The Allee Willis Museum of Kitsch

Scottish Terrier Guatemalan Souvenir Box

Not sure why a Scottish Terrier is the mascot on this tacky wooden box from Guate-friggin’-mala, but logic and souvenirs don’t o...

June 12, 2010 by Douglas Wood

Vintage Cello-Playing Pixie Toothpick Holder

Cellos aren’t exactly the most whimsical of musical instruments, but stick a grinning pixie character next to one, and voila– it...

June 11, 2010 by Douglas Wood

Why did the chicken drive across the road?

I frequently pass this parked car on Saturday mornings when I hit the garage sales in Santa Monica and Venice and always regret I don’...

June 9, 2010 by Douglas Wood

8 comments

Village People Wannabees – Ceramic Planters

No, these are not floats in a West Hollywood Gay Pride parade, they’re vintage (1940’s) Native American ceramic planters. The Mo...

June 8, 2010 by Douglas Wood

The Military on Less than a Dollar a Day

I bought this cheesy pair of toy binoculars at the 99 Cent store, mostly because I liked the bad translation, “Simulating the true sty...

June 7, 2010 by Douglas Wood

Vintage Horny Newlyweds Napkin

I love the bizarre combination of vintage anthropomorphized whimsey with newlywed lust. I think the point this cloth napkin is trying to mak...

June 6, 2010 by Douglas Wood

“Season-al” Skillets

Don’t let your eyes deceive you. These are not real skillets, but 5″ (in length) vintage salt and pepper shakers....

June 5, 2010 by Douglas Wood

Contortionist Kite-Flying, String-holding Boy

This is another vintage ceramic piece I bought at California Pottery expert and artist Jack Chipman’s estate sale. I’m pretty su...

June 4, 2010 by Douglas Wood

6 comments

Bodacious, Blue-Eyed, Blue-Bootied, Bowling Ball Baby

My favorite element of this vintage figurine is the real safety pin that’s been slipped through the ceramic. I also like that the baby...

June 3, 2010 by Douglas Wood

Blow-Charlie-Blow Wire Brush Musician

This musician figure is made out of metal and sports a wire brush head. On the base is hand-painted, “Blow Charlie Blow,” a phra...

June 2, 2010 by Douglas Wood

Chip n’ Dip California Pottery Alien Face

This alien face is proof that artists see things that regular folk don’t. The resourceful artist in this case is Jack Chipman, who is ...

June 1, 2010 by Douglas Wood

It’s Kitzchy with a “Z”…

The time it took designer Jonathan Adler to create this pair of needlepoint (!) pillows of Liza Minnelli and her (now ex-) husband David Ges...

May 25, 2010 by Douglas Wood

6 comments

A Coke is a Coke is a Coke

Combine the world’s most iconic flower and the world’s most iconic soft drink and you have the above, a Coke rose. The rose is m...

May 24, 2010 by Douglas Wood

Bankers Banks- Muy gordo!

These fat bankers are actually fat banks. They’re made in Mexico, of plaster, and each one has a slot in the back of the neck, but no ...

May 22, 2010 by Douglas Wood

Water Retaining Salt & Pepper Shakers

These bizarre little figures stand about one inch and a half off the ground and are salt and pepper shakers. I was told they’re from G...

May 21, 2010 by Douglas Wood

Fun Fungus Salt & Pepper Shakers

I love the simplicity of these vintage (1970’s?) form-follows-function mushroom salt and pepper shakers. They’re made of wood an...

May 20, 2010 by Douglas Wood

New York License Plate Purse

We all know prisoners make license plates, but that’s so yesterday. I like to think this license plate purse could’ve been made ...

May 18, 2010 by Douglas Wood

Anime Pastry Characters from Japan

I bought these affable looking wooden characters at a garage sale solely because the guy with the bread head made me laugh. After some Inter...

May 17, 2010 by Douglas Wood

Anatomically Correct Devil Couple

I know so little about cars, I could be way off-base, but I think the bulk of these metal devil characters is made from some sort of car par...

May 15, 2010 by Douglas Wood

Bargain Hunter Warning in Verse

Whoa– what a mean-spirited little retail rhyme this is! Apparently this verse and illustration are intended to curtail over-eager shop...

May 14, 2010 by Douglas Wood

Vintage Martini Measurer by Mr. Woodpecker

This is a vintage Martini Measurer made by Mr. Woodpecker – “The Barkeep Line.” Each end has a ceramic measurer in which t...

May 13, 2010 by Douglas Wood

Vintage Ostrich by Josef Originals

This ostrich figurine was made by Josef Originals which produced a lot of these ceramic chotchkes in the fifties and sixties. I particularly...

May 11, 2010 by Douglas Wood

Sudden Veil Lift by World-famous Harpist

The “direction booklet” to this skin product boasts its product as “Sensational as a Drama!” How could any woman res...

May 10, 2010 by Douglas Wood