Whimsey Carvings, Bottle Whimseys - Page 1

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This is a chair in a bottle whimsey. The ladderback chair is pegged together, with a seat woven from red string, and fills the bottle snugly. There is a carved wooden lock stopper, with a rounded knob at the top. The knob has darkened with age to a nice patina. The overall height of the bottle plus stopper is 8 1/4". It is 3" in diameter, and the chair itself is approximately 5" high. It appears to have been made in the 1920's or 30's, and is in excellent condition. The price is $250.00. Inventory Code: TRPO.

See a slideshow of several views [288k] ... Chair in a bottle whimsey ... Another view ... Front view, with a soda can for scale ... Side and back views ... From above ... Top view ... From below.

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.

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.

See a slideshow of several views [429k] ...Image ... Closeup ... From above ... Lit up, in a dark room ... Bottom.

Here is an extraordinary, large, carved, expanding whimsey done in a tramp art, notch carved style from a single piece of wood. About 19 inches long, by 2 inches square when closed; it opens up and keeps expanding and expanding with various pliers, legs, and more. It really is exceptional. This is very difficult to describe, so we urge you to look at all of the photos. Each shows a different view. This piece has a natural medium dark unfinished surface. It came from Canada, and was probably made around the 1920's or 30's. It is in excellent condition. The price is $1100.00. Inventory Code: APTC.

See a slideshow of several views [258k] ...Large, intricate carved whimsey ... Closed ... Three views partly unfolded ... Two more views partly opened ... Two more views ... From below ... End view, closed ... From above ... With a soda can for scale.

This an extraordinary, one of a kind, folk art piece. It is a very large, extremely detailed marquetry whimsey with a fraternal theme; including many carved and inlaid elements. This has so much intricate work that more things continue be seen and be appreciated even after several viewings. We have included many pictures that will convey some of the quality of this piece; however, it will still surprise and delight even more, when held in person.

Following is just a brief description of some of what is in this piece. To be complete would take more than reasonable here. Please let your eyes tell more of the story. This work is over 49" long, 5 1/2" wide, and over 1 1/4" deep in parts. It is decorated on the sides as well as the front. It includes Crosses, Ankhs, stars, hearts, Bibles, scrolls, spears, and other Masonic, Shriner, Eastern Star, and Odd Fellows symbols. Each section is held together with carved links; and the entire carving is made from one piece of wood. There is one carved ball in cage, relief carving, and a section inlaid with bone or ivory. There are inlaid words, and letters; and it is decorated with a multitude of symbology. This piece is in extremely good condition; although not completely "perfect". There is a slight crack in one link, and one has been reglued in part. There is also a little bit of red color which is on the lowest section. There is no loss that we can see. One section has hand painted the words "Memorial Day 1947". We would date it from that time. The back is inscribed "To Vernon Thompson for Mike". This piece is the mate to the fraternal memorial by the same maker which is also now available. The price is $1250.00. Inventory Code: TSOH. Inlaid fraternal whimsey ... Closeup of top section ... Another view ... Side view.
Second section: Front view ... Closeup ... Another closeup ... One side ... The other side.
Third section: Front view ... One side ... The other side.
Fourth section: Front view ... One side ... Another view ... The other side.
Bottom section: Front view ... Closeup ... Another closeup ... One side ... The other side.
The back: Upper back ... Middle back ... Lower back ... Closeup of inscription.

Here are three carved whimsey chains by the same maker. They are each carved from a branch (possibly red birch) with the bark left on. The largest is initialed "I.Z.", and dated 1935. All three are in excellent condition. They are priced individually, with a discount for the group - see the sizes and prices below the photo links. Three whimsey carvings ... Another view ... Third view ... Fourth view.

This is a very unusual carved whimsey spelling out the word "CASE". We don't have any history on it, but it seems likely that whoever made it had some relationship to a company with that name. The whimsey was all cut from a single board about 1 1/4" thick, probably using a coping saw. Each letter has a double loop on top which is hand carved. The letters hang from the frame by these. The frame, just over an inch wide, also has keystone shapes carved in the center top and bottom as well as subtle decorative carving in the corners. This piece was probably made between the 1950's and 1970's. It has an unfinished surface and heavy paper, painted black, as a backing. It also has a metal hanger on the back. The whimsey appears to be excellent, old condition, however when we got it some of the letters' hanging loops were broken. These have been reglued and all that is now visible is a fine line showing above the letter "S"; although there were more breaks. There is also a hole in the paper, that is covered by the letters. The overall size is 20 7/8" by 10 5/8". The price is $275.00. Inventory Code: TOST.

See a slideshow of several views [354k] ... "Case" whimsey carving ... Another view ... Closeup, left ... Closeup, right ... Left, from above ... Right, from above ... Left, with letter moved ... Overall, from above ... Back view ... With a soda can for scale.

Here is a very interesting and unusual carved whimsy. The cage is a cube with rounded corners and circular openings on all sides. Inside is a stylized 6 pointed star, like a jack, which is free to move inside the cage. There is a square center from which radiate out long cone shaped rays. This piece is fairly old, probably from the late 1800's or turn of the century. The cage is about 2 1/4" across the sides, while the star is actually a little bit larger as the tips protrude from the cage. The lines visible in some of the photos are not cracks: they were put there by the maker, probably to line up his work as he carved. The condition is good, with a little bit of wear, some very slight loss to the wood, and some tiny holes that apparently were from nails and seem original to the piece. The price is $250.00. Inventory Code: TRPR. Carved whimsy ... Another view ... Two more images ... Different views ... More angles ... Two more views ... With a soda can for scale ...

Video in motion [4 Mb].

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 an unusual carved whimsey, with 3 balls-in-cages and sections carved with a twisted wood effect. It also is the first whimsey we have seen using a technique from wood turning: piecing many strips of different woods together before working it. In this way, there is a multi-toned effect from the various woods. The whimsey is in excellent condition, with a natural aged surface. It is 19 1/2" long by 1 1/2" square. It seems around 50 or so years old. The price is $195.00. Inventory Code: AKCA. Overall View ... Second Overall View ... 3/4 end view ... Close-up of cage ... 3/4 view.

This is a complex bottle whimsey which contains a large detailed ship in a port with several buildings and cranes. The bottle is about 12" long by 3 1/2" in diameter and is almost filled with this assemblage. It is on a base with the name "Bremerhafen." The ship has a German flag and the bottle is marked in German. This piece likely was made in the last 50 years, but is not new. It is in excellent sturdy condition. The price is $350.00. Inventory Code: TTKH. Ship in bottle whimsey ... Closeup of bow ... Closeup of middle ... Closeup of stern ... From above ... Back ... Another view from behind ... End view ... The other end ... From below.

This amusing and interesting bottle whimsey has a barrel built inside and a lock stopper with a folky carved head. The top and bottom of the barrel were assembled from strips inside the bottle. Then, 17 individually carved staves were attached, and fastened with string hoops. "Apple Cider" is burned into the top, and "H. Campbell, 1989, Norwich Conn." into the bottom of the barrel. The top of the stopper is carved with a bald head with large ears and nose, and painted eyes, eyebrows, and mouth. It stands 14 1/2" tall by 4 1/2" in diameter and is in excellent condition. The price is $225.00. Inventory Code: TTKO. Barrel in a bottle whimsy ... Several more views ... Closeups of the stopper ... The sides and back ... From above ... Closeup of the barrel ... From below, with signature ... Top.

This is a whimsey carved towel holder. It has a ball and cage at each end, and three freely turning rings. Between the rings are carved the words "The Old Towl Roller, Carved in 1934, Made in 1869". It is carved from a hardwood, possibly walnut, with a varnish finish. The size is 22" long by 1 1/2" in diameter, and is in excellent condition. The price is $185.00. Inventory Code: ATPT. Image ... Closeup ... Another closeup.

This is a copy of the book Hobo & Tramp Art Carving by Adolph Vandertie and Patrick Spielman. It was published by Sterling Publishing Co. in 1995 and is now out of print. The book has some wonderful photos of tramp art and whimseys. It also includes step-by-step instructions for many of these carving techniques. You can see some of them and read excerpts from the book here.

This copy is in extremely good condition and seems almost unused. There are a few almost unnoticeable blemishes around the edges of the cover. It is 10" by 8" by 3/8". It is a nice reference book whether you want to learn to carve tramp art and whimseys or just enjoy the photographs. The price of $40.00 includes Priority Mail shipping. Inventory Code: CPAT. Front cover ... Back cover.

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Framed Sports card bottle whimsey display	Chair in a bottle whimsey	22" Whimsey carved towel holder	Exceptional chip-carved folding whimsey
Inlaid fraternal whimsey	Large whimsey carving	"CASE" whimsey carving: letters and frame from one piece	Early carved whimsy with unusual form like a caged jack
Two whimsy carvings by the same maker	Carved, dated whimsey with initials	Three whimsey carvings	Barrel in a bottle
Whimsey w/twist and more	Whimsey carved man and woman	Ship in bottle whimsey