- This is a nice, good sized tramp art frame made from cigar boxes over a crate wood base. The exterior is about 23 1/4" by 18 1/2", while the opening is around 14 1/2" by 9 3/4". It is built in up to 5 layers, and is about 1 1/2" deep including the base. The chip carved corners each have crescent moons applied. The outside of the frame is decorated with many carved pieces that were set in under the long pyramids. The inside of the frame is also decorated with some nice larger notching. There are a variety of shades of woods making up this piece. These all seem to be original, their differences coming from using a variety of cigar boxes. Some of the labels are visible on the back, including a NJ tax stamp. The entire frame has a lacquer surface. This piece is in extremely good condition with a few small chips and perhaps the loss of a tiny bit of the tip of one moon. It was likely made in the early 1900's. The price is $475.00. Inventory Code: TWHR.
See a slideshow of several views [408k].
Tramp art frame with moons ... Closeup, upper right ... Closeup, upper left ... Closeup, lower left ... Closeup, lower right ... Side view ... Closeup from side ... Back view ... Back, closeup lower right ... Back, closeup upper right ... Back, closeup upper left ... Back, closeup lower left ... Closeup from back, side view ... With a soda can for scale.
Larger images: Tramp art frame with moons ... Closeup, upper right ... Closeup, upper left ... Closeup, lower left ... Closeup, lower right ... Side view ... Closeup from side ... Back view ... Back, closeup lower right ... Back, closeup upper right ... Back, closeup upper left ... Back, closeup lower left ... Closeup from back, side view ... With a soda can for scale.
- This is a very unusual marquetry box in a pyramidal form. We are not sure of the use; however, it has extremely intricate work. This inlay represents bricks, lumber, and other decoration. The top of the box opens - either to remove or insert something. One of the front sections then unfolds. This could be used for storage or is a hidden compartment. This piece is constructed from hardwoods of various shades. It is about 4 3/4" high. The widest parts are about 7" square. These taper to a smaller platform close to the top. This box was probably made in the early 1900's, maybe about the 1920's. It is in very good condition and the mechanism still works. The price is $375.00. Inventory Code: THOK. Inlaid box ... Front view ... One side ... The other side ... Back view ... From above ... Open ... Open, from above ... From below ... With a soda can for scale.
Larger images: Inlaid box ... Front view ... One side ... The other side ... Back view ... From above ... Open ... Open, from above ... From below ... With a soda can for scale.
- This is a very folky large hand made metal airplane. It is mounted on a wooden base that is painted as an aerial landscape. The plane is made from cans, funnels, and sheet metal. It has translucent windows set in, the engines are painted green, the propellers red, and the rest is silver, with red, yellow, and blue circular designs on the wings and tail. The plane is 22" long by 27" wide, 15 1/2" high as mounted. The base is 11 1/4" in diameter. It appears to be from about the 1940's, or possibly earlier. The condition is good, with minor paint wear and very light surface rust. There is some loss to the tail, as seen in the closeup photo. It is very sturdy and strong for display, with a great look. The price is $850.00. Inventory Code: THWW. Folk art airplane ... Another view ... Side view ... The other side ... From above ... Front view ... Another front view ... Back view ... Another back view ... Closeup of base ... Another closeup of base ... Closeup from front ... Closeup, one side ... Closeup, other side ... Closeup of wing ... Other wing ... Closeup of tail ... Other side of tail ... Tail from above ... Closeup from behind ... Closeup under wings ... From below ... With a soda can for scale ... Another overall view ... Video of the propellers [757k].
Larger images: Folk art airplane ... Another view ... Side view ... The other side ... From above ... Front view ... Another front view ... Back view ... Another back view ... Closeup of base ... Another closeup of base ... Closeup from front ... Closeup, one side ... Closeup, other side ... Closeup of wing ... Other wing ... Closeup of tail ... Other side of tail ... Tail from above ... Closeup from behind ... Closeup under wings ... From below ... With a soda can for scale ... Another overall view ... Video of the propellers [757k].
- This is a very large and impressive carved whimsey. It has two large links, each with a cage. One cage contains a freely moving smaller cage with a moving ball in it. The other large cage has a moving smaller cage with a moving donut shape inside. The whimsy is carved from a single piece of dark wood, probably pine. A small metal hook has been screwed into one end for mounting. It measures 15 1/2" long by 2 3/4" by 3". The condition is very good, and it was probably made in the early 1900's, or even earlier. The price is $325.00. Inventory Code: THOS. Large whimsey carving, four views ... Closeups, one end ... Two more closeups, same end ... Closeups, other end ... End views ... With a soda can for scale ... Another view.
Larger images: Large whimsey carving, four views ... Closeups, one end ... Two more closeups, same end ... Closeups, other end ... End views ... With a soda can for scale ... Another view.
- You likely have seen sock monkeys, as we have, but this is the first time we have come across all the instructions with a sock and a sample miniature monkey. Here is an assemblage of older articles which are contained in a more recent shadow box. Inside are two instruction sheets from the Nelson Printing Co, of Rockford, IL, one of which shows the patent date of 1953. One sheet is original, the other a copy. The shadow box is about 21" by 17" by 2 1/2" deep. The price is $170.00. Inventory Code: THPC. Sock monkey shadowbox ... Closeup ... From below ... Side view ... Back.
Larger images: Sock monkey shadowbox ... Closeup ... From below ... Side view ... Back.
- 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.
Larger images: 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.
Larger images: Metal found object stool ... Back view ... Side view ... The other side ... Another overall view ... Closeup of legs ... From above ... From below.
- 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.
- Here is a rustic whimsey carving of an arrow through a slab of wood. The arrow is 6" long by 3/4" high by 3/8" thick. The slab, which is a slice of branch with the bark still on, is an oval about 1 1/2" by 2", 3/8" thick. The carving has an oxidized surface, was probably made in the 1950's, and is in excellent condition. The price is $45.00. Inventory Code: AOKS. Image ... Side view ... Another angle ... Front view ... From behind. Larger images: Image ... Side view ... Another angle ... Front view.
- Here is a space ship drawing by Robert E. Gilbert. From the 1950's through the '70's Robert E. Gilbert (or REG, as he often signed himself) was a prolific contributor of art to science fiction fan magazines, and an occasional author. In addition, from the 1940's through the 80's he did a lot of non-science fiction art, experimenting with traditional and non-traditional styles. Gilbert lived in Tennessee, and died in 1993.
One of the most striking things about Gilbert's work is the strong sense of the alien. Landscapes are strange and unexpected. Even when humans are depicted, they look eerie somehow, as if they were just one more bizarre species in a weird galaxy. His experimentation with technique is also very interesting, and the detailing, especially of the black and white ink drawings, is fascinating. For more of the art of Robert E. Gilbert, please visit the pages we have set up, beginning at His home page.
This scene is a planetscape, with red spaceship, mountains and strange clouds. It measures 9" by 11 3/4", and is drawn in pastels on light textured paper, dated 1980. The price is $250.00. Inventory Code REG78. Image ... Larger Close-up.
- Here is an extraordinary collection, assemblage, and display of eight bottle whimseys. Each of the one pint whisky bottles contains a large hand made wooden frame containing a sports trading card. All of the bottles are set on a raised shelf in a hand made, semi-circular, lighted, metal display - like a hall of fame. There is a light in front of each bottle whimsey. The base is covered in red and green felt, trimmed with black braid and brass knobs. This assemblage is 26" across, 13 1/2" deep, and 13" high. The cards include Arnold Palmer, George Foreman, Wayne Gretzky, Wilma Rudolph, Jesse Owen, Joe Montana, Pete Rose, and Michael Jordan. It is signed by the maker, Richard Kopp, on the bottom, is in excellent condition, and was constructed in 1994. The price is $1600.00. Inventory Code: AORH. Image ... Closeup ... From above ... Lit up, in a dark room ... Bottom.
Following are photos of the individual bottles. Wilma Rudolph ... Rudolph - Back ... George Foreman ... Foreman - Back ... Wayne Gretzky ... Gretzky - Back ... Michael Jordan ... Jordan - Back ... Joe Montana ... Montana - Back ... Jesse Owens ... Owens - Back ... Arnold Palmer ... Palmer - Back ... Pete Rose ... Rose - Back.
Larger more detailed images:
Image ... Closeup ... From above ... Lit up, in a dark room ... Bottom.
Following are photos of the individual bottles. Wilma Rudolph ... Rudolph - Back ... George Foreman ... Foreman - Back ... Wayne Gretzky ... Gretzky - Back ... Michael Jordan ... Jordan - Back ... Joe Montana ... Montana - Back ... Jesse Owens ... Owens - Back ... Arnold Palmer ... Palmer - Back ... Pete Rose ... Rose - Back.
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- This is a birdhouse made like the Starship Enterprise. It was done by Eugene Poore probably in the 1970's or '80's. He called it the "Starship Energizer". It is made from found objects, including a pantry or cheese box, wood, tin, dowels, and a banister part. It is painted an old red, white, and blue. The birds' houses are in the main body and both nacelles.
The Energizer is in good condition with typical weathering from outdoor use. Some of the dowels have been replaced, but that doesn't show. It is 42" long, about 17" high", and 38" wide; and was definitely used by birds (possibly from the Klingon home world). The price is $425.00. Inventory Code: PKAT.
One side ... Overall ... The other side ... Front ... Close-up, from above ... From behind ... Another angle ... Another side view.
Larger images: One side ... Overall ... The other side ... Front ... Close-up, from above ... From behind ... Another angle ... Another side view.
- Next is a drawing done in markers on the envelope of collector's issues of stamps. It is on a 6 3/4 envelope, unused except for the cancellation mark and in excellent condition. It is 6 1/2" by 3 5/8". We have several more envelopes decorated by the same hand with various motifs, ranging from the 1940's to the 80's. The drawings on each have some relation to either the subjects of the stamps or the dates of issue.
The envelope has an intensely colored sketch of Richard Nixon and the words "Richard M. Nixon Jan. 09, 1913" stamped where the address would go. It was selected because the postmark date was Nixon's birthday. The stamps honor NATO, SEATO, literacy, and voter registration. The cancellation date is Jan 09, 1982. It is in excellent condition. The price is $85.00. Inventory code: ACHS. Image ... Larger image.
- This is an old hand carved and painted Chinese stick puppet once used in street theater. The head, neck and hands are carved, they are manipulated with sticks from below. The figure is 15" high from the top of his head to the bottom of his robe. The head is fully 3 dimensional, measuring 2 1/4" wide by 2 3/4" deep. An opening on the top back of the head provided a place where hair or a headdress could be attached. The costume is from about the 1960's or 70's, but the wooden head and hands are quite a bit older. It is in very good, used, old condition, and has lots of personality. The price is $225.00. Inventory code: AOAR. Image ... Larger image. We have several more of these puppets.
- This tramp art frame has an unusual pieced edge of separate, individually carved "petals". It is built up on top of these in four chip carved layers, with another row of diamond shapes on top. The corners are carved into heart shapes. It is made from cigar box wood with a medium dark, oxidized surface, and measures 10" by 12 1/2". The opening is 3 7/8" by 6". It is from the early 1900's, and is in very good condition, missing half of one corner piece. The price is $350.00. Inventory Code: AORR. Front ... Closeup ... Another closeup ... Back. Larger images: Front ... Closeup ... Back.
- This is a very folky cupboard that came out of an African-American church near Rutherfordton, NC. The front and sides are pine tongue and groove wood called bead. The front is decorated with carved pine trim. It is finished in a medium brown varnish which is somewhat crazed. There are three doors, each hinged at the bottom, opening into three compartments. It stands 68 1/2" high, 28" wide and 15" deep. This striking and unusual piece was made in the early 1900's. It is in very good condition, sturdy and useable. There is a small mousehole on one side, and the trim on the upper door has been replaced. The price is $4800.00. Inventory Code: AWKP. Front ... 3/4 view ... 3/4 view, other side ... Closeup of the top ... Closeup of the upper door ... Closeup of the middle door ... Closeup of the lower door ... With Matt for size ... With the middle door open ... With the top two doors open ... With the bottom door open ... One side ... The other side ... Back.
Larger images: Front ... 3/4 view ... 3/4 view, other side ... Closeup of the top ... Closeup of the upper door ... Closeup of the middle door ... Closeup of the lower door ... With Matt for size ... With the middle door open ... With the top two doors open ... With the bottom door open ... One side ... The other side ... Back.
- Here are two funky whimsey carvings. They are somewhat crude - or perhaps were never finished as there are still a few pencil marks here and there. Both are carved from pine, and are probably only about 20 years old. They are in excellent condition.
The first is a rectangular cage with a knob on top. Inside the cage is a link fixed to the top, with a free-moving link attached. It is 3 5/8" high by 1 1/2" by 1 1/8". The price is $45.00. Inventory Code: AOKA. Image ... A second view ... A third view ... From above ... From below.
Next is a rounded cage with a free-moving square block inside and a square link through a loop on top. It is 3 3/4" long by about 1 1/8" in diameter. The price is $45.00. Inventory Code: AOKP. Image ... A second view ... A third view ... From above ... From below.
- This is a very nice whimsey carved church. The body of the church, with the steeple and freely moving captive bell, was carved from a single piece of wood, with the interior hollowed out. The hinged door opens to reveal pews, a pulpit, choir loft, and a cross on the wall that were all carved separately and added. The bell is hung so it can swing. The two step base was carved from a separate piece. The wood is unfinished, in a medium-dark natural shade, except for the two crosses, which are painted gold. It is signed on the bottom "Mr. Ted Hegg Dec. 20, 1965." The church measures 10 1/2" high, 5 1/4" long, and 3" wide, and the condition is excellent. The price is $285.00. Inventory Code: PTAP. Whimsey carved church ... Another view ... Side view ... The other side ... Front and back views ... Another back view ... Inside the church ... Two more closeups inside ... Closeup of the top ... More closeups of the steeple ... Closeup of the back ... Overall, with door open ... Closeup, open ... Top view ... From below ... With a soda can for scale.
Larger images: Whimsey carved church ... Another view ... Side view ... The other side ... Front and back views ... Another back view ... Inside the church ... Two more closeups inside ... Closeup of the top ... More closeups of the steeple ... Closeup of the back ... Overall, with door open ... Closeup, open ... Top view ... From below ... With a soda can for scale.
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