Pretty Pictures

When Art Becomes Contageous

There’s something great about Flea Markets. If you search long enough, you always find what you’re looking for (even if you didn’t know you were looking for it). Today was just such a day. After my preliminary walk through the various isles of assorted trinkets and antique picture frames, I stumbled on a vendor starting to pack-up his wares. Stacked on a plastic bin next to his blue station wagon was an old looking, weathered wooden box.

A cheerful fellow in dark Rayban sunglasses came over and told me that he bought the box from a garage sale on 9th Avenue in the Sunset district (somehow every discovery we make traces back to this neighborhood!). The box dates back to 1908, and was purchased from the great nephew of the artist, a man named R.O. Randall. Evidently, Mr. Randall was a young engineer from Beeville, Texas that died during the great Influenza pandemic that killed between 20 and 40 million people world-wide.

Interestingly, the artist wrote the exact date the piece was completed: January 1st, 1908. He even recorded the time of day! Why does the handwriting from this period always look so cool?

Note the dovetail wood joints popular during this period.

Hopefully the virus becomes inactive after almost 100 years. Otherwise, I may be the first modern day casualty.

What’s most striking about the piece is the crudely drawn flags on the front. What a great example of early 20th century American folk art.

Sweet!