The Richard Balzer Collection

Stumbled upon the Richard Balzer Collection a couple of months ago when I was searching for antique toys and games ~ this is a great site full of a great variety of visual entertainment of which are rarely seen. With names like The Magic Planisphere, The Zoetrope, The Ludoscope or Turning Heads, how could one not be curious? The site is divided into several sections ~ many include flash galleries where one can view the scenes or images in motion.

{The illusion of motion was created by viewing the designs on the card through the slotted disc ~ visit the flash gallery here.}

The Magic Window is a Phenakistascope, as is the Ludoscope shown above. From what I can discern, this type of toy all contained images on discs that were twirled in order to see the images move.

{See this in motion here.}

Shown above is a Praxinoscope ~ this appears to work by spinning the toy rather than any discs.

{Lovely graphics on a box cover for a tachyscope ~ an adaptation of the zoetrope}

Go here to see what you would view when using a zoetrope ~ you will arrive at the top image above. Click on the different designs to see what they look like in motion ~ then you will see an image like the second image EXCEPT it is moving! Not only is the movement pretty cool, the graphics are just gorgeous.

This type of amusement is called a Thaumatrope ~ see some examples in motion here.

{closeup of a disc from a phenakistascope}

The last two images are Turning Heads from the metamorphosis section ~ I have always been fascinated by this sort of thing ~ aren't these fabulous?! There is a great flash gallery in this section here ~ make sure to check it out.

{Autumn & Winter}

{Peace & War AKA Jeff Subdued & Jeff Rampant}

• All images from Richard Balzer Collection •

Old Summit Antique Show Highlights

{charming display of personalized items}

It has been awhile since I have posted some shots from an antique show I have attended ~ for that matter it has been longer than I realized since my last posting ~ time has just gotten away from me! It isn't that I haven't been going on my weekend antiquing trips, it is just that I have gotten lazy with preparing the photos ~ sooner or later I will get around to it, but maybe things won't end up being in chronological order ~ oh well, will that really matter?

{This would have been a great shot if I had moved that giant tag!}

Last weekend was the Old Summit Antique Show at John Knox Village ~ it is one of my favorite shows in the area ~ great antique dealers and lots of interesting and unique items to look at. The lighting in the auditorium is always a challenge when taking photos ~ I usually end up with quite a few duds, but that is what Photoshop is for!

As usual, as I sorted through the images I liked, I have ended up with a few themes: displays/vignettes that I admired, great graphics, alphabet items, and then just a couple of interesting things. So, in addition to those above, below are some more lovely vignettes I spotted at the show . . . .

{section of piano keys used as a backdrop}

{Sumptuously spooky settee}

Then there are always all the graphics to notice at these shows ~ it's a good thing I have a camera so that I can take all of them with me ~ I'd be in some serious trouble (not only would I be on Hoarders, but I would be in debt as well) if I bought all of the stuff I love! I don't even like black licorice, but if this box were sold with it, I would buy lots!

{amazing cast iron stove grill}

{Uncle Wiggily, not Uncle Wiggly as I had thought}

{box of vintage flash cards ~ some with silhouettes}

Alphabet items are also something I am always drawn to ~ this puzzle was kind of weird as the diecut pieces are an alphabet, but they don't seem to have any relationship to the image the puzzle makes. I also wondered why it is a "Victory" puzzle - perhaps it helped support the British troops?

{my favorite ~ just love this little tin alphabet plate!}

{sweet little beaded birds on a pincushion}

{hand stitched felt placemat ~ love the simplicity of this piece}

{can never resist anything with drawers or compartments ~ this would be great in a kitchen!}

{quirky price tag holder}

{whimseys ~ both big and small}

{Cool silver globe pieces ~ wish I had asked what they were used for}

Yikes, it is 1am ~ where did the night go?! Tomorrow morning I am planning on getting up early to go to Antiques on the Common ~ another fun antiques show held under tents out in the country ~ can't wait! I'm sure I will have some great things to share with you from this show too! Happy Weekend to all!

Medal worthy posters

Although I would never be mistaken as a sports fanatic, I do find myself watching and enjoying the Olympics ~ both summer and winter. With winter sports on my mind and another winter storm on the horizon, it seemed like a good time to share some vintage posters with that theme.

I love posters like the ones shown for their elegant yet simple design ~ I suppose they rather romanticize the sport and capture the feeling you have while watching someone ski, skate or sled. I was surprised to see that the posters for the 2010 Olympic Games have a similar elegance to the posters I have shown that are from early in the 1900's. Here are some more examples.

{barrel jumping ~ why isn't it an olympic event?!}

{looks like speed skaters used to be a bit older ~ or is his mustache just frozen?}

{such style!}

{posters from 2010 Vancouver Olympics}

I learned about poster art and developed a love for it while I was at art school ~ I was fortunate to be able to take two semesters of poster design taught by Chris Van Allsburg ~ you can see how it has influenced his work and mine.

Click on the images for sources ~ most of these posters are available as prints.
Enjoy the Olympics and the weekend!

Antique Assortment

Here is the last installment of images from the antique show I went to several weekends ago. As usual, I am drawn to vintage graphics and typography, folk art, and quirky items like the felt duck. It is always fun for me to come home after the show and go through the photos I took ~ I usually don't think or plan too much as far as what to take, but much of the time I end up with groups of similarly themed objects.

{sweet little girl's sled}

{box made from recycled boxes}

{unusual alphabet/men in uniform blocks}

{children's tin lunchbox}

{saucy felt duck pull toy}

{chippy paint at its best}

{girly glass shade}

{pretty pastel pottery}

{clever display}