Midwest Peculiar

11/11/2025

Kaleidoscopic. Exuberant green-tied crazy quilt with multicolored stitching. Unusual diagonal strips of velvet, silk, wool + satin converge to dazzling, mesmerizing effect. Perfectly-imperfect ca early 20th-c textile; significant blue satin loss and lesser damage to several other fabrics. 65” x 75-1/2”. Navy wool twill border and green + pink flannel backing (backing appears newer than top). Found in Missouri. DM for condition photos + price.

11/04/2025

11/02/2025

— s o l d — High-contrast, tactile wool men’s suiting quilt. Sunny yellow stitching pops against rows of somber solid + patterned brown, black, navy + gray rectangular blocks. Graphically-compelling ca 20th-c textile, generously scaled at 66” x 77”. Black cotton backing. Excellent condition; only two missing stitches. DM with questions or to purchase.

10/03/2025

A homemade Halloween mask from 1965.

Credit: Kirk Moreland

09/22/2025

09/18/2025

Battered + white paint-splattered ochre round metal stool. 23-1/2” H x 11” W, interestingly misshapen. Found in Illinois. $75 + shipping

Brilliantly-colored mountain landscape with a naive quality, possibly painted by a self-taught artist. 16-1/2” W x 14” H; black wood frame appears original. Found in Missouri. $65 + shipping.

DM to purchase.

09/05/2025

Unexpected congratulatory penciled notes make this wooden ratchet (loud clacking) noisemaker stand out.

Carefully written in cursive: Souvenir of November 20 — 20% Wed. Y.M.C.A. Campaign. 20 days, $20,000 to raise.
Added below: Did we? Well I guess we did. Raised $22,173.

Found in MO.; may have come from NC. 9”L x 6” W x 2” H. Available.

08/21/2025

An avid sailor, summer camper or wood shop student may have made this simple, graphically-compelling sailing ship. Unexpected tree bark-like painted plywood surface. Solid black-painted base + handle connecting the sides. Interesting vernacular piece, found in Southern Illinois. 15”H x 19”W x 7-1/2”D. DM for more info.

08/13/2025

08/12/2025

Uncommon multilayered tramp art frame with mirror + carved easel back. May have been used as a shaving mirror. Easel back is adjustable + removable. Ca late 19th-early 20th-c. 13”H x 11”W x 2” D. Condition commensurate with age + use. DM with questions or to purchase.

08/10/2025

Wired. Sculptural old wire horse or livestock weaning muzzle, 9” H x 9-1/2” W. Mid-West Wire folding table with raised edges + x-braces, likely designed for grocery store display (a single small + unobtrusive metal stamp reads Wonder Bread). Mid-20th c, 24” H, 21” W, 24” H. Both pieces found in rural Illinois. DM with questions or to purchase.