Hand carved vintage folk art Puppet Head of a woman

Hand carved vintage folk art Puppet Head of a woman, circa mid-19th c. Collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb

Weird Fish Decoy "Thing" made of metal. Help identify?

A mystery! While this thing has the appearance and size of a fish decoy, it’s metal of some sort with a circular copper “medal” or sign on the side. A gun turrent atop! It even has fins and a lead sinker on the underside. My only guess is a carnival “float” one yanks out of the water for a prize? I’ve seen two of them over the years, this one is mine. ANY idea would be Welcome. The rust indicates long wear. Fish Decoy “form” made of metal. ???? Collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb

Newly discovered real photo postcard of Daniel Rose Whimsical Miniture folk art carvings Collection Jim Linderman

What is known about Whimsey in a Bottle carver Daniel Rose comes from "Genius in a Bottle" by Susan D. Jones, or at least the website devoted to same.  The book is sold out, but the extensive website provides all you would want to know about Ships in a Bottle, Whimseys, you name it.  Fantastic research, and deserving your attention. I have earlier posted here two scarce original photo postcards of the artist, This is the third photo to emerge. Mr. Rose lived in Johnstown, PA, born 1871.  He passed away in an automobile accident at the age of 51.  He apparently created some 120 works of art in bottles.  Recognized for his work during his lifetime by an article in the Christian Science Monitor, I hope these real photo postcards produced during his lifetime will bring him more recognition. “The Handiwork of Daniel Rose, the Wonder Working Whittler real photo postcard c. 1910 collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb

Folky Clay Head unfired?

A 6” tall clay head, appears never fired…and the surface cracks indicates as such. It’s not new…surface wear all over and some dark “clay patina” on the high points, Clay Head mid-19th c. Collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb

Florida Makeshift Roadside Attraction from 1979

Fifty years ago Florida was cool. Now? Not so much. Original snapshot Roadside attraction 1979 Collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb

Help with identifying the maker of a miniature Peach Pit Carving of a diner scene

Civil War Vet Folk Art Wood Carving by Wm. Meyers

Mr. Meyers carves a wonderful wagon and horse team using only a jackknife and an awl Real Photo Postcard collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb

Handmade Folk Art Mask of a Life-sized Tiger

I collect handmade folk art masks. Life size Tiger Mask c. 1950-1970 Collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Buld and others various.

Remarkable Outsider Art by Max Romain

It is self-serving to claim one “discovered” an artist, but I guess I did. Early works here circa 1992 by 1930 Haitian born artist Max Romain of the Bronx, New York. I found his work In an amateur exhibition at a branch of the New York Public Library. It had been arranged by a library worker and friend of the artist. I tracked him down and attempted to represent him. Working with a self-taught artist who doesn’t want to let go of his work is difficult. To Max Romain, a painting was never finishedand he would add paint over the original image often several times. Eventually I had to give up on my efforts, although some work was placed at the then American Primitive Gallery run by Aarne Anton (and I see some work is now in the Smithsonian shown here). I have only one work, the blue birds shown. Paintings by Max Romain c. 1992 one (Birds) collection Jim Linderman and others from private collections. Comment below shows additional work in the Smithsonian collection., #maxromain. #haitianart. #outsiderart. #selftaughtart

Boy with a Flute Antique American Folk Art Sculpture RPPC Real Photo Postcard c. 1920 - 1930

 Toot Toot! I am back to continue writing my 18 year old blog Dull Tool Dim Bulb. Boy with a flute concrete folk art sculpture circa 1920-1930. Real Photo Postcard Collection Jim Linderman

Hello? It's for you.

Hello? It’s for you. Pressed cardboard Walkie Talkie from a game. Circa 1950s. Collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb

Early Miniature Landscape Lincoln Sideshow Annex Carnival original photograph c. 1910

Early Carnival Sideshow Banners circa 1910. I can’t be sure how this snapshot will look online…it’s an odd, tiny size. I THINK taken by a Kodak “Vest Pocket” camera circa 1910 to 1935. They produced a 1 x 4 landscape image, which this little fellow is. A scarce early sideshow photograph from an early camera onceknown as “The Soldiers camera” from being used during WW1. I can’t find anything on the Lincoln Carnival. Lincoln Carnival Sideshow snapshot in miniature landscape form. Collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb.

MAGA

MAGA followers. Three articulated figures, Mid 20th Century Collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb

N. E. Galloway was a Wood Carver too. Totem and Snakes with Owls

I’ve posted the monumental totem of N. E. Galloway before (shown also) but I have also learned he.was quite the woodcarver.  Here’s a carving he made from a tree adorned with a snake and owls!  I’m not sure the size, but appears to be a massive tree with a snake with a bunch of owls. It’s on costers allowing it to be wheeled around, so It must be be huge. N. E. Galloway wood carving postcard 1930s - 1940s and press photo of his totem pole. Both collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb #folkartwoodcarving. 

Drugstore Cowboys et cie A collaboration with HALO 3 Venus d'ailleurs

Drugstore Cowboys et cie. (Drugstore Cowboys and Company) A 12 page collaboration with Halo digest (#3) and Jim Linderman of Dull Tool Dim Bulb the Blog. Photographs, ephemera, postcards and what not depicting the myth of the American West and Cowboy Culture. Halo is a beautiful large sized Digest / Book devoted to exceptional art and magic. Halo blends diverse high and low art with considerable style. Venus d’ailleurs: HALO is a multi-disciplinary art and literary magazine published by the French hybrid publishing house Éditions Venus d'Ailleurs. Functioning as a portable art gallery, the publication explores surrealism, esotericism, paraphysics, and fringe arts. I am honored to participate with this publication. More information on the issue and the organization is shown below. https://venusdailleurs.fr/

Kicking Ass

A Kicking Ass. Primitive handcarved wired motion toy late 19th, early 20th century. Collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb

African-American made Folk Art Cupboard with original Mirror with Provenance

Sometimes things come with provenance. A 19th century cupboard in original paint once owned by Howard Campbell, noted North Carolina Roustabout and folk art collector. I was able to purchase it in 1998, and asked Kimball Sterling, the auctioneer who had handled it wayback what he knew about it. “That piece came from a black home In Hawkins County Tennessee. The Town was Rogersville. I bought it about 15 years ago from a man that got out of the house himself”. His note is inside the door. There is a name signed in Pencil inside one of the doors but it is a little hard to make out. Fine with me. I like a little mystery. One of my favorite pieces, two of the most colorful people I have ever met, and a beautiful object I have treasured 25 years. African-American cupboard with original mirror 62 inches tall, 34 inches wide. I believe it is yellow pine. Original paint. 19thCentury. Collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb

Schoolgirl Art Fashion Drawings c. 1955?

Do all artists copy? Carol did. Fashion drawings by a schoolgirl who appears to have “knocked off” her designs. That’s not a negative…I like everything about these drawings, especially the crusty scrapbook borders which add a ragged frame to each work by our young artist, and the positioning of the original drawings from contemporary media. Carol has no last name indicated, but I also have some drawings which appear to be by her sister too. I will post one day. Group of “anonymous’ drawings by Carol no last name. West Coast, Circa 1955? Collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb #schoolgirlart. #vintagefashiondrawings. #dulltooldimbulb.

Canada's Big Wooden Folk Art Carved Safety Head for July 4th weekend

Canada’s big wooden automobile safety head reminds us about safe driving on the July 4th weekend. If you drive the speed limit (or slightly below to save gas) and avoid tailgating (the most stupid thing drivers do) your chances of getting home safely are far increased. If you speed and/or tailgate you are a fool. Speeding typically only saves you about 2 to 3 minutes over a 15-mile drive, and tailgating saves you zero seconds. In fact, following too closely doesn't shorten your travel time; it simply increases the risk of a rear-end collision, which can delay your trip for hours. Save your own big head and those of your family, Follow speed limits and relax. You’ll get there. Stay a car length behind the guy ahead of you for every ten mph you are traveling. . Original snapshot of the Big Head Safety Warning Collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb

Vintage Swimsuit Snapshot from Dull Tool Dim Bulb on a very hot day

Whew,temperatures might reach 100 here today. It’s even too hot for the ol’swimmin’ hole. It will keep me inside and I’m not happy having to stay inside. Trends indicate I might have to get used to it. Original Anonymous Snapshot, circa 1940 - 1950 Collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb