Folk Art from Found Objects: Page 3

Hand made dipper	Large colorful man from chain, car parts, etc.	Doorknob weathervane	Chicken, hats, and pillow crocheted from plastic bags
John Henry railroad whirligig	Framed collection of brushes	Painting on trash can lid by "Big Al" Taplet	Painting on roofing slate by "Big Al" Taplet
Rustic miniature twig swing	Planter from can, clothespins	Found object sculpture
Group of concrete and found object faces by outsider artist Betty Davis
Page 1 of Folk Art from Found Objects     Page 2

This is a very nice, old "make-do" dipper, made from a tin sign which still has the remnants of stamped letters. It is attached to a hand carved wood handle through a slit in the end and held by a nail through both handle and metal. The dipper has slits cut so liquid could drain out. This primitive piece was probably made in the early 1900's. It came from the upper Midwest, is in very good, old used condition, and is about 14" long with a width of 7" to the clam shell shaped metal. The price is $150.00. Inventory Code: TOKH.   Hand made dipper ... Side and back views ... Another side view ... Closeup ... Another closeup ... Closeup of back ... Another closeup of the back ... From above ... From below ... With a soda can for scale.

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.

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.

This is a whirligig of John Henry working on the railroad. It was made by Ed Smith of Conover, NC. The carved, jointed figure goes up and down, hammering on the track as the blades turn. There is a plastic model box car on the track, and the blades are Conover license plates from 1978. The tail is a somewhat battered piece of sheet metal painted white on one side. The whirligig is 45" long by 27" across the blades. The man is 10 1/4" tall. As mounted on the wooden display base, it is about 28" high to the top of his head, or 33" to the top of the blade. It was made c. 1985, and is in very good, weathered condition. The price is $425.00. Inventory Code: CAKH.   John Henry whirligig ... With blades turned ... Closeup of the figure ... The other side ... Front view ... Back view ... Another closeup of the man ... Closeup, one side ... Closeup, other side ... Closeup from behind ... Closeup of blades ... Closeup of the boxcar ... Closeup of the tail ... Other side of the tail ... With a yardstick and soda can for scale ... Video of the action [5.7 Mb].
Some much larger photos:   John Henry whirligig ... With blades turned ... Closeup of the figure ... The other side ... Front view ... Back view ... Another closeup of the man ... Closeup, one side ... Closeup, other side ... Closeup from behind ... Closeup of blades ... Closeup of the boxcar ... Other side of the tail ... With a yardstick and soda can for scale ... Video of the action [5.7 Mb].

This is an unusual and decorative framed collection of brushes. There is a wide variety of styles, types, and materials. The brushes range in age from the early 1900's to the 60's or 70's. They have been mounted with fine wire to a wood backdrop, set in an older frame. The individual brushes go from 5 1/2" to 15" long. The frame is 22" high by 28" wide by 1 1/2" deep. The price is $275.00. Inventory Code: TOOC.   Framed collection of brushes ... Closeup ... Another closeup ... Side views ... From above ... Back view ... With a soda can for scale.
Some much larger photos:   Framed collection of brushes ... Closeup ... Another closeup ... Side views ... From above ... Back view ... With a soda can for scale.

Next are two pieces by Alfred "Big Al" Taplet, born in 1934 in New Orleans. He was an artist who began shining shoes as a boy. One day, Big Al picked up scraps of roofing slate from a nearby construction site, thinking it'd be a good idea to advertise his and his twin brother Little Al's shoe-shining business. This took off as people bought the art, and eventually the brothers bought and opened a workshop. While one brother would man their shop, the other would work the shoeshine stand in Jackson Square. After Hurricane Katrina in 2005 they moved to Houston, TX.

Big Al is listed in the Rosenak reference book "Contemporary American Folk Art, A Collector's Guide" as well as the book "Self Taught, Outsider and Folk Art by Betty-Carol Sellen. He is also a featured artist in the award-winning documentary "Outside the Lines/Encounters with Self-Taught Artists".

This is a wonderful folk art, outsider art two sided painting on a metal trash can lid by "Big Al" Taplet. "No Runny Eggs/No Runny Grits". It is very unusual that he did this on a trash can lid - the only one we have ever seen, or seen photos of. The size is approximately 21 1/2" in diameter and 1 1/2" deep, not counting the wire hanging loop. The can lid was somewhat bent when he painted it. It is in good, old condition with some paint loss as seen in the photos. The price is $425.00. Inventory Code: CKRA.   No Runny Eggs by Big Al Taplet ... The other side ... Another view ... Closeup ... Closeup of hanger ...   Closeup, other side ...   Side view ...   Another side view ...   With a soda can for scale.

"A Happy Shoe is a Foxy Shoe" is a wonderful folk art, outsider art painting by Alfred "Big Al" Taplet, signed and dated 2004. It is painted on roofing slate, which he began scavenging from a dumpster for his earlier works. There is a twisted wire loop for hanging. It measures 16" by 10" and is in good, old condition with normal wear and some paint loss. The piece of slate had rough edges and chipped corners before it was painted. The price is $275.00. Inventory Code: CKRO.   "A Happy Shoe" by Big Al Taplet ... Closeup ... Back view ... With a soda can for scale.

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.

Here is a whole collection of pieces crocheted from plastic bags and bread wrappers from the late 20th c.   Larger photo of all.

First off is a really fun, three-dimensional chicken with lots of character and personality. It has button eyes, wings that stick out, and is stuffed with more plastic. It is about 15" long by 7" wide by 8" high, in very good condition with slight fraying on the tail feathers. The price is $225.00. Inventory Code: TKCO.   Plastic bag chicken ... From above ... Front view ... With a soda can for scale.
Some much larger photos:   Plastic bag chicken ... From above ... Front view ... With a soda can for scale.

This is a very nice railroad-style cap with a black imitation leather band. It is very tightly made, in excellent condition, about 9" long by 7" wide by 4" high. The price is $145.00. Inventory Code: TRKT.   Plastic bag crocheted hat, with a soda can for scale ... Side view ... From above.
Some much larger photos:   Plastic bag crocheted hat, with a soda can for scale ... Side view ... From above.

This hat is very tightly worked so that it holds its shape and is not very flexible. It is decorated with a red ribbon. It measures 12" long by 11" wide by 5" high, in excellent condition except for the visible fraying of the ribbon ends. The price is $125.00. Inventory Code: TKHS.   Second hat, with a soda can for scale ... Back view.
Some much larger photos:   Second hat, with a soda can for scale ... Back view.

This hat is 12 1/2" in diameter by about 5" high, fairly loose and flexible, in excellent condition. The price is $75.00. Inventory Code: TKCR.   Third hat ... Other side ... With a soda can for scale.
Some much larger photos:   Third hat ... Other side ... With a soda can for scale.

This hat is also fairly loose and flexible, 12 1/2" in diameter by about 5 1/2" high in excellent condition. The price is $75.00. Inventory Code: TKCK.   Fourth hat ... Other side ... Closeup ... With a soda can for scale.
Some much larger photos:   Fourth hat ... Other side ... Closeup ... With a soda can for scale.

A small round pillow covered with a crocheted cover made from bread bags. It is 12" in diameter and in perfect condition. The price is $45.00. Inventory Code: AWOH. Side view ... Top 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.

Here are several unusual and folky faces made from concrete and found objects then painted. These were done by Betty Davis, an outsider artist from Gonzales, TX. Each face has its own personality. These were made approximately 1999 and are in excellent condition. They are described and priced individually below.   A photo of the artist ... Larger view of all faces.

This is the largest face. It is painted yellow, blue, and white. It is 19 1/2" high by 15 1/2" wide by about 1 1/2" deep. The price is $475.00. Inventory Code: CCOP.   Largest face ... Side view ... From below ... Back view ... With a soda can for scale.

This heart-shaped face is painted blue, red, and black, with eyes bulging out and hair standing on end. It is 11" high by 7 1/2" wide by about 2 1/4" deep. The price is $375.00. Inventory Code: CCWC.   Blue and red face, with a soda can for scale ... Side views ... Back.

This is a plaque with three faces. They have colored beads for eyes. It is 7 1/2" high by 12 1/2" wide by about 2" deep. The price is $425.00. Inventory Code: CCOS.   Group of three faces ... Side views ... From below ... Back ... With a soda can for scale.

This is a plaque with three women's faces. Two of them are wearing costume jewelry. It is 8" high by 12" wide by about 1 3/4" deep. The price is $425.00. Inventory Code: CCWR.   Three faces, with costume jewelry ... Side view ... From below ... Back ... With a soda can for scale.

This face is painted a greenish/gray with blue/gray lips. It has rows of Phillips head screws for eyebrows. It is 11 3/4" high by 6 3/4" wide by about 2" deep. The price is $375.00. Inventory Code: CCWW.   Gray face, screws for eyebrows ... Side views ... From below ... Back ... With a soda can for scale.

This face has metal discs for eyebrows, metal watch band teeth, and a tongue of either ceramic or polished stone. It is unpainted except for the lips and measures 14 1/2" high by 9" wide by about 2 3/4" deep. The price is $375.00. Inventory Code: CCWO.   Face with metal teeth, with a soda can for scale ... Side views ... From above and below ... Back.

This blue face has darker blue lips and large glass or plastic marbles for eyes. The eyes were painted over, then part of the paint removed in the center. They glow when they catch the light at the right angle. It is 13 1/2" high by 10 wide by about 2" deep. The price is $375.00. Inventory Code: CCWK.   Blue face with glass eyes ... Side views ... From above and below ... Back ... With a soda can for scale.

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