Fun House Extravaganza

The final Fun House Salon. Art, philanthropy, Alabama art, Penland Art, feminist art, black art, literature, craft and collecting... a Salon of beauty and expression. A veritable museum... with price tags.

The home is filled with decades of patronage of artists you know, artists you don't and artists who are household names. Dorothy Altman “Tut” Riddick and Harry Riddick founded museums, served their communities during WWII, and didn't simply live in a South that evolved... they helped evolve it. Along the way these shepherds of American Craft, Alabama Art, Southern Women, Black art, and the people of Mobile and York, Alabama left a legacy of wonder and love. Via art museums, art education, craft patronage they patronized artists. Through this support they acquired by purchase and gift thousands of works, now available!

The home and landscape is an assemblage, happening and curated experience decorated inside and out with works by Tut Riddick and the many artists orbiting the art world in Mobile, New Orleans, Alabama, Mississippi, Penland, NC and across the world. Thirty summers at the legendary Penland School of Crafts in North Carolina, befriending and corresponding with other artists, and collecting at the annual auction resulted in a massive trove including art jewelry, letter press and private press books, prints, ceramics, glass, furniture, textiles and more.

Tut and Harry were early, or the earliest patrons of many, including potter Charles Smith, printer Amos Kennedy, sculptors Frank Fleming and Casey Downing, furniture makers Dale Evans and Wendell Castle, photographer Clarence John Laughlin, and many more of national recognition.

Tut was a painter, sculptor, photographer and poet. Her relationships were in both the visual and literary worlds. Books, more books, and puppets and dolls from Termite Hall, an extraordinary Carlos Shiney Moon, an extraordinary August Trovalioli and signed first editions of local history books that those who love Mobile but think of Tut's collections as only “contemporary” will regret if their friends get to them first. Lovers of words, there are more quality art books, poetry books, local history than most open to the public bookstores. Ever full of life, Tut shared her insights. A favorite section of the library is dubbed “Uppity Women,” of course, full of books by and about strong women. She was, after all, both a beauty queen and a debate champion, a perfect fit with Harry, WW2 officer and Harvard graduated attorney.

Queen Tut, “Godmother of Art,” in Mobile and York, painted, sculpted, created mosaics, photography, screen printing, and wrote incessantly. Avid reader and observer, Tut never stopped creating and never lost faith in the power of art and of God. Nor, did she ever fail to share her wisdom and resources. Her support of artists in the Black Belt is legendary and her fashion, textiles, jewelry, and hats are glorious works of art, also available. No need to fly to San Francisco or drive to New Orleans this fall. It's all here. Tut's closet is full. Handcrafted clothing including Black Belt Designs in York, AL, purses, and hats from across the world from vintage to Kafi caps.

Art nestles in every corner and linear inch of this MCM home. Tut Riddick, Carlos Shiney Moon, Charles Smith, Chuck Solberg, Jane Peiser, Bertice McPherson, Shearwater Pottery, Jere Allen, Barbara Collins, Fred Marchman, Wendell Castle, Dale Evans, Rene Magritte, Robert Willson, Frank Fleming and more. A picture is worth a thousand words, so what's a thousand pictures worth? Just look! The scale and quality of several regional auctions under one roof, priced and by mid-day Saturday potentially negotiable, with price points from a few dollars to staggering. All prices fair, a once in a lifetime event.

The sale includes furniture, paintings, ceramics, glass, linens, garden accessories, iron, art jewelry, fine jewelry, hand crafted art clothing, vintage and hand-crafted hats, clothes, mid-century modern, an extensive library of books including literature art reference, and more. From export Imari Porcelain to signed Italian Murano glass vases and studio furniture, there is something amazing for collectors, connoisseurs and decorators of all tastes and interests.

No beautiful home functions without the practical necessities. And, they can be a great value for any shopper. From holiday decorations, to such practical items as a washer, dryer, or a microwave... come along to shop and join the fun and celebration, it's all for sale!

As always, keep checking back for more photos during set up. We look forward to seeing you at another great Uncommon Artifacts Estate Services LLC sale!

Please be courteous and do not block driveways and respect the residents' roadway. The driveway will be blocked for pickups only.