298. MINI-ALTAR VESSELS

Miniatures are a big collecting field in the U.S.--there are dolls, furniture, figurines, decor of all sorts--all in Lilliputian size, available to collectors. This set of altar vessels are more unusual, in that they are seldom seen, and if made available, carry quite a hefty price tag.  Standing no more than 4 inches tall, the set includes a pair of cruets, ciborium, chalice and what seems to be a reliquary or a monstrance.

Made of cast metal plated in bronze, the sacred vessels date from the early 1900s and were made in France. Similar ones, of pewter or tin, were also manufactured in Germany. Though small, the vessels are highly detailed, with "repousse" designs on their bases. They were designed for use in home altar, for a priest's altar table or even for dollhouses.

Examples sold on ebay are indivudually priced anywhere from $20-$250 each, but I was lucky to stumble upon this 5-piece set, with a very low starting bid. At the end of the bidding period, I had them all for just under $60! Sing hallelujah to the Lord!

297. CROSS IN A BOTTLE

 An interesting bottled whimsey that gives a fresh spin to the usual "ship-in-a-bottle" folk art. This crucifixion bottle, an ebay pick, dates from the early 20th century, and is quite an elaborate creation, featuring almost all the symbols of Christ's passion, all carved and cut from pine.

 The focal point of the bottle is a large serrated cross, and each facet shows allegorical and symbolic carvings such as a ladder, an anchor, a heart, a cross, and miniature crosses.

 This side of the bottle shows a rooster (associated with Peter's denial of Christ), a lance, a hammer, and a whip.

Turn the bottle around and you will see a pair of crossed swords, a shovel and a spear. The cross itself is trimmed with 3 criss-crossed serrated bars. Crucifixon bottles, as these are called in Europe and the U.S. were favorite folk art crafts done by local artisans and ordinary people during their spare time. There are also crucifixion bottles from the Philippines which were believed to have been made by Bilibid prisoners as part of their rehabilitation program. Regardless, all these bottles were made by deft and steady hands, requiring patience and many hours of perseverance to complete such folksy, collectible bottled art.

296. Lord of the Tangles: TARZAN HAIR PRODUCT LABELS

An essential to manly good grooming in the 50s is a thick dab of pomada on your hair to keep hair licks in place and give your mane a noticeably brilliant sheen. Pomades like Brilliantine, Glo-Co, Bryllcreem, Verbena and Three Flowers were the leading brands of the day--guaranteed to turn one into a Rudolph Valentino, Clark Gable, James Dean or Elvis Presley.

One other popular brands was TARZAN, which not only manufactured a pomade (the greasy stuff was bottled in a small clear glass with a an aluminum cap) but also a whole line of hair grooming products like quality hair tonics and lotions--as these colorful labels show. The graphics are bold, the colors brilliant and the illustrations art deco-ish.

The brand name makes an allusion to the shiny, elegant locks of the Lord of the Jungle, exemplified by Johnny Weissmuller, who swang from tree to tree--always with hair in place. But while Tarzan had a lush head, but have you ever noticed that he has non-existent facial hair? I wonder why.

295. Toby or Not To Be: JESTER CHARACTER CUP

I couldn't help but stare back at  this character mug when I chanced upon it at a Makati thrift shop. Fairly small, with some crazing, it looked definitely old, reminiscent of the toby mugs of yore depicting a character in history. Technically, a toby jug depicts a whole person, while a character jug shows just the face, but these ceramic creations share one thing in common--they are all highly collectible!

This example is unmarked--Royal Doulton currently makes the most desirable toby cups and jugs--but the finish of this face jug is superb, the colors vivid and appealing. So off  it went to my collection of kitschy ceramics, that includes dozens of lady head vases. I'll probably use this cup, so every time I drink my coffee, I can face-off with this cool, jester dude from the 50s!!

294. MOD PIXIE PAIR

I couldn't help but be charmed by the sight of this pair of mod porcelain couple. They definitely exude a genuine 1960s vibe--from the pixie (or Twiggy) haircut of the girl to the fashionable Carnaby outfit of the cross-legged dandy. I assume that these are cake toppers, although they have separate bases. Too bad I have no use for this winsome vintage pair, when everything was mad about mod!

293. Look Who's Talking: DANNY O'DAY VENTRILOQUIST DOLL

Of the many kinds of dolls available to a collector, none elicits more interest than ventriloquist dolls that found fame in Hollywood, starting with Charlie McCarthy of Edgar Bergen. Quick to follow was "Danny O'Day", a creation of Jimmy Nelson (b. December 15, 1928). At age 10, he was given a toy ventriloquist's dummy named "Dummy Dan" won by an aunt in a Bingo game. Jimmy learned ventriloquism, and a year later, began taking "Dan" to school. From school performances, he joined amateur talent contests which he consistently won, prompting him to start a professional career.

In 1945, Nelson asked Frank Marshall, a famed maker of ventriloquist dolls (he had made Charlie McCarthy and Jerry Mahoney)  to make him a professional-quality dummy. Marshall sold Nelson a custom-made dummy, which Nelson named Danny O'Day. "Danny O'Day" became a hit when Nelson took his act in nationwide tours.

This vintage 24" 1967 Danny O'Day Ventriloquist Dummy Doll was made by Juro Novelty Co. The ventriloquist is in good used condition. There are signs of use/age but overall doesn't look bad.  The string opens the mouth as it should but the mouth does not close on its own. Despite its flaws, Danny O'Day makes a great display piece, an icon from the past when the world was entertained by talking dolls!

292. TOY FLAT IRON & IRONING BOARD

A Philippine-made ironing set--inclusive of a "pakabayo"(ironing board made of painted plywood) and a small flat iron (plantsa) made of thin brass. This child's toy is realistically constructed, and the ironing board even folds for storing--just like the real thing. The tiny plantsa can be opened, just like a real coal-fed pressing iron. Children's play sets such as these were locally made and peddled by ambulant vendors around town--in areas like the church, during fiestas and market days. This rare toy was found on the biggest buy-and-sell online shop, sulit.com.ph.