Tin Folk Art

This early 20th-century American Folk Art tin cutout captures a moment of exhilarating pursuit: a sleek fox in hot pursuit of a large white goose, its wings flailing in startled flig...

Absolutely unique very large creole 'Penca De Balangandan' from Brazil from around 1960. Tin base, possibly silver plated. Traditional slave amule...

A truly American Southern piece, this rustic wooden pie safe features pierced tin inserts in the double doors and on the sides. Other features include two ...

Wonderful toleware chest Not sure what the original function was. No evidence to suggest it was a coal bin. Cream painted with gilt decoration in neoclassical style. Original paint...

The "Milton Berle" car is one of a series of "Crazy Cars" manufactured by the Louis Marx Toy Company of New York City; this one being one of the more prolific examples, owing to the ...

This is a rare and authentic antique Ottoman pitcher, or "aiguière," from the 18th century. Handcrafted from a combination of copper and tin, this piece is a testament to the metalwo...

About An original 19th century Mexican folk retablo "Veronica's Veil" or "El Divono Rostro" in Spain . Oil paint on tin. The Veil of Veronica, known in Italian as the Volto Santo o...

A Retablo is a devotional painting, especially a small popular or folk art one using iconography derived from traditional Catholic church art. Depicting a Saint and a child painted o...

A beautiful and decorative large vintage tin channel letter “A” made of sheet metal, painted in a vibrant yellow with red sides. It is dated around the 1960s, though it may be older....

Fabulous addition to the "crazy car" examples made famous by the iconic and "Louis Marx Toy Company" manufacturers of fine quality toys and established in New York City in 1919. This...

This seldom seen bank is technically a mechanical bank but basically it is a still bank with a slight mechanical function, that being; once it is full of coins, it opens up automatic...

About An original 19th century Mexican folk retablo "Veronica's Veil" or "El Divono Rostro" in Spain . Oil paint on tin. The Veil of Veronica, known in Italian as the Volto Santo o...

Listed as #431 in the Lehman catalogues this wonderful vintage children's wind up toy, manufactured by the prestigious and iconic Lehman Toy Company of Germany; was patented in 1895 (see image--markings under wing ). The toy was made for over 25 years and was quite popular. When wound up using the underside attached clockwork( key (see attached movie) the toy depicts the six legged beetle crawling across the floor by moving it's legs back and forth while flapping it's wings in the air. All the markings "Pat. U.S.A." "D.R.G.M." "Pat April 23, 1895" "Lehman" are clearly marked under the wing (see image). It is lithographed and hand painted in colors of bluish green wings, a red and white head, yellow and black under wings, with red and blackish green legs. This particular example is completely original ,which is highly unusual for this toy as a search of other examples would reveal that one or several of the legs are typically lacking, or repaired, as are the fragile wings as well. There is no restoration and no touch up paint of any kind. to this toy. It is original in every respect. The toy is catalogued as "EPL #431" and documented on page 129 of the book "Lehman Toys" by Jurgen & Marianne Cieslik, published in 1982. Dimensions: 4 1/4" long x 2" high x 4" wide Provenance: Recently acquired from a highly regarded West Coast collection of antique wind...

This is a very popular Lehman wind up toy; emblematic of "whimsy" typical of Ernest Paul Lehman whose toy company opened in Brandenburg, Germany in 1881.. The action portrays a mama duck walking along with her three baby chicks in tow being carried in a basket from behind. The toy is nicely lithographed with a greenish yellow basket; light and dark green baby chicks, and the mother duck with yellow green features and an orange and white undercoat. The underneath of the basket is filled with markings documenting the genesis of the toy. "Paak Paak" German for "Quack Quack": are clearly spelled out along with "Lehman" "Pat. U.S.A. March 12, 1903". Printed on the side #645 indicating the catalogue number (see image). To operate: wind up the attached clockwork key on the right side; release while still in your hand to see what happens; wind up some more and then gently place on the floor to watch the baby chicks bob up and down as mama pulls them forward. Very few examples are intact---legs usually absent and mechanisms broken, and examples are incomplete because of rough play. This example is completely original with no restoration of any kind and no touch up to the lovely surface. The toy is catalogued as "EPL #645" and documented on page 197 of the book "Lehman Toys" by Jurgen & Marianne Cieslik, published in 1982. This would be a wonderful addition for the discerning collector of antiques children...

Rare 100 year old French toy in it's original box depicting two acrobats attached to a wire frame with brown barrel weights, cascading down a green metal ladder. Once assembled (loop...

Large collection of tin 1900s Edwardian miniature toy figures. A few tin houses a shed, gazebo's, flower arches, lots of trees and shrubs. Dovecote, pretty fences, a bench, a parrot tree, a birdcage, a plant Stand, a fountain, farm animals and lots of human figures in Edwardian clothing about: 29 trees (trees shrubs, palmtrees) 11 decorative fences 2 arches 18 figures (girl with dog, a couple, lady with...

A Retablo is a devotional painting, especially a small popular or folk art one using iconography derived from traditional Catholic church art. Depicting a Saint and a child painted o...

1910s-20s; Fulton Meat Market district - Chicago, IL The property at the northeast corner of Peoria and Fulton streets in Chicago was most recently a burger joint, but in the late 1...

This collection of three hand blown jars all have the original tin lids. The condition is very good. It is very hard to find these storage canisters...

An early 20th century beer cooler in original mustard paint from Switzerland. Large and very solid construction with Three doors all having the original Ir...

Antique figural painted tin trade sign. This piece takes the form of an antique mortar and pestle, one of the most important tools used by practitioners of medicine for centuries. T...

Collection of Handmade Mexican Folk Art Tin Masks, Mexican, circa 1950s. Each mask is unique and extremely detailed. The largest mask measures 21"...

"Sentry" tin mechanical bank is very difficult to find, having been made in Germany by the company Saalheimer & Strauss for the British market. The rif...

c. 1910s; The J.B. Moos Cigar Manufacturing Co. - Cincinnati, OH Antique embossed tin cigar advertising sign with self-framing. This sign advertises Sidney Dillon cigars, a brand n...

c. 1880s-1890s; mfd. by F. Tuchfarber & Co. for Lovell & Buffington Co. - Covington, KY Painted tin lithograph advertising sign for Fountain Tobacco, produced for Lovell &am...

Folk Art windmill sculpture.

This is a very rare and early (circa 1885) tin advertising sign, commissioned by the Delaware Insurance Company, located and founded in Philadelphia in 1835. It was probably made by noted late 19th century sign maker, Sentenne & Green, of New York City, established in the 1870's. With an Indian motif, the sign features a Native American Indian, front and center, decorated in a brown and green headdress; with red, cream and aqua clothing and a large gold medallion...

c. 1940s/1950s; Paul Jones Distilling Co. - Louisville, KY Vintage tin litho whiskey advertising sign. This piece advertises Paul Jones whiskey, a blended whiskey brand named for t...

Mid 20thc Full-bodied pig standing on four legs and having a curly tail. Black and white paint.

Vintage Folk Art doll with tin drum body (oil can) and articulating arms, circa 1950s. The piece is handmade with a doll head and arms and a tin...

This is both a still bank and a biscuit tin. It would originally have been sold, filled with biscuits. After all of the cookies would have been consumed, the tin (rather than been thrown away) would have been used as a bank to save money. There is a slot for deposits at the back of the neck at the top (see image). Coins would have been removed by lifting or twisting the snug fitting lid. Toby is nicely hand-painted in pleasing colors of green, blue, gold, and white, with realistic flesh tones to the hands and face. The total height is 6 1/2" while the total width is 6" (includes handle). Diameter at the base is 5". This Toby figured tin was manufactured circa 1911 by the biscuit tin company of Hudson Scott located in Carlisle, England. It is marked at the bottom "Hudson Scott & Sons Ltd. Carlisle, England." It has crossover appeal into three categories of collectors. It would be a welcome addition to both the still bank collector and the biscuit tin collector...

A set of four contemporary Mexican racy / risque / taboo ex-voto / retablos attributed to Alfredo Vilchis, circa 2010. A captivating and humorous collection of Mexican ex-votos (retablos), attributed to the renowned "neighborhood artist" of Mexico City, Alfredo Vilchis Roque. Each piece represents a modern, secular, and "racy" evolution of the traditional 19th-century devotional art form. Each piece is in a "deliberate distressed condition" to mimic the weathered look of 19th-century antiques, and each measure approximately 9"W x 7"H. Unlike classic retablos that thank saints for surviving illnesses or accidents, these "new" ex-votos depict the gritty, scandalous, and often hilarious realities of modern urban life. The collection includes: -The Piercing Penance: A woman thanking Saint Rita for her successful (and painful) nipple piercings...

A cool set of four risque / taboo / humorous "Underworld" ex-votos / retablos attributed to Alfredo Vilchis, circa 2010. A provocative and vibrantly transgressive collectio of contemporary Mexican ex-votos (retablos), attributed to the legendary "neighborhood artist" of Mexico City, Alfredo Vilchis Roque. This quartet serves as a masterclass in the "New Retablo" movement, where the centuries-old tradition of Catholic gratitude is subverted to document the gritty, scandalous, and darkly comedic "miracles" of the urban fringe. Each piece is in a "deliberate distressed condition" to mimic the weathered look of 19th-century antiques, and each measure approximately 9.5"W x 6"H. Moving far beyond traditional prayers for health, these works depict the raw and often taboo intersections of desire, mishaps, and divine intervention. The collection features: -The Courtesan’s Epiphany: A dramatic scene of a sex worker who, after surviving a life-threatening allergic reaction to a client's semen, offers infinite thanks to Saint Martha and vows to leave her trade forever. -The Forbidden Cousin: A man named S.F. who celebrates his persistent (and successful) pursuit of his cousin into the bedroom, thanking Saint Jude Thaddeus for their ultimate "happiness." -The Strawberry Jam Incident: A near-fatal mishap involving José Ramos...

Set of four risque / taboo "Urban Miracles" Mexican retablos attributed to Alfredo Vilchis, circa 2010. An audaciously humorous and culturally rich collection of four contemporary Me...

A cool set of five Mexican ex-votos (retablos) ("Neighborhood Miracles") attributed to Alfredo Vilchis, circa 2010. An exceptionally rare and provocative collection attributed to the...

Set of four risque / taboo / humorous contemporary Mexican Ex-Vatos in the style of Alfredo Vilchis, circa 2010. An intriguing and rare collection of four contemporary Mexican ex-vot...

A nice set of five risque / taboo Ex-Votos (Retablos) attributed to Alfredo Vilchis, circa 2010. A daringly transgressive and humorous collection of contemporary Mexican ex-votos (re...

Set of five erotic, humorous and taboo framed Mexican Retablos attributed to Alfredo Vilchis, circa 2010. A remarkable collection of contemporary Mexican ex-votos, or "retablos," att...

For the mechanical bank and toy enthusiast, listed is a tin, lithographed and painted, all original 1960s mechanical bank made by the Yone Company of Japan (see image of logo on side panel). The company was founded in 1950 and is typical of the post war companies who produced outstanding children's toys. The action is unique, clever, and encourages saving money. With the bank wound (attached key wind on the underneath (see image); place a penny on the spot provided on top of the bank. The mouse dashes out of the grey shoe...

Vintage Folk Art doll with tin drum body (coffee cans) and articulating arms, circa 1950s. The piece is handmade with a doll head and arms and a...

A wonderful figural folk art sculpture of an O’Cedar Mop Man by contemporary Maine artist Harvey Peterson (20th/21st c). Peterson was born in Seattle, WA, and got his a BFA and MFA f...

A beautiful 19th-century Spanish Colonial Catholic Mexican Folk Art ex-voto retablo lámina painting featuring the Arch Angel Michael (San Miguel), sword in one hand, the scales of ju...

Having started in Sweden, the company opened up in America in 1888 as the "De Laval Cream Separator Company" in New York City, with a production plant ...

Large French Toleware Glove Maker’s Shop Trade Sign This is a very rare piece it is in good condition and has a new blacksmith made wall bracket, the bracket is copy of the origina...

This hand-painted German tin toy was manufactured by the "Lehman Toy Company" in Brandenburg, Germany beginning in 1913. It was made for a number of ye...

Vintage wind-up motorcycle tin toy by Marx Toy Company, circa late 1930s. This rare piece is in good vintage working condition with good lithography and minimal rust; it measures 8....

Circa 1950's French copper sautée pan. This sauté pan is stamped made in France and has an applied brass handle, attached with copper pins. The height of the sauté pan without the ...

Surviving pieces of vernacular lighting are extremely rare and it is hard to source convincing re-creations. These are copies of a period sconce illustrated in Furniture Treasury by ...

Antique figural copper and tin trade sign. This piece takes the form of an antique mortar and pestle, one of the most important tools used by practitioners of medicine for centuries...

Hand painted and lettered double sided metal shaped advertising sign. Gold lettering, black background with red edging. Good overall condition with paint losses, pitting and isolated...

c. 1950s/1960s; Kids Korral, Inc. - Lakeville, IN and Tex-Tan Western Leather Co. - Yoakum, TX Vintage painted tin children's western wear sign. This sign advertises Tex Tan leathe...

In near mint and all original condition this vintage mechanical bank appeals to both sailing enthusiasts and bank collectors; perhaps a collector of "cat" memorabelia as well. The theme depicts two sailors riding their boat in full sail. It is quite substantial in both size and weight. To operate, (with the lever pushed all the way in from the left); place a coin vertically above the left arm of the sailor in red; from the right; push the lever all the way in. The sail and Boom hits the sailor, knocking him over as the coin drops into the bank. The other sailor moves forward while manning the tiller. The bank is named "Cat Boat...

Bob Matheny Allied Crafstmen of San Diego Sculpture, 2013 This unique sculpture, titled "Public Art That is Daring & Daringly Odd", signed and dated 2013 on the bottom, executed by ...

"Barnacle Bill" was a very popular cartoon character for whom this toy was named after and was made in the 1930's by the J. Chein Toy Company of New York City. There is some evidence...

"Grape Nuts" self framed tin sign is one of the most sought after advertising signs by collectors, especially in this near mint condition with bright colors...

Outstanding example of this iconic and highly sought after tin advertising sign made by the Shonk Company, Chicago, Illinois, circa 1906. The subject matter depicts a farm scene with...

This is one of the more popular "crazy car" toys and was designed by the iconic New York City Louis Marx Toy Company, Circa 1935, with the fascination of the American West and the st...

"Dancing Sailor" by Ernest Paul Lehman of Brandenburg, Germany; patented in 1903 (see image of marking) appears in post turn of the century Lehman Toy catalogues as item #535. After ...

"COO COO CAR" is the name of this "crazy car"; one of a series manufactured by the Louis Marx & Company iconic toy designer circa 1932; the company having been established in New Yor...

This is a very rare toy that I have not seen an example of before, and judging by it's action and appearance, I would venture to say it is post war, probably made in Japan for the American market (boy looks very American). I have called it "Smiling Boy Polishing Boots" which resembles the clockwork movement. To operate: hold the toy in the left hand with thumb on chest and then; wind up attached original key with the right hand several times; and release. With a smiling face, the boy will roll his head back and forth, while diligently shining his black boots, using an up and down motion with his right hand. The toy works quite well and will go on for some time. It is made up of several materials. The head, hands, and shoes are made of composition; it has a tin body; the clothes jersey, hat, and "falling" trousers" are made of fabric. The toy is in good original condition; some wear to boy's hat and jersey in back (see images), a slight "bend" to tinplate in the rear; but for the most part, the toy is very sturdy, works well, has a nice appearance, and wonderful charisma. This is a charming rare toy that operates as it should, and is a "must have" for collectors of post-war vintage wind up toys...