Folk Art from Found Objects

Shelving display from metal Texaco cans	Drawers made from scrap wood, sardine cans	Table Lamp from found objects	Painted stand with broomstick legs
	Folk art truck: one of three metal found object cars	Folk art touring car	Metal found object farm chair and stool
Iron valve wheels	Metal Spam sign: sheet of original uncut cans	Wagon wheel hub	Primitive handmade wheelbarrow
Popsicle stick lamp	Bottle cap pitcher	Folk art boat	Political memory bottle
Shop sign made from a large clock face	Match stick lamp	Shell memory vases	1960's Memory lamp with cowboys, Indians
Twig basket	Cultivator wheels	Glass platter covered with cigar bands	Painted wood barrel
Page 2 of Folk Art from Found Objects     Page 3

This is a nice looking handmade wooden stand. It has good form and color. The legs seemed to have been made from broomsticks, while the top was cut from a 1 1/2" thick board. It is painted in old green, which has some wear and loss of the paint, and now shows several different tones. The stand is in good sturdy condition, with one slight split by a nail, where the legs are joined, and an age split in the top that is still solid. It is just under 32" high. Each side of the triangular base is 14" across, and the top is 10" in diameter. It was probably made around the 1920's or 30's. The price is $175.00. Inventory Code: TRSC.   Painted stand ... Two more views ... Closeup of the top ... Two more overall views ... Another closeup of the top ... Third closeup of the top ... From above ... Two closeups of the legs ... From below ... Closeup of the feet ... Another closeup of the feet ... With a soda can for scale.

Here are three folky and whimsical metal cars. The first two are large and impressive, and appear to be by the same maker. The third came from the same collection but is much smaller, and may have been made by someone else.

First is this very detailed, yet folky and primitive pickup truck. It is welded from wire and sheet metal, painted maroon and tan, with a seat upholstered in green velvet. The wheels turn. It measures 21" long by 8 1/2" wide by 9 1/2" high. The condition is good, with very minor paint loss and surface rusting. It was probably made about the 1940s. The price is $350.00. Inventory Code: TOTS.   See a slideshow of several views [450k] ... Folk art truck ... One side ... The other side ... Front view ... Back view ... From above ... Closeup ... Top view ... From below ... With a soda can for scale ... With the matching car ... All three cars.

Next is this fancy touring car. It is also welded from sheet metal and wire, painted gray and black, with some added found objects. The wheels turn. This car is 24 1/2" long by 9 1/4" wide, by 8 1/2" high. It is in very good condition with minor surface rusting. This was also probably made about the 1940s, in the style of an older car. The price is $350.00. Inventory Code: TOAK.   See a slideshow of several views [402k] ... Folk art car ... Another view ... Front view ... One side ... The other side ... Back view ... From above ... From below ... With a soda can for scale ... With the matching truck ... All three cars.

This smaller car makes wonderful use of found objects. It was made from hinges, nuts, sheet metal, and other metal parts. It is painted with an older, oxidized bronze radiator paint. The wheels of this car do not turn. It is 4 1/4" long, by 2 3/4" wide, by 3 1/4" high. The condition is very good with some slight paint loss. The age is unknown, but it appears to have been made around the 1950s (give or take). The price is $110.00. Inventory Code: TOTS-B.   See a slideshow of several views [361k] ... Found object car ... Front view ... Side view ... The other side ... Back view ... From above ... From below ... With a soda can for scale ... All three cars.

This is a metal chair made from objects found around the farm. The seat is a large pitchfork, the back is a disk from a cultivator. There are three horseshoes worked in, along with chain and other machine or wagon parts. While it has rockers and does rock, the tendency is to sit still on the rear stops. It has very nice old black and yellow paint. The chair measures 29" high by 21" wide by 28" deep. It is in very good, useable condition with minor paint wear, from the 1930's or 40's. There is a stool below by the same maker. The price is $675.00. Inventory Code: TPHH.   Metal found object chair ... Front view ... One side ... The other side ... Closeup of back and seat ... Closeup of lower front ... Closeup, one side ... Closeup, other side ... Another overall view ... Back view ... From above.

This metal stool made from found objects came from the same maker as the chair above. The seat is a disk from a cultivator, similar to the back of the chair. It stands 18 1/4" high by 17 1/2" wide by 14 3/4" deep. The surface is a worn old green and white paint. It is in very good, useable condition, from the 1930's or 40's. The price is $150.00. Inventory Code: TPHW.   Metal found object stool ... Back view ... Side view ... The other side ... Another overall view ... Closeup of legs ... From above ... From below.

Here is a group of seven old iron industrial valves. We have not seen them before other than in use. They probably are from the 1940's or earlier, and are in four sizes. The diameters are 7 1/2 inches, 8 inches, 9 inches, 14 inches. They range from 1 inch to 1 3/4 inches thick. Prices for them are $75.00 each for the smaller ones, $95.00 each for the 9" ones, and $110.00 for the largest. Price for the group is $575.00 Inventory Code: TCWK.   Iron valve wheels ... Another view, with a ruler for scale ... The other side of all ... Side view ... The largest valve ... Closeup of one medium and one smaller valve ... The smallest valve.

Here is a sheet of the original printed metal Spam cans before they were cut out and formed. There are 30 cans on which are printed six delicious recipes, including "Polynesian Spam". A slight printing defect in one can is probably why this sheet was never used. The sheet is mounted in a metal frame which is about 34 1/4" high by 33 3/4" wide. There are some slight surface scratches and a minor denting in one area. It is old; we are not sure of the exact age, but are sure that this is a wonderful visual piece. The price is $525.00. Inventory Code: TCOR.   "Spam" art ... Closeup, upper left ... Closeup, upper right ... Closeup, lower right ... Closeup, lower left ... Extreme closeup ... Another very close view ... Third very close view ... Closeup of printing flaw ... Side view ... The other side ... Back.

Here is an old, decorative and primitive, wagon wheel hub with beautiful look and form. It came from Ohio and likely is from the 1800's. It is heavy and solid, made of hard wood with metal bands. The piece is 8 1/2" in diameter by 12" high and is in excellent, weathered and used condition. The price is $185.00. Inventory Code: TCHR.   Wagon wheel hub ... Two different angles ... Two more views ... Three views from another angle ... One end ... The other end.

This primitive, hand made, folding wheelbarrow is painted in layers of yellow and orange. This cool, funky piece has a lot of character, and would look great in the garden, standing in a corner, or folded and hung on a wall. The date "1960" is carved into the handle. One of the folding uprights was replaced a long time ago with an unpainted piece that appears to be part of an axe handle. It is 44" long by 17 1/2" wide across the handles. When unfolded, it stands about 2 feet high. It is in very good, used and weathered condition. The price is $125.00. Inventory Code: TARR.   Primitive wheelbarrow ... Another view ... Closeup of the wheel ... Closeup of the handle, with date ... One side ... The other side ... From above.

This is a nice old popsicle stick lamp. It is well made with good form and decoration, including 8-pointed stars on the shade. The metal finial contains a blue and white swirled marble. The lamp is in very good condition although has a loss of part of one stick. It was probably made about the 1970's and is about 18" high including the finial. The shade is 10" across. The price is $95.00. Inventory Code: TWHT.   Popsicle stick lamp ... Two more sides ... Another view ... From above ... Closeup of the shade ... Another closeup of the shade ... Closeup of the base ... The base, from above ... From below ... With a soda can for scale.

This is a pitcher made from bottle caps, with a large can lid for the bottom. It has very good form, and is painted a dark, oxidized gold. This is an older piece, made from cork-lined caps. You can just make out that one or two of the caps are from Coca-Cola. The pitcher is in very good condition with minor paint wear. It stands 7 1/4" high by 11" long by 7" wide. The price is $275.00. Inventory Code: TCHC.   Bottle cap pitcher ... Side view ... The other side ... From above ... Two front views ... Back view ... From below ... Closeup from above ... Closeup from below.

This is a folk art hand made model boat. It has good form and old red, white, and black paint. It is further decorated with bottle caps and jar lids. The boat likely was made in the 50's or slightly later and is about 11" long by 5" wide and 4 1/2" high. The price is $95.00. Inventory Code: TCCO.   Folk art boat ... Side view ... The other side ... Front view ... Back view ... From above ... From below.

Remember the 70's? This political memory bottle is covered with Republican campaign buttons, flags, plastic marching band figures, bullets, a soldier, "Official U.S. Taxpayer G.O.P" buttons, and little plastic critters, some with wiggly eyes. From the late 70's, it is in excellent condition, 12" tall by 4 1/4" by 3". The price is $225.00. Inventory Code: POCT. Image.

This is a wonderful shop sign, made from a metal clock face. The dial has stenciled numbers, with hand painted words "Will Be Back At" in black, and a dark green hand painted border. The paint has crazed nicely. The moveable hands are cut from metal strapping, and are also painted dark green. The sign is coated with varnish that has darkened with age. It measures 16" in diameter and is in very good condition, most likely from the 1940's. The price is $285.00. Inventory Code: TWKW.   Clock sign ... With hands moved ... Closeup ... Another closeup ... From above ... Back ... With a soda can for scale.

This is a very elaborate matchstick table lamp. It is decorated with crosses in colored stone and glitter and a "fireplace" lined in red glitter with wire andirons. It also has a lift-off shade with a moon-shaped cutout in top, lined with foil to reflect the light out. The base is covered with naugahyde. The age is unknown, but it is probably about 20 to 30 years old. Including the shade it is 21 1/2" high by 13 1/4" wide by 7 1/2" deep. It is in very good condition with a few matchsticks missing around the edges of the shade. The light works. The price is $165.00. Inventory Code: AHSW.   Matchstick lamp ... One side ... The other side ... Back ... With the shade removed.

This is a matching pair of very well-decorated shell memory vases. The vases are cement, and are entirely covered with even rows of small shells, enhanced with floral and swirling patterns. Some of the shells are painted with red, green, blue, pink, and white. Each vase stands 7" high by 3 3/4" wide by 3 1/4" deep. They are in excellent condition, with just a few broken shells. These vases were most likely made in the 1920's or 30's. The price is $225.00. Inventory Code: TCCH.   Shell memory vases ... Side view ... The other side ... Back view ... Closeup of one vase ... Closeup of the other ... From above ... From below.

Here is a folky "Make Do" metal shelving display unit made from one gallon metal Texaco cans riveted together. Each can was cut on an angle, and the edges folded in. It was probably made for tools and parts in a shop. There is a pair of long metal straps on the back which make it easy to hang. It will also stand on its own. The cans probably are from about the 1970's. There is some scratching and very minor rust on this unusual piece, but it is still very sturdy and decorative. It would be great for displaying or storing small items and is just the right size for your CDs. The height is 41", while it is 16 1/2" wide by 5 3/4" deep. Each bin is 3 7/8" wide by 6 1/2" high. The price is $225.00. Inventory Code: THPK.   See a slideshow of several views [398k] ... Metal can shelving unit ... One side ... The other side ... Front view ... With CDs and small carvings ... Closeups of one side ... Closeups of other side ... Extreme closeup of the bins ... Closeup from above ... From below ... Back view.

This is an amazing assemblage of scraps of wood, sardine cans, roofing nails, and some fasteners. Put them all together with plenty of imagination, give it a couple coats of paint, and out comes a very folky and original "what-not" chest of drawers. This little hand-made apothecary (loosely termed) has a sardine can as the bottom of each drawer to hold items. Actually, the can fits so well into the lap jointed wood that the lip of the can supports it. This creative piece also has 3 small cubby holes for additional storage. It came from rural Iowa and was likely made around the 1940's. It is painted an old gray and white. The drawer pulls are old roofing nails. It is constructed from pine; is in very good usable condition and could easily be hung. This piece is 22 1/4" long by 9 1/2" high and 7" deep including the pulls. You can be sure it is truly one-of-a-kind. The price is $235.00. Inventory Code: THAO.   See a slideshow of several views [489k] ... Funky chest of drawers ... Another view ... With drawers removed ... One side ... The other side ... Closeup of a drawer ... From above ... From above, with drawers open ... Another view ... A different angle ... Top ... Back ... Back, with drawers removed ... From below.

This is a rustic table lamp made from found objects. The base of the lamp is made from two round wooden pieces in dark lacquer, and is decorated with stones and nuts. It was found in WI, is in excellent condition, and is probably from the 1930's - 40's. It measures 18" by 8" by 31" high. The price is $75.00. Inventory Code: KSOX.   Rustic found objects lamp ... Closeup of base ... Side views ... Back view ... From above ... With a soda can for scale.

This is a very decorative and fairly unusual memory lamp. It is decorated with all sorts of colorful and interesting items. These include little cowboys, Indians, and a horse, all made of hard rubber, buttons, shards of ceramics including Fiesta ware, pieces of mirror, tiles, and costume jewelry. This lamp and the decoration is in excellent old condition with no loss. It was likely made about the 1960's. The lamp is 18" high including the newer shade. It is about 6" in diameter at the base and 9" at the widest. The price is $275.00. Inventory Code: TWPC.   See a slideshow of several views [429k] ... Memory lamp ... Two views, without the shade ... Two more views ... Closeup of a cowboy ... Closeup of the neck ... Third closeup ... Fourth closeup ... From above ... From below ... With a soda can for scale.

This is a very well-made twig basket. It has a diamond shape, crossed corners, and a bent twig handle. It is finished in a very dark varnish and is in excellent, sturdy condition with some minor scuffing. It was probably made around the 1940's. The dimensions are 16 1/2" high by 19" by 13". The price is $145.00. Inventory Code: AHOA.   Image ... Side view ... Another angle.

This is a pair of old cultivator wheels mounted on bases. They have a very decorative form, unlike many that we see. One has remnants of red paint. Each of the wheels has 12 curved arms and is about 16" in diameter. The 6 holed hub is about 3" deep. On newer bases, they stand 23 and 24 1/2 inches high. Judging from the wear and patina of the metal, these pieces seem to be fairly early - perhaps as early as the 1920's. The one with red has some numbers and letters imprinted on the front. These are both in very good, used and weathered condition. We feel they have a wonderful and decorative look. They are priced at $125.00 each, or $225.00 for the pair. Inventory Code: TTSA.   Cast iron cultivator wheels ... Another angle ... Side views ... Back view ... Another view ... Left wheel, closeup front ... Left wheel, closeup back ... Left wheel, closeups from sides ... Right wheel, closeup front ... Right wheel, closeup back ... Right wheel, closeup from side ... Both, with a soda can for scale.

This is a large glass plate that was covered in decorative cigar bands. The bands were applied to the back of the plate so that they show through from the front. The back was then covered with felt for protection. The design, color, and workmanship are very good. There is a large lithographed portrait of a woman, flanked by cherubs in the center. This is surrounded by a carefully arranged selection of bands. The plate measures 10" in diameter by 1" high at the rim, and is from the early 1900's or late 1800's. It is in excellent condition, with only a very slight separation at the rim. The price is $150.00. Inventory Code: CSSH.   See a slideshow of several views [351k] ... Cigar band platter ... Closeup ... Side views ... Back view ... Back, from side ... With a soda can for scale.
Some much larger photos:   Cigar band platter ... Closeup ... With a soda can for scale.

This is a painted wood barrel, with a slot in the lid for collections. It is decorated with red, white, blue, maroon, and silver, with the words "Elevator Fund" "Want To Walk Or Ride!", and a large hand with extended thumb. Part of the lid is hinged, to remove the collections, with a metal hasp. It stands 30" high, and is 18" in diameter at the top, about 21" in diameter at the middle. Age is c. 1940's, and it is in good display condition. Because the wood has shrunk with age, the upper metal hoop is a little bigger than the barrel, however, it is securely in place. The bottom of the barrel, and a bottom hoop are missing, but the barrel is still solid and sturdy. It makes a great end table, or start a collection for your own elevator. The price is $495.00. Inventory Code: TCKC.   Painted collection barrel ... Another angle ... Top ... Back view ... Side views ... Closeup ... Closeup of middle ... Closeup of the bottom ... Closeup from above ... With lid open ... Closeup of opening ... From below ... With a yardstick and soda can for scale.

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