Saturday, December 04, 2010
RANDOM 341 OBJECT
ANTIQUE TIN American BERRY BUCKET & Child’s MUFFIN PANS-$-$25
You’ll find some dust and cobwebs, but that’s just how I discovered them out on a farm in southern Indiana a long, long time ago. I just brought them home and stuck them away. Now that we’re downsizing, I’m finding things I’d forgotten I even had. It’s almost like Christmas!
The berry bucket is 4” tall and almost 4 ½” in diameter. One of the muffin tins is 6” by 4”, and the other is 4” square. All three pieces are in excellent condition.
I doubt you’ll find nicer examples, especially after you give them a bath a maybe a little mineral oil for protection and to bring out the authentic color of the surfaces.
RANDOM SQUIRL
i have to look for more mexican, so here a tonala squirl
RANDOM 341 OBJECT
Antique 1870 Puffy Cotton FOLK ART WREATH in Deep Frame-$68
appier than a mourning wreath; more colorful than a hair wreath; but just as ”American country” as either, this intriguing fuzzy cotton wreath in its deep shadowbox frame came off a farm right on the Ohio/Indiana line just last week. I haven’t even dusted it off.
The deep walnut frame with its gold gilt inner trim measures 18” by 16 ½”. The frame itself is 2” deep, but the whole shebang is 5” deep. That would include the box that holds the textile artwork.
It reminds me of cotton bolls, shaped and dyed to look like flowers, leaves and berries, but I suppose they are something else smarter people have a name for. All I can say for certain is that nobody has messed around with it in any way since it was created sometime right around 1870, maybe 1880.
It just sat in the attic of the old home for years and years ‘til I invaded its privacy. Image how nice it will look after you give it a gentle cleaning and a little polish.
Why is it I always wish I’d dusted things at least a little only after I’ve taken the pictures?
That’s what I call excellent country craftsmanship. The box was made by a talented person – probably the husband, if I were forced to guess.
The flowers even have stamens with stigma and anthers. I’ll bet those came from a catalogue or were ordered from someone advertising in a lady’s magazine. Don’t you think?
It is a piece of American folk art that straddles Victoriana and American Country. You’re gonna be thrilled.
Friday, December 03, 2010
RANDOM 341 OBJECT
EARLY Antique 2 Gal. STONEWARE JUG, Salt Glaze w COBALT-$89
I get excited when I find an early, high shouldered jug with tapering sides and an ear-shaped handle – overly so when I find one in this condition and with just the right touches of cobalt decoration. There are no chips, cracks, scuffs or dings. It’s as nice as you’ll find.
Plus – It’s no small jug. It holds 2 gallons and stands 13 ¾” tall. It is approximately 9” in diameter at the shoulder and tapers to 7” at the base.
Maybe details such as the shape of the top, the squat rim and/or the well defined bevel at the bottom will tell the stoneware experts exactly when and where it was made. I just don’t know, but I’d guess anywhere from New York and New Jersey all the way out here to Ohio – somewhere within a decade of 1830.
I found it on a farm not far from our own little shack just this week, and it’s likely it was born nearby, so I lean toward an Ohio origin.
I wiped off years and years of dust and dirt, but I certainly didn’t wash it. It’ll look even nicer once you give it a good bath.
This jug has put me in a country mood. I think I’ll dig out some other American country / primitive things to list today.
