Vintage Folk Tramp Art Pop Bottle Cap Black Face Doll with Bowls

Collectibles : Folk Art

 

This hilarious bit of folk art sculpture is composed of pop bottle caps for the arms and legs; it has a 3/4" wood block body with 3 flat round red thumbtacks as buttons. There is a dowl with aluminum wire coiled around the neck (like some African tribe necklaces...) and the head is the same 3/4" thick wood with black dots painted on white tacks for eyes, and loops at each ear with 1" white plastic circle hoops for earrings, and a 3/4" red circle which looks like a mouth on the front.

There are two bowls on this, one balanced (well, nailed into) the head, while the other is anchored to the waistline with one screw, and is held in dangling pipe cleaner hands for balance. They are lightweight metal (probably aluminum) and are about 5" across, and about 1.5" deep. They are that old shine-y (well, at ONE time it was shiney) green metalic look paint.

All this is on a 5.25" circular wood block base which has felt glued to the bottom. Overall, it stands about 13.5" tall. Some one took some time making this, too...look! Both of the top caps on the legs are bright yellow (like a Squirt cap would be, maybe...) and the ones at her wrists are both Pepsi.

Some of the labels on the caps are: Marshalltown Coca Cola Botttling Company, Seven Up Bottling Company, The Pepsi Cola General Bottlers Inc. Chicago..., Bottled by Ames Dr..., Bottled under the authority of Pepsi Cola..., Mid Continent...

One of my friends thought this might have been an ashtray... but I like to think of it as more of a serving dish, myself...like for calamata olives...or cashews...OR!! it could be an entire garnish server!! You know, olives & onions on toothpicks in one...cherries, oranges and pineapple wedges in the other! Of course, the bowls would need to be lined with a plastic bowl, but WHAT A HOOT for that next backyard barbeque or late night cocktail party!

I have no idea if this was a class project, or a kit, or something someone made up on a rainy day, but it is cute as pie, and would be a terrific addition to a funky folk art inspired home or office...or bar. Needs some tlc, but we are selling as is with all its charm intact.

Item ID: FA-006