Folk Art from Found Objects

Brass head	Large colorful man from chain, car parts, etc.	Doorknob weathervane	Tramp art and matchstick shrine
Painted folk art chest	Rocket ship	Horseshoe stand	19th century carvings with cans, wire, etc.
Shell lamp with flamingo	Planter from can, clothespins	Found object sculpture	Bread bag rug
Rustic miniature twig swing	Circuit board sculpture	Airplane whirligig	Memory jar, New York 1931
Shell covered salt and pepper set	Barrel birdhouse	Factory model	Painted bottle cap basket
Page 2 of Folk Art from Found Objects     Page 3

This smiling brass head is made from found objects including pipe, plumbing fixtures, nuts, hooks, etc. The top of his "hat" screws off, and small things could be kept inside. The size is 10 3/4" high by 4" wide by 3 1/2" deep. It is in excellent condition, of unknown age. The price is $150.00. Inventory Code: PRTP. Image.

An extraordinary Metal man, about 4 feet high and 39" wide, made from found objects, including chains, fuel pump for heart, distributor, springs, reflectors, gears, and more. He was a mailbox holder. This sculpture came from New Hampshire, and was made in the 1950's. It is in excellent, older condition, with beautiful old polychrome paint. The price is $3,500.00. Inventory code: ASRP. Image ... Closeup of head ... Back view ... Closeup of body ... Closeup of arms and legs ... Closeup of head and upper torso.    Larger images:   Image ... Closeup of head.

This whimsical metal weathervane arrow was hand made on a doorknob base. It is 24" long by 5" high, the point is 2" wide. It was most likely made in the 1940's or 50's. It has weathered green paint over remnants of red, and is in excellent condition. The price is $175.00. Inventory Code: AWTT. One side ... The other side, upside down ... Closeup of point ... Closeup of tail.    Larger images:   One side ... The other side, upside down ... Closeup of point ... Closeup of tail.

This is a very strange lighted shrine that combines chip carved tramp art, found objects, and matchstick inlay. A black priest stands behind the altar, flanked by smaller black and white figures. A worshipper kneels in front of the altar, being blessed by the figure of a crowned and robed saint. The altar is built up from chip carved matchsticks, with chairs and steps made with added heavy copper wire and glossy fabric. The base and back are completely covered with matchsticks, including on the back and bottom. The heart-shaped back has several layers of tramp art around the edge, and a tramp art frame with glass, topped with a glitter cross, set in the center. The back of the frame is hinged to insert a picture. There is a tramp art arch decorated with large artificial roses in the front, and tramp art edging around the base. It has a socket on the back, but does not have the cord to plug in. When we tested the connections, two of the three lights lit. We do not recommend the wiring, because we cannot see why the third bulb does not light. This shrine was probably made in the 1960's or 70's. It is 16 1/4" high by 14 1/2" wide by 11 1/2" deep. The cord is missing, as are a few pieces here and there, but it is in overall good condition ready to display. The price is $325.00. Inventory Code: TSWA.   Tramp art and matchstick shrine ... Front view ... Closeup ... Second closeup ... Third closeup ... From above ... Another view from above ... Side view ... The other side ... Closeup of front arch ... Top and frame area ... The altar ... Closeup from behind ... Another view from behind ... Back overall ... From below.
Larger images:   Tramp art and matchstick shrine ... Front view ... Closeup ... Second closeup ... Third closeup ... From above ... Another view from above ... Side view ... The other side ... Closeup of front arch ... Top and frame area ... The altar ... Closeup from behind ... Another view from behind ... Back overall ... From below.

This is a really nice folky old apothecary or cabinet with multiple drawers. It has great green and red paint. This piece was likely made in the early portion of the 1900's and was found in Virginia, near New Oxford, PA. It is constructed of pine, with 24 drawers made from a variety of boxes and crate wood. Included are cigar and cheese boxes and some with names from welding supply or materials companies. Accordingly, we would guess it was used in a welding shop. The drawers have pulls made from several different styles of wooden spools. Many drawers have been divided into several compartments. This piece can sit on its own or be hung on a wall. It is about 34" long by 9 1/4" deep and 15 1/2" high and is in good, strong and sturdy condition. It has some typical paint wear, dents, and many small chips showing its use over many years. The price is $550.00. Inventory Code: THAH.   Painted folk art chest ... Side view ... The other side ... With several drawers open ... Closeup ... Closeup from above ... Another closeup ... Detail of several drawers ... Back view ... With a yardstick and soda can for scale.
Larger images:   Painted folk art chest ... Side view ... The other side ... With several drawers open ... Closeup ... Closeup from above ... Another closeup ... Detail of several drawers ... Back view ... With a yardstick and soda can for scale.

This handmade rocket ship was constructed from turned solid wood, heavy chipboard tubing, and plywood, and was painted silver - which is now oxidized. Probably made in the 1970's, it is 21" high, 8 1/4" across the legs, and has a body 4 1/4" in diameter. The top half can be removed. It was made from a solid piece of pine which was turned and carved into shape. The legs are plywood. They also form an interior structure on which the top sits. The tubing is the like very heavy shipping tubes. The rocket has USA painted on it, and a printed cloth American flag glued on. The condition is very good. The price is $85.00. Inventory Code: AAHT. Front ... Back ... Larger front view ... Larger back view.

An old plant stand made from welded horseshoes. Good form and design. It is 27 1/4" high by 13 1/2" in diameter; in excellent condition with weathered black painted surface. Probably made in early 1900's. The price is $295.00. Inventory Code: ASCK.   Image ... Another view.

Here is a set of five carved people. They have a very strong look, are fully three-dimensional and painted in detail. They have applied ears, tacks for eyes, and hair, eyebrows, and moustaches (for the men) of tacked on cow's hide with the hair on it. Their shoes, the women's skirts, and the men's coattails are made from cut and shaped metal cans, and the caps are metal also. The women have cloth shawls with fur or cow's hide collars. The smallest man is wearing a heavy leather kilt. Their arms are heavy electrical wire with woven insulation. All have holes in the bottoms of their feet, as if they were once mounted on pegs. These came from Oregon, and were made in the late 1800's. They have been well-kept, and are in very good condition, with some of the eyebrows and one man's cap bill missing. They range in size from 10 1/4" high by 3 1/4" wide by 2 1/4" deep for the largest to 6" high by 2 1/4" wide by 1 1/2" deep for the smallest. The price for the set of five is $2500.00. Inventory Code: ATRC. Overall Image ... 2nd view ... 3rd view ... Faces - 1 ... Faces - 2 ... Faces - 3 ... Close-up of all.  Larger images: Overall Image ... 2nd view ... 3rd view ... Close-up of all.

From Florida comes this tacky souvenir lamp. It has all the qualities one would want in such a piece: A plastic flamingo and palm tree, colored coral, small decorative shells, and the large shell backdrop. This is from the 1950's or 60's, and is in excellent working condition. It is 9" wide, 9"high, and 6" deep. The price is $75.00. Inventory Code: ATKS. Overall Image ... Side view ... Back.    Larger images:   Overall Image ... Side view ... Back.

Here is a planter made from an old can surrounded by old-fashioned painted wood clothespins (not the spring type). The weathered paint is brown over green. Probably made around the 1940's, it is in very good condition. The size is 4 1/4" high by 7 1/4" in diameter. The price is $160.00. Inventory Code: PRWS. Image.

This is an interesting sculptural plaque made from found objects. The materials include wood, masonite, fiberboard, shell, and some unidentified pieces that might be bone. The colors are warm shades of tan, brown, and gray. It measures 14" square and is in excellent condition. The age is difficult to tell - possibly 1950's or earlier. The price is $140.00. Inventory code: PPTA. Overall view ... Closeup.    Larger images:  Overall view ... Closeup.

A nice, oval rug crocheted from bread bag wrappers. The rug is about 31" by 20". It is in excellent condition. The price is $65.00. Inventory Code: AWOW. Image ... Another view.    Larger images:   Image ... Another view.

This is a rustic, miniature twig double swing or glider. It has good form and surface, with bent twigs for the seats and arms, and the swing mechanism. It stands 12 1/4" high by 11 1/2" wide by 12" deep. It was probably made c. 1940's, and is in excellent condition. The price is $145.00. Inventory Code: TPTT.   Miniature twig swing ... Closeup of detail ... Another angle ... A third view ... From one end ... The other end ... End view from above ... Top view ... Another closeup ... Third closeup ... One side ... The other side ... Side view, from above ... From below.
Larger images:   Miniature twig swing ... Closeup of detail ... Another angle ... A third view ... From one end ... The other end ... End view from above ... Top view ... Another closeup ... Third closeup ... One side ... The other side ... Side view, from above ... From below.

This is a fascinating sculpture that ponders our relation to computers and communications systems. It consists of a seated man wearing headphones with his head is wired into the circuits. He is dwarfed by circuit boards topped by a tall antenna. Made by a bank CEO and sculptor from MO, who died in 1998. It measures 15 1/2" high by 14" wide by 3 1/4" deep and is in excellent condition. The price is $210.00. Inventory Code: PKKO.   Overall Image ..... Close-up.    Larger images:   Overall Image ..... Close-up

This airplane whirligig has wonderful colors and form. It has a wood body, metal found objects for the blade, wings, and tail, and plastic wheels and pilot. The wood base was added more recently. The plane itself is 26" long, 15 1/2" wide, and 13 1/2" high; with the base it is 24 1/2" high. There may once have been something else attached over the tail. Probably about 40 years old, it is in very good, weathered condition. The price is $325.00. Inventory Code: ATAT. Image ... From behind/side ... Front ... The colors don't show as well in the rest of the photos, but they will show you other angles. The other side ... Back view ... From above ... From below ... Overall, including base.    Larger images: Image ... From behind/side ... Front ... The other side ... Back view ... From above ... Overall, including base.

Here is a very nice, old, memory jar. It stands 9 1/4" high, has a maximum diameter of 4 1/2" and an opening of 2". The glass vase is decorated with a variety of colorful and interesting objects, including costume jewelry, a watch, buttons, brooch, beads, a horse shoe, little medals, and even a dog tag from New York State dated 1931. Overall it is in extremely good condition with only very minor loss. The price is $325.00. Inventory Code: ATRP. Memory jar ... Second side ... Third side ... Fourth side ... Bottom.   Larger images:  Memory jar ... Second side ... Third side ... Fourth side ... Bottom.

This is a salt and pepper set decorated with shells and coral. They are also finished with a light coat of varnish, and are in excellent condition, with a few small chips, but no missing pieces. They are from the 1950's or 60's and are each 4" high by 3" in diameter. The price of the set is $45.00. Inventory Code: ATHH. Overall view ... From above.

This is a fun and funky apartment house for birds. It is made from an old oak barrel and is decorated with pine cross pieces on top and little pine porches. There are about 12 individual compartments and hand cut openings for the birds. It has been used. The barrel is 16" in diameter, and the height to the top of cross pieces 20 1/2". They are 18" long. This birdhouse was probably made about the 1930's or 40's, but it is very difficult to tell age because of weathering. There is a little loss to the porches and tips of some cross pieces; the overall condition is very good and sturdy. The price is $275.00. Inventory Code: ARCW.   Image ... Another view ... A third view ... From above ... Closeup.
Larger images:   Image ... Another view ... A third view ... From above ... Closeup.

Here is a very funky hand made model of the "Woods Furnitue Co.", complete with misspelling. It is made from cardboard, with wood, metal and plastic found objects, wire, spools, a film canister, and a puff of white cotton smoke from the stack. It is very detailed, with vents, loading docks, boards on the porch, lots of windows lined with plastic mesh, etc. This is a larger, very folky home made copy of a commercially available N-scale train model building! It measures 15 1/2" high by about 25" wide by 11 1/2" deep. The condition is very good, and age is probably within the last 20 years or so. The price is $125.00. Inventory Code: TSSH.   Factory model ... From above ... Back ... One side ... The other side ... Closeup of front ... Closeup of some of the equipment ... Closeup of the porch ... Closeup of top ... Closeup of the loading docks ... Another view from back ... Another side view ... Another closeup from above ... The model it was copied from.
Larger images:   Factory model ... From above ... Back ... One side ... The other side ... Closeup of front ... Closeup of some of the equipment ... Closeup of the porch ... Closeup of top ... Closeup of the loading docks ... Another view from back ... Another side view ... Another closeup from above.

This is a large, good looking, bottle cap basket. Some of the cork lined caps are painted a dark green. They alternate with unpainted ones. The basket is about 16" high by 13" across the handles. The loops average about 6" high. Interestingly, the bottom of the basket is made by interlaced wire. This piece is in excellent, sturdy condition; and was likely made in the 1940's. The price is $285.00. Inventory Code: TSOK.   Painted bottle cap basket ... One side ... Another angle ... The other side ... Closeup ... Another closeup ... One end ... The other end ... From above ... From below ... Closeup from below.
Larger images:   Painted bottle cap basket ... One side ... Another angle ... The other side ... Closeup ... Another closeup ... One end ... The other end ... From above ... From below ... Closeup from below.

Register to receive updates when we add new items. Your information is confidential. We never release it to others. Privacy policy. Required Fields Email Confirm your email address Your Name General Updates When we add any antiques or folk art to the site. This will include pieces made from Found Objects, Memory, Shard, Bottle caps, or Match sticks. Only Found Objects and "Make Do" pieces Only Bottle cap pieces Only Memory and Shard pieces Only Popsicle Stick or Match Stick pieces       Get Other Individual Category Updates If there is any problem with registering, please

Home Page | Site Guide | Top of page | Inventory | Ordering | Contents | Search
What's New | Using the Site | Resources | Featured Sale | Contact Us