The Musician – 1887
By Léon François Comerre, French Academic School. I think this familiar looking instrument comes from Africa via the Arabic world and is generally called a tanbūr. A sort of distant uncle to the...
View Article“The Travelling Tinker” by John Burr
A painting by the Scottish artist John Burr (1831-1893). Tinkers were originally tinsmiths or "tinners". One of many itinerant jobs pursued by a class of casual laborers. These were mostly skilled...
View ArticleInterior of a Mechanic’s Workshop
I have stared at this painting for quite some time. There is a lot to unpack from this one if you have any interest in hand tools. This image is of a very organized workshop of a master craftsman...
View ArticleBike Trekker – Allen Hastings Fry
Despite how much I like this photo, I have held off posting this image here because I couldn't find any attribution or further information about this gentleman and his fine bicycle. I came across it...
View ArticlePresent Mood, Introspective
I have always liked this image. It speaks to me... From the description of the Walters Art Museum: "In this work, the artist depicts the figure in such a way that most of his face is obscured,...
View ArticleSeven Years at a Time…
An old look at the life of man - Seven years to childhood's sport and play, Seven years in school from day to day, Seven years at Trade or College life, Seven years to find a Virtuous Wife. Seven years...
View ArticleEighth of January
The Battle of New Orleans, 8 January 1815 - "On January 8, 1815, Major General Andrew Jackson led a small, poorly-equipped army to victory against eight thousand British troops at the Battle of New...
View ArticleInterior with Fisherwives
I spend far too much time sifting through on-line art galleries and images. We have unprecedented access to these things as never before in history. I recommend, for your sanity, take a little time...
View ArticleTraveler’s Wallet
Once again, I am producing some large, traveler's wallets. While some are waiting their finishing touches, here's the first of six. They are all of the same general size and design but each has some...
View ArticlePenny Farthing
A ridiculous, yet somehow attractive machine. Slightly less ridiculous for the average person than a unicycle.
View ArticleTraveler’s Life
Getting back to our theme of traveler's, caravans, and other wanderers of the world... a few images from Pascal Dagnan-Bouveret a French Naturalist Painter of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. I...
View ArticleHome Carpentry
As usual, an interesting old find posted on the Lost Arts Press. It’s worth a read. “It is doubtless the timidity of woman which restrains her mending instincts. She dreads the saw and the chisel as...
View ArticleHow to Improvise and Use a Three Stick Roycroft Pack Frame
Thanks to Survival Sherpa for posting this look at making a pack frame. Making a quick, three stick pack frame is a valuable bit of knowledge. How serendipitous that this came up (seems to be a lot...
View ArticleColony Exports
There was a time when Britannia accidentally ruled the world through commerce... Other European nations partook of the colonization of vulnerable lands with massive resources as well, tying the world...
View ArticlePrototyping a New Belt Pouch
I'm calling this one the Ranger Bag - It takes a lot of work to prototype a new bag design. To get just the right shape and proportion, find the right materials, and choose the appropriate construction...
View ArticleFrom the Magazine “Work” March 1, 1890
When setting up shop it is important to set your tools and surfaces to the optimal working height. Here is some advice for setting up your mechanic's vise for best use. Now, get to work...
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