Anonymous Works

The Golden Mother and Child

2009-12-14T16:35:00.000-08:00

Early folk sculpture by Milton Franklin Williams.

Abstract Folk Art Military Man Sculpture

2009-12-12T08:55:00.001-08:00

Early Ceramic Mexican Doll Mold

2009-12-11T13:09:00.000-08:00

1930's Folk Art Carving of a Woman's Head

2009-12-11T12:55:00.001-08:00

Folk Art Painted Indian on a Section of Log

2009-12-11T11:53:00.000-08:00

Archive of a Floating Photographer's Gallery 1869-1880

2009-12-07T19:03:00.000-08:00

An amazing archive of the floating photography gallery of itinerant artists G.W. Gibson and John Matthews of Parnassus, Pennsylvania.

Available at the upcoming Cowan's Winter American History Auction.

Here's the auction house item description:

Little is known of the partnership of Gibson and Matthews; they are unlisted in Ries and Ruby's 1999 Directory of Pennsylvania Photographers 1839-1900). Based upon the identifications of many of the images, however, they apparently operated a floating gallery on the Ohio River and its tributaries. The following locations are noted associated with various images: Oil City, and Parnassus, PA; Paintsville, KY on the Big Sandy River; Guyandotte, W.VA. on the Ohio River; Bear Creek, KY; Nashville, TN; Clearwater, Florida -- including an exterior image of a road gang with two "Nigers."

Virtually all of these images were contained in two separate CDV albums, one of which inscribed on the front inside pastedown: This album was bought in 1869 was taken through all the travels over the Western planes [sic] in a covered wagon G.W. Gibson, but assembled here is a photographic archive of their work. The images are highly personal, and largely documents the family circle of Gibson. Included is a half plate tintype of their floating gallery and houseboat with his wife Mary and two daughters, as well as seven images of Gibson, and three portraits of John Mathews. Many of the images are identified in an unknown hand and indicate that they were taken on board the floating gallery. A treasured clutch are genre scenes of the toys of Gibson's daughters Iana and Istella, including dolls at tea, doll's heads, a tableau of dolls, potted plants, and a photograph album (which is included here). There are also images of stuffed squirrel, and a dead canary (a family pet?).

One exceptional image taken on board the floating studio on the Ohio River in 1876 shows Mathews and Gibson's wife and daughters seated around a breakfast table. There are numerous portraits of the Gibson girls, some with a potted geranium. In one, the two girls stand with their dolls beside a head clamp decorated to serve as a Christmas tree. A fine compendium, and intimate view of the family of an itinerant artist photographer.

Alda Carlson's One Thousand Three Hundred and Fifty Five Four Leaf Clovers Collected From 1910 to the 1920's

2009-12-07T17:41:00.000-08:00

Alda Carlson started collecting four leaf clovers starting in 1910. She kept them all and pressed them in decorative patterns in albums. She must have had a lot of luck. I've never even found one!

Available here.

1930's Folk Art Carved Match Safe From The Ohio Penitentiary

2009-12-07T15:03:00.000-08:00

Available at Cowan's Winter American History Auction.

Here's the auction house description:

American, ca 1930s. A bone and ebony match safe with cover, carved on one side with the image of M.L. Davey, Ohio's governor from 1935-1939, surmounted by angels playing trumpets, and on the other with the image of F.D. Roosevelt, the top of lid with the Great Seal of the State of Ohio, the underside of the lid with the prisoner's number 51270 and O-P (Ohio Penitentiary) carved into it, with a lithograph of Roosevelt adhered to the bottom. Ht. 2.75 in.

Early Folk Art Carved Cane with Face and Horse Head

2009-12-07T13:38:00.001-08:00

Available here.

Making Mysterious Music...

2009-12-07T13:29:00.000-08:00

1890's Cabinet Card of two men with some interesting objects.

Available here.

Contemplative Flapper in a Photobooth

2009-12-07T13:20:00.000-08:00

Available here.

Early Folk Art Painting of a Dog

2009-12-07T13:10:00.000-08:00

Sold for $1500.00 on eBay.

1921 Folk Art Carvings of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln

2009-12-07T13:03:00.000-08:00

Recently sold on eBay for $191.49 (Washington) and $131.49 (Lincoln).

Extremely Rare Erotic Tintype of a Nude Civil War Soldier

2009-12-03T08:57:00.000-08:00

Listed at $99.99 on eBay.

Sold almost immediately as a Buy it Now for $800.00.

Daguerreotype of a Folk Art Painting

2009-12-02T07:18:00.000-08:00

Sold by Greg French Early Photography.

Early 20th Century Folk Art Carved Man with Two Arms

2009-11-30T16:38:00.001-08:00

I first posted this figure, along with a companion piece by the same artist, here.

At that time, I assumed because of the angle of the shot that this figure was missing it's left arm. Well, I was lucky enough to recently acquire the piece and I'm happy to report that both arms are indeed intact. I thought I'd post some detail pictures as well.

If anyone's interested, the companion piece is currently available at One Good Eye Antiques. I would love to reunite them, but my funds are a little low right now....as always.

A Rare Schimmel Soldier Carving Starts at $.01

2009-11-29T11:21:00.000-08:00

As an old pro of eBay, I'm used to avoiding the plethora of Wilhelm Schimmel fakes out there on the market. But this figure caught my eye this morning especially because it comes from a dealer that I've never seen offer anything but authentic pieces.

It's a rare form and looks good. It starts at $.01 and it will be fun to see where it finally lands at.

Available here.

Update: Sold for $2950.00

1930's Folk Art Carved Man with Painted Suit

2009-11-25T15:00:00.000-08:00

Available here.

19th Century Pipe with a Figural Carving of a Woman

2009-11-25T14:04:00.000-08:00

Available here.

Early Folk Art Carving of a Dog

2009-11-25T13:10:00.000-08:00

Available here.

Daguerreotype of a Portrait Silhouette

2009-11-22T16:46:00.000-08:00

Available here.

Destinations

2009-11-21T07:33:00.000-08:00

Detail of a New York City Subway Roll Sign.

Folk Art Snowman

2009-11-20T16:20:00.000-08:00

If I could collect it, I would!

Captions from an Early Photo Album

2009-11-20T16:08:00.001-08:00

Tintype with Deep Perspective Painted Backdrop

2009-11-18T16:21:00.000-08:00

Available here.