Featured Vintage mosaic table...folk art?

Discussion in 'Furniture' started by Bookahtoo, Jan 6, 2015.

  1. Bookahtoo

    Bookahtoo Moderator Moderator

    This table is about 18" across. The surface is uneven. It looks like it is made out of red clay pottery pieces. The colors are much brighter in person. I think it originally had a pedestal base. I'm thinking 1940s or 50s.
    I really like it - the pictures do not do it justice. What do you think? Would you call this folk art?

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  2. Bdigger

    Bdigger Well-Known Member

    I would have no problem calling it folk art, It looks like a home project to me. Interesting texture and design. I would probably look for a glass top to go over it not only to protect it, but to even the surface for use. JMHO
     
    spirit-of-shiloh likes this.
  3. clutteredcloset49

    clutteredcloset49 Well-Known Member

    I'm more inclined to think 1950s - 60s.
     
  4. spirit-of-shiloh

    spirit-of-shiloh Well-Known Member

  5. gregsglass

    gregsglass Well-Known Member

    Hi,
    Home made, cute. I had a friend in Oregon who had a 4'X8' sheet of plywood that had "tiled" pictures on it. Everyone who visited his house
    was required to glue a few tiles to the board, even if it was just a few inches of edging. It was a wonder to behold. Some of the small works of art were gorgeous some were like kindergarden art. The whole thing was
    just about finished last time I was there. He planned on hanging it in his hallway when done.
    greg
     
    spirit-of-shiloh likes this.
  6. springfld.arsenal

    springfld.arsenal Store: http://www.springfieldarsenal.net/

    Highly symbolic-bird sitting on blue plastic-handled meat skewer; symbology probably reaches back to ancient Egypt. Loosely interpreted: "If you can't eat the bird you want, eat the first bird that sits on your meat skewer; even though it may not taste good you will not starve as soon."
     
  7. all_fakes

    all_fakes Well-Known Member

    My Mom used to make things like this; Dad would make her a table or such, and she'd cover it in mosaics. I'd guess 50s also.
     
  8. Bev aka thelmasstuff

    Bev aka thelmasstuff Colored pencil artist extraordinaire ;)

    There was a woman on Ebay a few years ago that made stuff like this to sell. I had some old, broken dishes and sent them to her. This is older, but I think it's an amateur artisan project. Admittedly, the theme is odd. A bird on the fork is worth two in the spoon?
     
  9. Messilane

    Messilane Well-Known Member

    I don't think that is fork, I think that was just the best the person could do to show bird feet in mosaic.
    Other than that, I think they did a fairly good job of it.
     
    yourturntoloveit likes this.
  10. verybrad

    verybrad Well-Known Member

    I also think 50s-60s and more craft than folk art.
     
    yourturntoloveit likes this.
  11. Bookahtoo

    Bookahtoo Moderator Moderator

    Thanks for the comments everybody. I'm not sure if I'm keeping it yet.
    Do you have any suggestions for making the top a little glossier? Besides cleaning it?
     
  12. springfld.arsenal

    springfld.arsenal Store: http://www.springfieldarsenal.net/

    Do you have any suggestions for making the top a little glossier?

    Get 2-part epoxy resin, the transparent stuff. Make a liquid-proof circular dam around the tabletop edge that sticks up at least say an inch higher than the highest piece of ceramic. Get the tabletop perfectly level. Mix enough resin (you have of course carefully calculated how much you'll need) and pour inside dam until there's at least say 1/4 inch of resin above the highest ceramic piece and let it harden. 1/4 inch is just the minimum I'd recommend-make it deeper if u like, just be sure to have enuf resin onhand for the desired depth. Remove dam when stuff has hardened. Get an alcoholic beverage in a glass or bottle sitting on the table. Drink it. Now table is done and has been tested.
     
    Last edited: Jan 8, 2015
  13. silverthwait

    silverthwait Well-Known Member

    Just pretend you are making a souffle.

    :)
     
    Bev aka thelmasstuff likes this.
  14. Bookahtoo

    Bookahtoo Moderator Moderator

    I could do that Spring - thanks. But then I'd have this 1/4" or so level of resin above the metal edging. I guess that's okay.

    A cheesecake for me!
     
  15. verybrad

    verybrad Well-Known Member

    I would just clean it and apply a coat of paste wax. You could always put glass over it if you want a more smooth surface ...... and glass is shiny ;)

    As a second thought, I used to know this woman who used the self-shining floor cleaners on her furniture. (Something like Mop and Glow but think she used some other brand ..... Future?). Gave it a tremendous shine and didn't seem to hurt anything. I wonder if something like that would work on your table?
     
  16. verybrad

    verybrad Well-Known Member

    Figtree3 likes this.
  17. Bookahtoo

    Bookahtoo Moderator Moderator

    I'll try wax or Future first Brad - thanks.
    The whole epoxy resin process Spring suggests sounds kind of fun though.
     
  18. spirit-of-shiloh

    spirit-of-shiloh Well-Known Member

    ....or try a silicone spray to see how/if it shines :)
     
  19. all_fakes

    all_fakes Well-Known Member

    Now that you mention it, I think my Mom used to use floor or furniture wax or polish on the mosaic tables and such that she made.
     
  20. Dax

    Dax Indigo Guy.

    Typical 1960's. Retro & vintage stuff is the flavour of the month where I am.
     
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