1) Early cork devon-type large minnow, with wood fins and glass bead eyes secured to Ketch-Em frog harness, which was patented in 1904. Originally from the Dave Hoover Collection. 2) A folksy and primitive heavy duty pikie minnow type with glass eyes, thin carved lip and metal formed lip insertion. Two early folk art lures in patriotic colors.

Jeff Kieny Fishing Folk Art Collection
Author of Vintage Folk Art Fishing Lures and Patented Hooks, Harnesses and Bait-Holders

In the following few pages you will preview what is to date the largest collection of Fishing Folk Art ever assembled and held at public auction. It is only some fifty lots. This in itself speaks volumes to the infancy of this one fishing related collecting category.
Folk Art in any category is drawn to a certain collector. In fishing collectibles we usually have our guidelines. We collect based on colors, sizes, makers and so forth. The collector of folk art forges their own road to travel. The collector is seeking what they will only know when he or she sees it, because the deciding factor primarily is a keen sense to the eye and an inquisitive nature. The main question they will probably ask themselves while inspecting an object is "Is this appealing?" This is where the visual discretion comes into play, for if the answer is yes and they are correct other collectors will usually agree. Folk Art and homemade are interchangeable in a way. Both are homemade, both unique in design but the division is based on the aesthetics. An inquisitive nature is also a character the folk art collector needs to possess in order to make the right decisions. Collector's who have this trait will look at an item and ask themselves, "What was the maker thinking." A perfect example is the "Tommy Gun" offered later on in the collection. It is comprised of a fishing reel, a face of a grocery store scale, a door spring and pulleys mounted on board. WHAT? Yes, and the question is, "What was he thinking?" Maybe it could only be answered by the likes of a Rube Goldberg. The folk art shrimp is another example. The screw that holds the folded tail to the body is recessed and filed. Here the collector's eye will comment "More work than was needed in detail", while the inquisitive nature will ask "Why did he go through all that trouble?" In short the collector needs to arm themselves with these two attributes because instead of collecting colors, sizes and makers they are collecting based on form, shape, eye appeal, detail and design. To put is simply and to quote Mr. Kieny "The key word in folk art is art."
Whether you are a collector of Americana or fishing these items play an important role in both areas of collecting for the same reason. They tell a story of our history, whether as Americans or as fishermen. Back in the early part of the twentieth century some sportsman did not have the means to go to a store and purchase a lure from one of the big tackle manufacture makers. Instead, they would toil and whittle a copy or a design of their own. A potpourri of materials would be used to make these creations. Overcoming the obstacles of poverty, ingenuity, and the belief of some, of building a better mouse trap were the driving forces. If that isn't a way to describe ourselves as Americans I don't know what is.
Today we have contemporary craftsman included in this auction, who carry on the tradition of a by-gone day. There is C.B. Lewis, who only uses materials from the early part of the twentieth century anywhere from a vintage toilet tank liner to a U.S. Postal mailbag. Aage Bjerring's creations take on a totally different path all together. From the eye opening and grotesquely extreme to the traditional carving is testament to the wide range of talent shown in the two offerings here. Tom Christensen, C.E. Wilson, Bill Grossman and Dean Steffen, whose attention to details, colors and traditions will be collected and cherished long after we're gone.
I had spent over 60 hours of phone conversations with Jeff Kieny in writing the descriptions for this collection. In a collaborated effort we hope you enjoy reading through the items he has collected over the years. When I would hold an item in my hand and ask Jeff to describe it I can hear the love and passion in his voice. The curious nature that started him on this journey of collecting and the great stories of acquisitions and fellow collectors he has met along the way. Back in June, Jeff's life changed when he suffered a stroke. His optimistic nature gave him the strength that put him on the path of recovery. He is doing well now and is moving on to what he terms the next phase of his life. While still collecting folk art, he now divides some of his time with his latest passion, which is collecting memories with his grandkids. He still uses the same traits he used in collecting folk art tackle, an inquisitive mind and an eye to detail. We wish him all the best in his new hobby.