Mid-Century Prison Art Box from Cigarette Packs

A framed vintage oil on tin ex-voto retablo Arcangel San Miguel, Spanish Colonial Mexican religious folk art. Primitive hand-painted tin panel, marked Guanajuato, Mexico, dated 19??, offered to Arcangel San Miguel (Archangel Michael), with hand-written inscription in lower margin. Professionally framed and matted. An ex-voto is a votive offering to a saint or a divinity, given in fulfillment of a vow (hence the Latin term, short for ex voto suscepto, "from the vow made") or in gratitude or devotion. Usually praying for a family member or close friend, with pictorial depicting that persons situation. The term ex-voto is usually restricted to Christian examples. Ex-votos are placed in a church or chapel where the worshiper seeks grace or wishes to give thanks. The destinations of pilgrimages often include shrines with the walls decorated with ex-votos. Ex-votos can take a wide variety of forms. They are not only intended for the helping figure, but also as a testimony to later visitors of the received help. As such they may include texts explaining a miracle attributed to the helper, or symbols such as a painted or modeled reproduction of a miraculously healed body part, or a directly related item such as a crutch given by a person formerly lame. There are places where a very old tradition of depositing ex-votos existed, such as Abydos in ancient Egypt. Ex-voto paintings, especially in the Latin world, there is a tradition of votive paintings, typically depicting a dangerous incident which the offeror survived. The votive paintings of Mexico...

A wonderful vintage upholstered cartonnier by legendary American luxury artisans P.E. Guerin. Exquisitely hand-crafted in Greenwich Village, New York City in the mid 20th century, the monumental size cartonnier (French name for an ornamental box...

Paul Evans (1931-1987) American Brutalist industrial modern welded steel and copper, mixed metals patchwork and hardwood planter with rivet accents and removable metal insert. Can be used indoors or outdoors, with real plants or faux plants. Includes green styrofoam blocks for artificial plant use and natural stones for covering the top. Circa 1970 Dimensions: 26" High, 30" Wide, 11" Deep Please note, at the time of writing this, a matching coffee table is available separately. Please check our other listings or contact us to view it. Great original vintage condition. Strong, stable and structurally sound and in wonderful overall appearance; Age appropriate wear and tear, including minor scuffs, scattered scratches to wood panels and metal components. The black insert has fairly significant patinated weathered rustic oxidation consistent with age and indicative of use. The overall patina adds warmth and character to the overall aesthetic appeal and vintage authenticity. Biography: Paul Evans (American , 1927-1993) Born in Brooklyn, New York, Paul Evans is an American furniture designer and sculptor best known for his work in American Furniture design and the American craft movement. His work was influential to many furniture manufacturers in the second half of the 20th century, most notably Directional Furniture. He often used non-traditional materials and techniques like sculpted metal furniture. His work with Directional Furniture was extremely fruitful and during that time he started several series including their Argente, Sculpted Bronze, and Cityscape series. Evans started his career making copper chests and sculpted steel cabinets -- both of which are highly sought after today. Paul Evans’s work with Directional Furniture changed the relationship between creative directors and the companies they worked for. His name helped sell pieces, and he was consciously aware of that fact. As a proponent of modernism, Evans became an innovator in the furniture world. His patrons were often part of the New York elite, and he was able to enjoy sustained success, helped in large part by his ability to evolve with the times -- from craft-based in the 1950s to more flashy pieces in the 1970s and 1980s. His work was mostly recently featured at the Michener Art Museum and was the subject of a 2014 documentary. What kind of art does Paul Evans make? Paul Evans was primarily a furniture designer and sculptor. Though he started within the American Craft movement, Evans is hard to pin down stylistically. An expert metalworker and sculptor, several of Evans pieces were heavily influenced by the shipbuilding industry. As he moved through his career, his pieces became more stylistically diverse, but through it all there is a dedication to craft and function. Much of Evans work is best showcased in his work for Directional Furniture. He had several iconic lines including Patchwork Copper, Pewter and Brass, and the extremely popular CItyscape Series. In the 1980s, Evans branched off on his own with his Think Tank series. He opened his own showroom in New York City, but eventually retired in 1987. How did painter Paul Evans get started? Paul Evans was born on May 20th, 1931 in Newton, Pennsylvania. He studied sculpture and silversmithing at a number of colleges including the Philadelphia Textile Institute, the Rochester Institute of Technology, and the School for American Craftsmen. In the early 1950s, he attended the Cranbook Academy of Art in Michigan, later moving back to Pennsylvania to work with his mentor and guide, Phillip Loyd Powell. Together they began a business heavily influenced by the work of George Nakashima. Powell worked wood pieces, while Evans dedicated himself to metal. Evans burst onto the scene in the late 1960s and early 1970s as the American Craft movement exploded in popularity. From there he parlayed his popularity into a lucrative career with Directional Furniture. How much are Paul Evans pieces worth? Paul Evans furniture pieces can vary in value greatly, from a few thousand dollars on the low end to over $200,000 on the high end. In 2015 a Paul Evans wavy...

Maurice Heaton (1900-1990) designed enameled fused art glass charger plate with cosmos sunburst like enameled vortex design in rare rich blue color a...

A rare vintage pair of Italian modernist burled walnut bedside cabinets, circa 1940s. Born in Italy in the mid-20th century, fine quality craftsmanship, crafted in Art Deco style,...

A charming pair of vintage Mexican folk art hand carved and painted Infant Jesus religious figures. circa 1960 Handmade in Mexico, mid-20th centu...

Mid century three tiered prison folk art / tramp art model steam boat sculpture. Upcycled cardboard framing structure, matchstick exterior with glossy...

Mid 20th century Folk Art cowboy Rodeo Whirligig, circa 1940s to 50s, comprising four carved and painted cowboys mounted on horseback riding in a circle a...

An especially sweet four-drawer hand-carved "tramp art" box. The top is decorated with a symbolic heart and arrow, a common design element in Tramp Art. The drawers are embellished with porcelain knobs. Carved ladies boots...

Paul Edward Walker (American, b.1949) Box and fan signed on side P.E.W. ‘94 box: 8 ¾ inches wide by 5 ½ inches deep by 2 ½ inches tall Paul Walker is a Savannah, Georgia outside...

19th Century POW shoe snuff box We are proud to offer a 19th century POW carved wooden snuff box, The toenails have likely been replaced over time. T...

An antique tramp art box. A beautiful & early piece of tramp art, intricately layered in the traditional manner with notch carved wooden strips & finished with a pressed brass lion r...