no original source, but I believe the adjacent photos appeared in one of Robert Harrison’s magazines like Wink or Titter. Collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb

Aunt Boo and her Dolls. Hillbillyana Real Photo Postcard collection Jim Linderman

I’ve had this RPPC of “Aunt Boo” for a while, and finally decided to learn her story. Turns out she was a member of Bob Burns comedy troupe rather than a poor, struggling Ozarkian. Several scarce Aunt Boo dolls are on the web. Each is identified by a printed label. I was sympathetic to the woman’s apparent plight of poverty…but it was a hillbilly show business ruse. In fact, I’m not even sure Aunt Boo was a woman. Aunt Boo was an associate of Bob Burns, the Van Buren, Arkansas favorite son. Bob specialized in what I today refer to as “Hillbillyana” but has also been described as “toilet humor” frankly. He was a radio “star” from the 30s and 40s. A Vaudevillian and a Minstrel. His most remarkable accomplishment was inventing the word “Bazooka”. Today a bazooka is a weapon, but the word originates from Bob! Back in the 1930s when Bob was performing, he invented primitive instrument made from pieces of pipe that he blew into making “Boo” noises. He held a copyright on the word! Not many of his bazooka’s remain today, as he often destroyed them in a frenzy on stage as part of his act. Sorta like Pete Townsend and his guitar. The best source I find on the real photo postcards is from the Pittsburgh Press of August 2, 1947. In part, it indicates a relative of Bob Burns ran a souvenir shop in Van Buren which sold “…pottery, cedar trinkets made locally, dolls, picture postcards of Grandpa Snazzy, Aunt Boo, Cousin Watford. They are real photographs posed by Ozark characters in make-up”. So I guess the real Aunt Boo was nobody. The Smithsonian holds a copy of the photo. Original Aunt Boo Real Photo Postcard c. 1940 Collection Jim Linderman. #rppc. #hillbillyana #Dolls. #ozarks. #dulltooldimbulb

Birdhouse Folk Art Environment Anonymous Real Photo Postcard c. 1940 (?) Collection Jim Linderman

Subdivision for Birds. Real Photo Postcard c. 1940? Collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb #rppc. #realphotopostcard. #birdhouse. #dulltooldimbulb

Anonymous early folk art drawing "Are You A Princess" circa 1920 in Crayon

Circa 1920 anonymous crayon drawing "Are you a Princess" While crayons were invented around 1905, by 1920 they are in general use. Collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb

Wooldridge Sculptures in Maplewood Cemetery photograph

A original period snapshot of the Wooldridge Monuments located in the Maplewood Cemetery of Mayfield Kentucky, along with an enlargement of same. Mr. Wooldbridge built them between 1890 and 1899, when he passed on. Then he was buried among the figures. Despite rumors the miserly lifelong bachelor took his money underground with him, the group lasted a long time. HIs horse here was named Fop. All the figures represent people (and pets) he knew. A storm broke nearly all of them in 2009, but they were repaired and the plot re-dedicated. Original vintage snapshot of the Wooldridge Figures. C. 1950? Collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb the blog.

Victorian Spencerian Graphic Calling Card with a basket and rose

Victorian Spencerian Graphic Calling Card with a basket and rose. A very fine original hand drawn card with calligraphy. Colored by hand. One of two by Anton Weber 19th C. Collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb #caligraphy. #basket. #callingcard. #Victorian. #Spencerian. #folkart

Justin McCarthy Nude by the Pool Watercolor c. 1930

Justin McCarthy “Nude by the Pool” c. 1930 Watercolor. Ex collection Tom Armstrong (former director Whitney Museum) Illustrated in Justin McCarthy Ute Stebich 1985 p.19 Collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb the Blog #outsiderart

Folk Art Hand Carved Organ and Musician

Handmade Folk Art Organ and Player. I don’t know much about this hand carved figure playing his organ with LOTS of wooden parts…other than either he or the organ is an “RG. Detailed! Frayed wire would have plugged in the sheet music holder.10 inches wide. Antique Folk Art miniature Organ with Carved wooden player. Late 19th early 20th century. Collection Jim Linderman Dull Tool Dim Bulb #folkartsculpture #folkart. #miniature. #model.

Andrew Clemans Sand Artist original postcard 19th century Collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb

The one of a kind sand art bottles of Andrew Clemens are well known to 19th century American Folk Art collectors. I recently found this postcard which indicates the artist was used by an advertiser! I am not familiar with any other folk artists (or sand artists) who were sponsored by a clothier…nor if the John Kramer company of McGregor, IA sponsored any others. Clemens was a good choice. He was a deaf mute living in the same town and his art is something to behold. He also took out his OWN ads in the local newspaper. Clemens would dig sand from the nearby Pikes Peak State Park (Pictured Rocks) and meticulously separate them by color to create his bottles. He made hundreds but not too many survive. Hence, very expensive when one is available. Clemens died at age 37. I do not know if this one still exists. Recently, as Antiques and the Art Weekly reported, a group of three bottles exceeded a million dollars. Original Postcard of Andrew Clemens Sand Art circa 1894 - 1900? Collection Jim Linderman Dull Tool Dim Bulb #folkart. #sandart. #dulltooldimbulb