2021-12-19 17:49
I was surprised to come across a group of photographs of the outsider art masters Justin McCarthy and Elijah Pierce taken at their two-man show in 1972. At the time, there had been very few… Read More
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Jim Linderman blog about surface, wear, form and authenticity in art, antiques and photography. Dull tool and dim bulb were the only swear words my father ever used. Items from the Jim Linderman collection of vernacular photography, folk art, ephemera and curiosities. (Note: if anyone believes an image contained violates their rights or insults their intelligence, simply point it out and I will remove)
2021-12-17 15:45
Poignant folk art showing the hearts and colors of love. Six hearts, each a different color representing a different kind of love. Hopefully the image is large enough to read the text. "Thi… Read More
2021-12-10 18:49
Well, I think this snapshot qualifies as an early photo of a cross-dresser...even if it was posed in jest. Still an unusual vernacular photograph. Untitled (Man in Women's lingerie) anonymo… Read More
2021-12-04 18:42
Bible Crib Quilt with Embroidered Primitive Biblical stories. 24 individual numbered events. 32" x 48" Collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb Read More
2021-12-02 21:34
19th Century Folk Art Drawing "Group of Birds" by J.W (likely Job Wagner) Pencil on Ruled Paper collection Dull Tool Dim Bulb Thanks to Natalie Curley Antiques Read More
2021-11-30 19:32
The little known work of Sam Mackey is shown here from several institutional collections. Mr. Guyton was the grandfather of Tyree Guyton, creator of Heidelberg Project, a long standing (and… Read More
2021-11-22 20:33
Dream Automobiles! Robert Jordan creates his own line of imaginary automobiles in the 1950s. A 6" x 8" handmade booklet with cutouts from popular magazines on the front and back covers...b… Read More
2021-11-08 16:53
An early folk art drawing of a wild turkey. Signature appears to read "S.G. Fry" with no date. C. 1890 - 1910. Collection Dull Tool Dim Bulb Read More
2021-10-16 18:22
What we have is a group of interesting carnival and sideshow photographs taken by Larry Epstein (Laurence David Epstein) likely of Philadelphia. Not too much about the photographer, alas… Read More
2021-10-14 19:09
I'm pleased to have learned the website of Legendary Independent Music Producer Henry Stone from Florida is using my photo of the Reverend Anderson Johnson. Stone ruled Florida dance and so… Read More
2021-09-28 19:56
Blanche Ackers moved from Arkansas to near Detroit, Michigan in 1943. In 1985 she found employment in a Foster Grandparent program and was introduced to art by Christine Hennessay, an art t… Read More
2021-09-24 23:50
Two lurid drawings by a young woman in 1947. These come from an album of original art (and a few tracings?) with the initials M.R. Lets assume these two weren't drawn from life. There were d… Read More
2021-09-13 19:39
Well, the assignment is "My Family at Dinner" and the paper is manilla. I like to think of these drawings as being on the cusp of perspective. Being only an amateur scholar of children's ar… Read More
2021-08-25 17:11
Most of these antique circus photographs have appeared on the Dull Tool Dim Bulb blog before, each with a story and some documentation. This post is just to look. Various 19th and 20th cent… Read More
2021-08-16 17:03
Courtesy the wonderful online shop CRITICAL EYE FINDSThe site has beautiful and unique Items of interest to anyone who enjoys this blog! Folks are always asking where I find things? Critic… Read More
2021-08-05 17:15
The Living Clock is a lesser known "mass panorama" photograph staged and photographed by Alfred S. Mole in 1915. This real photo postcard was mailed from Zion, Illinois the same year. I do… Read More
2021-08-04 17:29
Folk Art Handmade Postcard Teddy the Bear dated 1908 Felt with cut paper letters and a hand painted applique. Collection Jim Linderman Read More
2021-08-02 17:14
Group of four (of course) amateur drawings of the Beatles. Anonymous. dated 1968. Collection Dull Tool Dim Bulb Read More
2021-06-03 15:46
Tempura or watercolor paintings on paper said to have been produced by a patient at the now abandoned Seaside psychiatric hospital in Waterford, Ct. I don't know about that, but they are ver… Read More
2021-05-28 16:23
A pair of travelers stop to shop for early 20th Century Pueblo Pottery of unknown tribal affiliation. The enlarged photo might allow someone to identify the pots for sale. Original Photogra… Read More
2021-05-14 16:43
A curious Folk Art Watercolor Painting c. 1900, likely from Pennsylvania. On scrap paperfound in a scrap book. Anonymous. Collection Jim Linderman Read More
2021-05-11 18:31
Quite a photo setting...a wonderful photograph sent here for my birthday from a collector who has a better eye then I! It looks scary, but she's not alone. There are three other photos sho… Read More
2021-05-08 17:35
Original photographs of a previously undocumented African-American Yard Show taken in the early 1990's by Mary Klein and Jim Linderman. The gentleman who built the environment, which was n… Read More
2021-05-07 18:17
Over the years while collecting obscure Vintage Sleaze paperbacks for a project, I accumulated a whole pallette of cruddy books based on the public perception of the passionate pleasures ava… Read More
2021-05-03 16:19
Antique American Folk Art Drawing 19th Century "Meeting of the Old Man and his Grandson" Anonymous Collection Jim Linderman Read More
2021-04-28 16:27
This Science Fiction Pulp Magazine from before World War Two has been saved from destruction with a handmade cover! I am not sure how high the "pass-around" rate was for these rags, but this… Read More
2021-04-27 15:41
19th Century Child's Handmade Paper Weaving. Froebel Kindergarten. From a handmade book of similar work. The simple (yet sophisticated!) training techniques of Frederich Froebel continue to… Read More
2021-04-23 16:37
A scarce period Drawing of Haley's Comet circa 1910 on a piece of Birch Bark. A drawn by hand postcard. It's a curious one...a boy rushes in riding the comet with a net to collect mosquitos!… Read More
2021-04-20 17:47
One of the best "make do" folk art dolls I have seen, this is an original c. 1940 doll made of rolled newspapers. Dated 1947,with Phildelphia, Pennsylvania origin. Collection Jim Linderman Read More
2021-04-20 16:50
Love During Wartime #12 Pacific Theater Solder's Footlocker with Homemade Pinups Collection Jim Linderman Read More
2021-04-15 17:36
Antique Sewer Pipe sculpture (and bank) depicting the Yellow Kid. Fear not, this fella isn't a racist relic from the past! The Yellow Kid was an American Icon and star of the Sunday comics… Read More
2021-04-13 16:06
Alas, an African-American Superhero before her time. Not likely ever featured in her own comic book. The artist B.F Riddick is largely unknown, but produced numerous erotic and bizarre draw… Read More
2021-04-10 16:01
There are plenty of mysteries and coincidences in the world of Outsider Art. I can add these four pieces to the mystery of lost New York City street artist Carolyn Goe. I've owned the gr… Read More
2021-04-07 15:24
Folk Art Whirligig Fragments made from Cigar Box Wood c. 1940. Collection JIm Linderman Read More
2021-04-06 15:59
Hand Drawn Folk Art Paper Dolls, c. 1935 - 1945 Collection Jim Linderman Folk art and Photography books by Dull Tool Dim Bulb and Jim Linderman are available on Blurb.com Read More
2021-04-03 17:34
Pair of Anonymous 19th Century Drawings collection Jim Linderman Read More
2021-04-02 15:59
The Multigraph corporation spares no expense impressing visitors to their big 1939 World's Fair exhibit! Roly-poly puppets named "Words, Lines and Pictures" perform their spiel with help fr… Read More
2021-03-31 23:20
Well, here's something one doesn't see often, thankfullly. A whimsical folk art carving of a woman taking a break. Woman on Toilet wood carving, c. 1950. Collection Dull Tool Dim Bulb Read More
2021-03-22 17:43
Israel Litwak Mountaindale, NY 1938. Self-Taught "Primitive" art Outsider Collection Jim Linderman More information on the artist from an earlier post is HERE Read More
2021-03-20 19:00
Miniature Apron sewn from flour sack cloth with a note inside about saving money. Folk Art circa 1930 - 1940 Collection Jim Linderman Read More
2021-03-16 18:14
Albert Freeman is another artist we might not ever know much about. I believe his work was discovered by Robert Cargo, long time collector, dealer and advocate of southern 20th century Ame… Read More
2021-03-10 17:37
Antique Folk Art Portrait Drawing of a Young Woman. Cut out and affixed to cardboard. Anonymous. Early 19th Century Miniature Read More
2021-03-01 16:12
Israel Litwak was born in Russia and immigrated to Brooklyn in 1903. After his long career as a cabinet maker, he began producing lively and unique drawings and paintings which he shared wit… Read More
2021-02-21 17:44
Sylvia Roberti was from near Chicago and her drawings were created in the 1960s and 1970s. About all that is known comes from the information she diligently provided on the reverse of each w… Read More
2021-02-11 17:03
Five baseball star outsider art portraits by a woman (a Braves fan!) created in the late 1950s. The amateur artist surrounds each with colorful misshapen borders. Rocky Colavito of the Clev… Read More
2021-02-10 17:09
Samuel "Lonnie" Simmons is an Unsung Hero of Photography, so let's bring another great African-American artist out of the dust of obscurity. Once known as "The Man Who Never Slee… Read More
2021-02-08 18:15
OBIT OF DAN BURLEY FROM JET MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 8, 1962 SADLY OMITS DUKE MAGAZINE Dan Burley is the most famous folk you never heard of. Why? Because he was an African-American man. Sorry… Read More
2021-01-29 15:34
An ardent fan hand draws two legendary Marvel comic book covers! Shown here are The Avengers issue one 1963 and Tales of Suspense number 39. Faithful but quirky! These were purchased at an… Read More
2021-01-17 20:15
Unusual Polaroid Salesman Sample Photograph c. 1947 - 1950 Collection Jim Linderman Read More
2021-01-08 17:36
Selected pages from aVintage Wooden Matchbox collection c. 1926 Collection Jim Linderman Read More
2021-01-05 16:59
Three primitive "flip book" drawings unstapled for your pleasure. Anonymous, circa 1960. The unknown cartoonist created these 4 page sequential gag cartoons to show motion. Well, he tried… Read More
2020-12-29 17:54
Elegant and a bit odd, what appears to be the calligraphic calling card of a 19th century performer. The name is certainly an unusual font. Mance McDaniel was an "Singin, and Dansing Comede… Read More
2020-12-26 17:13
A somewhat obsessive table mat with over 1,000 individually sewn buttons, circa 1940. 18" x 30" with irregular patterns. The piece is sewn over thin cardboard mailed from Sears to Maine… Read More
2020-12-14 18:53
Two limited edition prints here. One is a limited edition print of sorts (a United States postage stamp) affixed to another print on an envelope. It is an individually hand-painted print… Read More
2020-12-12 19:05
Antique Folk Art Animal Carvings with Original Paint. "Make-do" mounted with wires. Collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb Read More
2020-12-05 20:11
Lisa Sigel is an audacious scholar. Her field of study is old as the species, but still appears to scare the pants off academia. None of us would be here if it weren't for sexual activit… Read More
2020-12-04 17:23
Wooden Folk Art Puppet Head original paint circa 1950 Collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb Read More
2020-12-01 22:29
I don't get to use the word exhuberant very often, but this "edited" for publication press photograph certainly is. Nearly more paint than photo. From the flowers on the bonnet to the strip… Read More
2020-11-26 18:56
Antique American Folk Art Automobile Collection. Made by Hand Vintage Wood Carving Toys c. 1930 Original Paint. Each approx. 6" long. These from a large group which also includes several t… Read More
2020-11-21 19:56
Antique Folk Art Paper Cut / Folded Paper Froebel "Kindergarten" Projects circa 1903 - 1904 by Kenneth Miles, Litchfield, CT. The boy was around ten years old when these were created. Loose… Read More
2020-11-05 17:39
A handsome giant gorilla is shown in the Crescent City Totem Pole Park, and a rudimentary smaller version from my shelf. Real Photo Postcard Gorilla, c. 1940 and carved version of same. Col… Read More
2020-10-30 16:13
An amateur filmmaker (or video camera nut) indexes each one of his hundreds of films with a three-ring binder. Each one Hand drawn! No less then FIVE films on Cleveland, trips to the steel… Read More
2020-10-20 17:38
One of Douglas Levicki's handmade newspapers "The Enterprise Magazine" published (in his mind) in 1935. The reporter produced numerous issues in the 1930s, if only for an audience of his fa… Read More
2020-10-11 17:58
An antique folk art stone handcarved with incised initials. Collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb Read More
2020-10-09 17:04
Naive Outsider Art of Moses Baker. 1974-1975. No further information on the artist. Collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb Read More
2020-09-19 18:48
Several of these lovely 19th century stencil kits for children have been refound and posted over the years, but this one appears to be missing in action. Turned up by Natalie Curley Antiq… Read More
2020-09-11 17:01
Drawings dated 1894 from a one room school in King's Corner, Ohio. Doesn't seem to be much of a town there anymore. Note one drawing was created using a "pin-prick" technique. Collection J… Read More
2020-09-09 16:08
Untitled Cement Sculpture (Man looking Left) circa 1950 15" tall. Collection Jim Linderman Read More
2020-06-25 17:45
Well, a giant homemade fish submarine! "Lake Crossing in Sardine Can" reads the caption. I'm not sure the date. The fish is just over ten feet long. The maker Barney… Read More
2020-06-22 16:32
Rasmus Petersen stands by his rock garden Statue of Liberty with an odd plaque reading "Enjoy yourself, it's later than you think" for some reason. Read More
2020-06-04 17:12
Antique Articulated Figure Folk Art Dancing Man c. 1920 Collection Jim Linderman Read More
2020-05-11 00:05
The small art of the mailed foot. Two of these anyway. The smallest is actually a Lady's Calling Card. Late 19th / Early 20th Century. Collection Jim Linderman Read More
2020-04-30 16:53
Apocalyptic Worship of the Antichrist Photograph of an Unknown Painting. This is an original photograph circa 1920 (?) of a work I haven't identified. We'll have to rely on the f… Read More
2020-04-29 19:07
Chicago citizens will sleep better knowing the pin-up peep shows have been unplugged by Chief Investigator Paul Newey. Since there was no other crime in Chicago on this day in 1959, Chief… Read More
2020-04-27 15:08
Folk Art Emoji. Wood carving with brad eyes. Collection Jim Linderman Read More
2020-04-24 14:02
How to have a Office Romance on Zoom. "Eye Flirtations" from All About Girls: Joke Pictures, Stories (no date) circa 1920. Read More
2020-04-23 21:39
Two drawings by one Mantie L. Throckmorton 1925. Oil Derrick and a Bicycle which would be pretty hard to build...but what a beauty. From a large sketchbook started around the same time… Read More
2020-04-18 17:01
Anonymous snapshot of Jigsaw yard art, New Jersey. No Date (circa 1950?) Collection Jim Linderman Read More
2020-04-11 17:29
Primitive "Sailor" Whirligig Folk Art with replaced paddles? Circa 1950.Collection Jim Linderman Read More
2020-03-22 15:46
Buttons and Buttons. I took a break to appreciate this PRE-Coronavirus map of the United States. Postcard from the Lightner Museum of Buttons along with two "isolated" button kid compo… Read More
2020-03-11 15:07
Wooden foot carving circa 1960, slightly larger than life size. Needless to say? Odd.Collection Dull Tool Dim Bulb Read More
2020-03-08 19:40
Vernacular Photographs: Let Us Entertain You. A few forgotten performers. Original photographs collection Jim Linderman Read More
2020-02-10 16:17
A small cure for the winter blues...Risque party pants from Pennsylvania! There was at least one other similar example with jokes about Pensacola. Circa 1950 Collection Dull Tool Dim B… Read More
2020-02-03 18:26
Early 20th Century Handmade Puppet Collection Jim Linderman. Paper mache with printed flour sack clothes Read More
2020-01-22 16:13
Risque set of graphic Matchbook Covers circa 1940 - 1945. Somewhat primitive renderings of "what the boys are fighting for" pinup propaganda. Several manufacturers produced them… Read More
2020-01-17 16:49
Junior After Hit by Bronko Pencil Drawing c. 1950 by Mildred Julia Radalis. A drawing which would have fit into yesterday's Outsider Art Fair post! Upside the HEAD. O… Read More
2020-01-15 19:18
The Outsider Art Fair snuck up on me this year, and while I haven't gone in a decade, for the same amount of time I've tried to come up with something interesting to share during the season… Read More
2020-01-14 17:05
Marion and Irma are playing games at the Sally Rand Nude Revue show at the Golden Gate International Exposition in 1939 San Francisco. Pair of original snapshot photographs Collec… Read More
2020-01-13 15:45
Folk Art Risque Sliding Novelty Erotic Carving Large! Circa 1930.Collection Jim Linderman Read More
2020-01-11 16:21
I discovered a fellow tricking Uncle Sam way back in 1935. See anything wrong with the two examples of stamps on top here? The 1 cent stamp is supposed to depict Franklin… Read More
2020-01-10 18:38
Vintage Handmade Folk Art Paper Doll and Backdrop circa 1930? Anonymous Read More
2020-01-09 17:56
Antique Folk Art Carved Wooden Horse and Cart late 19th / early 20th c. 48 inches long, the horse is 21" tall and 24 inches long. Child's riding size! The largest pull toy… Read More
2020-01-09 16:56
Having faces painted on your knees never really caught on, though I posted a pic a few years ago trying. Now, master tattoo historian Carmen Forquer Nyssen has sent this example. … Read More
2020-01-08 17:05
Wee whittled women. Size 3" to 7" tall. Found in New Jersey, circa 1940 - 1950. Collection Jim Linderman Read More
2020-01-04 17:56
There were eight volumes of the incomprehensible Normal Union System of Industrial Drawing published by Sower Potts and Co. in 1878. There were dozens of private "textbook" publishers… Read More
2020-01-03 15:14
Folk Art Mail Art 19th Century. A bike and a bridge! Mailed within New York state, 1888. Collection Jim Linderman Read More
2020-01-02 15:54
Here today, gone tomorrow. Original photograph of Gullah artist Sam Doyle's house c. 1992 by Jim Linderman (bottom) and the same as seen in a cropped photograph by Roger Manley, I beli… Read More
2019-12-27 14:43
"Cheer up" made by hand get well card by Ellen B. Moore-Morrill circa 1950.Courtesy BOXLOT on Facebook Read More
2019-12-26 17:47
The doorway to the Book Shack photograph by John Collier 1973 Free Press (Detroit?)Candy Barr Stripped of Freedom 1957 photographer unknown, no source indicatedPornography businesses line pa… Read More
2019-12-23 14:18
Folk Art Shovel-Tailed Snow Snake Real Photo Postcard of Rice Lake, WI. "Largest one ever seen."Collection Jim Linderman courtesy Curley's Antiques Read More
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