From Yoakum, Texas, which began life as a railway town and is now the leather capital of the state, comes this vintage whirligig that features a delightfully different subject: a black cowboy on a bucking mule.
As the photos show, this is a whirligig that was actually used. Over the years, it’s had its share of make-do repairs, but it’s still in working condition. Hand crafted of cut sheet metal, the figures are painted on both sides and still retain most of their original paint.
I love the unusual subject, the colors and the overall form, which makes for a great piece of folk art. Newly mounted on a custom stand. Probably dates to the 1930s. Dimensions are 37-1/2” l X 36-1/2” h X 3-3/4” d. From a Texas collection.
SOLS