Unusual Antique Folk Art Furniture Mirror Stand with Carved Decoration

Unusual Antique Folk Art Furniture Mirror Stand with Carved Decoration.  56" tall.  Circa 1920.
Collection Jim Linderman

The Great American Baseball Game Hustler Toys 1924

The Great American Baseball Game Hustler Toys 1924.  Wooden base, lithographed tin.  Works fine!

Antique Erotic Folk Art Novelty Carving Man in a Barrel

 

Erotic Folk Art Joke Carving Man in a Barrel circa 1920.  

The Saddest School Autograph Book Handmade and Brutal

Not only is this depression era autograph book handmade, it appears a brother and sister had to share it.  That would be sad enough, but the signatures indicate neither were exactly the most popular kids in class.

Painted Silhouette of a Standing Man on Wood. Folk Art Mystery

Painted Silhouette of a Standing Man on Wood.  Folk Art Mystery.  50" x 20"
Collection Jim Linderman

Cropped like a Corset Photographic Manipulation before Photoshop

Here a vintage photograph takes away some curves in an early example of photographic dieting (which shows women have been presented doctored up earlier than one might think.) Actually published photos have been lying all along.  (See my earlier post "Pictures always lie".) Never mind that this photo was likely used to advertise a nightclub performance for men...it is deceptive and as we have long known, demeaning.  One reason I like to tell stories with vernacular photographs is that the professional ones always deceive.  We have always taken it for granted, I guess.  Guess what I just learned?  Advertisements lie too! 

Slim made slimmer for publication vintage photograph, circa 1950.  Collection Jim Linderman  See information on new photobook THE BIRTH OF ROCK AND ROLL HERE.

Blues in Brooklyn African-American Mug Shots from the Collection of Jim Linderman

Real Black gangsters, I guess.  Criminals from the 1950s, but presumed, I am afraid, guilty until proven otherwise. Given attitudes, practices and institutional racism when taken,  these sharp-dressers might have been just walking to work.

Striking Photographs, each near 8" x 10" and each handed back and forth from lawyers, prosecutors, file clerks and now collectors. Another reminder that the photograph was a tool and a physical object which developed surface, wear and form as it aged.

Jim Linderman's newest book of photographs is THE BIRTH OF ROCK AND ROLL and is available from the publisher DUST TO DIGITAL, AMAZON, BARNES AND NOBLE AND OTHER FINE RETAIL OUTLETS.     

Trompe L'oeil Drawing with Real Photo Postcards circa 1910 Collection Jim Linderman

An unusual miniature Trompe L'oeil drawing seems to depict Real Photo Postcards circa 1910.  Trompe L'oeil drawing is intended to "trick the eye" into seeing three dimensional objects rendered in painted or drawn detail.  This miniature drawing shows three real photo postcards atop the cover of a book.  As such, it represents how RPPC images had become common objects early in the 20th century, and also that they were familiar enough to be used by visual artists.  Gems by the Wayside was a collection of religious and domestic poems published in 1855 by Lydia Odell Baxter, an invalid bible student and writer who passed away in 1874. I find no information as to when volume 2 was published.  The signature of the artist is illegible.  The book is only 3" x 4" and the post card "on top" is only 1.5" x 2.5".      Circa 1910 Collection Jim Linderman

19th Century Folk Art Drawing "Twin Angels" Fred Conn 1894 Collection Jim Linderman

19th Century Folk Art Drawing "Twin Angels" Fred Conn 1894 Collection Jim Linderman

Old Folk Art Sign STAR Greenhouses Big Rapids Collection Jim Linderman

Old Folk Art Sign STAR Greenhouses Big Rapids. 55" x 16"  The operation apparently burned down in the 1940s.  Plywood with cutout letters and original paint circa 1940  Collection Jim Linderman

Antique Folk Art Weathervane Original Paint Sculpture with No Head

Antique Folk Art Weathervane Original Paint Sculpture with No Head 
Collection Jim Linderman

Folk Art Man incised on a Brick End of Day Piece late 19th - Early 20th Century Collection Jim Linderman

Folk Art Man incised on a Brick Sculptural End of Day Piece late 19th - Early 20th Century
Collection Jim Linderman

Trojan Horse

Trojan Horse early snapshot.  Collection Jim Linderman

Homemade and Handmade Folk Art Paper Dolls Depression Era

Homemade and Handmade Folk Art Paper Dolls Depression Era Collection Jim Linderman

Art Lessons 1917

A group of primitive still life art lessons  1917

Vintage Salesman Sample Ashtray

Vintage Salesman Sample Ashtray circa 1950 Collection Jim Linderman

Antique Folk Art Sculpture of a Running Man Articulated Carving

Man in a hurry.  Interestingly, his arms move but his legs do not.  He's suspended and stuck!  Folk art carvings are usually frontal and frozen, but this fellow is late for the train.

Anonymous folk art sculpture collection Jim Linderman

Rubber Pin ups for your Drink Glass Complete Set Miss Pin-Up

 

Rubber Pinups for your Drink Glass.  Miss Pin Up must not have been successful, as I find nothing about her (them) on the web.  They wiggle like bait!  
Miss Pin-Up erotic novelty drink hooks Modern Sales Co.  Collection Jim Linderman

Three Woman Visit Uncle Sam Folk Art Malbox

Three women check the mail.  Three Uncle Sam mailbox snapshots.  Anonyous, no date (1935?)  
Collection Jim Linderman

Antique Folk Art Drawing of Horses collection Jim Linderman

Detail from a large folk art drawing of horses at a trough.  
19th Century likely, Anonymous.  Collection Jim Linderman

Antique Patriotic Folk Art Sculpture Red White and Blue Monsters

Antique Patriotic Folk Art Sculpture  Red White and Blue Monsters all by the same hand.  Circa 1930?  Collection Jim Linderman

Sounds from the AIR Homemade Radio Antenna circa 1930

Sounds from the AIR  Homemade Radio Antenna circa 1930 collection Jim Linderman

Antique Folk Art A Calligraphy Pen becomes an Extension of an Arm

A Calligraphy Pen becomes an extension of an arm in this early and primitive exercise.  I am sure sometimes it felt like that.  Today, I can't even use a pen too long without my hand betting sore.

Calligraphy penmanship exercise. "Cigars"  Collection Jim Linderman 

Blind Street Musician Maxwell Street Circa 1950 Collection Jim Linderman

Blind Street Musician Maxwell Street Original 8 x 10 photograph Anonymous Circa 1950 
Collection Jim Linderman

A Pair of Zebras at the Circus Original Frank A. Fernekes photograph circa 1940 Collection Jim Linderman

 A pair of zebras.  On reverse Photograph by Frank A. Fernekes, Hollywood California.  "Backstage" at a circus with a line of performers waiting their turn.   Frank Fernekes (1872-1953) was a commercial photographer with an interest in circus and Wild West themes; he was born and resided in New York until sometime before 1927, then moved permanently to Hollywood, California and was active through the 1940s.  More information about the photographer is HERE at Duke University Libraries special collection.

Circus Photograph by Frank A. Fernekes Collection Jim Linderman

Folk Art Tractor and Thresher Handmade circa 1910 Collection Jim Linderman

Folk Art Tractor and Thresher Handmade circa 1910.  Wood, Cast lead, Original Paint. 
Length 14"  Collection Jim Linderman

Tricks and Traps of New York City 1857 1858 by Brainard Illustrations by Holcomb and Davis Rare Book Scams and Bye-Hours

Some of the illustrations from the rare book Tricks and Traps of New York City published in 1858 by Dinsmore and Company.  The 62 page booklet was written by C. H. Brainard and illustrated by Holcomb and Davis, who also did the drawings for The Drawing Room Dances, and/or one Hoppin who I know nothing about.  Big cities were at the time dirty, unsafe places.  Some still are.   Additional books in the series were to be published including Tricks and Traps of Seducers (Both Sexes) and Tricks and Traps of Politicians (Both Parties) which indicates the publisher was one of the first somewhat  exploitive printers of books.  Who could avoid the titillation of a book, presumably illustrated, showing seducers in action? 

The book was sold for ten cents.  I have located two copies held in special collection libraries, but absolutely no copies for sale.  A copy of the book is available in the Internet Archive HERE but they have left out the illustrations.

I am too smart to fall for any of these ruses, so I guess I am accepting offers for the book.  You will still see tourists falling for the tricks discussed within on the streets of Manhattan.
Be aware of "Bad Hours, Bye Streets and Bad Liquors...you should be all right. 

Tricks and Traps of New York City booklet collection Jim Linderman

Greil Marcus on Jim Linderman The Birth of Rock and Roll Dust to Digital 2015

I am honored more than I can describe by the review Greil Marcus provides on his Real Life Top Ten  column HERE on B&N.