Snap Wyatt Paintings & Artwork for Sale | Snap Wyatt Art Value Price Guide

Aug. 25, 2024
Betty Broadbent Tattooed Lady Sideshow Banner by Snap Wyatt (Tampa, Florida, ca. 1960)
Est: $10,000 - $15,000
Betty Broadbent Tattooed Lady Sideshow Banner by Snap Wyatt (Tampa, Florida, ca. 1960) An exceptional hand-painted banner used by famed tattooed lady Betty Broadbent (1909-1983). Attributed to the unmistakable hand of Snap Wyatt (1905-1984), Tampa, Florida, ca. 1960. Oil on canvas with original leather corners and metal rings. In 1926, at age sixteen, Betty Broadbent began the painful process of having her body tattooed for exhibition. Bowery skin artists Charlie Wagner and "Sailor Joe" Van Hart completed the work over the course of two winters at Wagner's studio at 11 Chatham Square. Betty spent the next four decades performing with some of the largest shows in the world, including Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey and Clyde Beatty Circus. When hemlines began to rise, she called on tattoo artists Jack Redcloud and Bert Grimm to add to her stunning body suit. Redcloud also built her a tattoo kit, allowing Betty to work as a tattoo artist in the 1930s in Montreal, San Francisco, and New York. Her popularity reached new heights in 1939, when, as a publicity stunt, she participated in a beauty pageant at the New York World's Fair. Betty retired at the end of the 1967 season, but did not fade into obscurity. In 1981, she became the first person inducted into Lyle Tuttle's newly-established Tattoo Hall of Fame.
Bray & Co. Auctions
Jul. 11, 2024
WYATT, Snap (1905 – 1984). Oh My But She Is Fat. Tampa: Sna...
Est: $2,000 - $4,000
WYATT, Snap (1905 – 1984). Oh My But She Is Fat. Tampa: Snap Wyatt Studios, ca. 1950s. Painted canvas sideshow banner. 116 x 114”. Signed lower right. Freaks, Geeks & Strange Girls, p. 89. Collection of Jim Secreto.
Potter & Potter Auctions Inc.
Jul. 11, 2024
WYATT, Snap (1905-1984). World’s Strangest People / The Las...
Est: $8,000 - $12,000
WYATT, Snap (1905-1984). World’s Strangest People / The Last of the Big Sideshows / Oddities Past and Present. Sideshow Banner. Tampa: Snap Wyatt Productions: circa 1940s/50s. Paint on canvas. Enormous sideshow banner depicting a variety of “freaks,” including a three-legged man, armless woman, bearded lady, fat man, donkey-headed woman, a tiny couple, and conjoined twins. This banner also features nudity, which was rarely, if ever, used in advertisements to attract the general public. Approximately 102 x 360” (8 ½ x 30 feet) Expected wear from age and exposure. Long closed tear along right border.
Potter & Potter Auctions Inc.
Aug. 06, 2022
SNAP WYATT - "WORLD'S STRANGEST PEOPLE"
Est: $6,000 - $9,000
SIDESHOW BANNER BY SNAP WYATT TITLED "WORLD'S STRANGEST PEOPLE, THE LAST OF THE BIG SIDE SHOWS, ODDITIES PAST AND PRESENT". DEPICTIONS OF THREE-LEGGED MAN, ARMLESS WOMAN, BEARDED LADY, FAT MAN, DWARF COUPLE AND SIAMESE TWINS. THIS LARGE AND IMPRESSIVE BANNER IS 7'X31'. SIGNED. BANNER DOES HAVE SHOW WEAR AS EXPECTED FOR AGE AND USE.
Freedom Auction Company
Apr. 30, 2022
WYATT, Snap (1905-1984). Riverview Park “Palace of Wonders”...
Est: $8,000 - $12,000
WYATT, Snap (1905-1984). Riverview Park “Palace of Wonders” Sideshow Banner. Tampa: Snap Wyatt Productions, ca. 1950s. Paint on canvas. Sideshow banner depicting a variety of “freaks,” among them a sword swallower, magician, an armless woman, and fire-eater, with a central medallion depicting a two-faced woman. 82 x 238”. Expected wear from age and exposure. Chicago’s Riverview Park opened on July 2, 1904, in the Roscoe Village neighborhood. Throughout its 63 years of existence over 200 million people passed through its iconic castle-esque gates, with the Palace of Wonders among its most popular attractions. Following the park’s closure in 1967 its contents went to the auction block, with the majority of them failing to sell. Among those pieces which did survive was the Riverview Carousel, still in operation today at Atlanta’s Six Flags Over Georgia and now on the National Register of Historic Places. Snap Wyatt was one of the most prolific and popular painters of the sideshow era, renowned for his bold use of color and the sheer scale of his creations.
Potter & Potter Auctions Inc.
Apr. 30, 2022
WYATT, Snap (1905-1984). Riverview Park “Palace of Wonders”...
Est: $8,000 - $12,000
WYATT, Snap (1905-1984). Riverview Park “Palace of Wonders” Sideshow Banner. Tampa: Snap Wyatt Productions, ca. 1950s. Paint on canvas. Sideshow banner from Chicago’s Riverview Park, depicting a variety of “freaks,” among them a fire eater, a strong man, and others, with a central medallion depicting a two-faced woman. 84 x 312”. Expected wear from age and exposure. Chicago’s Riverview Park opened on July 2, 1904, in the Roscoe Village neighborhood. Throughout its 63 years of existence over 200 million people passed through its iconic castle-esque gates, with the Palace of Wonders among its most popular attractions. Following the park’s closure in 1967 its contents went to the auction block, with the majority of them failing to sell. Among those pieces which did survive was the Riverview Carousel, still in operation today at Atlanta’s Six Flags Over Georgia and now on the National Register of Historic Places. Snap Wyatt was one of the most prolific and popular painters of the sideshow era, renowned for his bold use of color and the sheer scale of his creations. Literature: Chuck Wlodarczyk, Riverview: Gone But Not Forgotten (1904-1967), p. 23 (illustration). A copy of this book is included with the lot.
Potter & Potter Auctions Inc.
Aug. 12, 2021
Snap Wyatt, (American, 1905-1984), AKO Alive., oil on unstretched canvas, 108" x 102"
Est: $1,000 - $2,000
Snap Wyatt (American, 1905-1984) AKO Alive. oil on unstretched canvas signed lower left 108" x 102" Provenance: Carl Hammer Gallery, Chicago, Illinois Acquired from the above by the present owner
Toomey & Co. Auctioneers
Jun. 26, 2021
WYATT, Snap (American, 1905-1984). Facts, Fakes, Freaks Sid...
Est: $1,500 - $2,000
WYATT, Snap (American, 1905-1984). Facts, Fakes, Freaks Sideshow Banner. Painted canvas. A line-up of masked, nude and scantily clad women adopt a variety of poses to lure curious visitors to the attraction. 332 x 102”. Expected wear from age and exposure. Snap Wyatt was one of the most prolific and popular painters of the sideshow era, renowned for his bold use of color and the sheer scale of his creations.
Potter & Potter Auctions Inc.
Feb. 23, 2020
Painting, Snap Wyatt
Est: $2,000 - $4,000
******THE CATALOG SHOULD READ: 124"w Snap Wyatt (American, 1905-1984), "Tattooed Girl," oil on canvas, signed lower right, titled verso, canvas (unframed): 80"h x 224"w. Provenance: Purchased at Riverview Park, Chicago, IL
Clars Auctions
Nov. 20, 2019
SNAP WYATT "BLOCK HEAD" CIRCUS BANNER.
Est: $1,500 - $3,000
This is a circus or sideshow banner painted and signed by the artist Snap Wyatt. Snap Wyatt was a prolific painter of circus banners and created a substantial number of banners over the years. He was known for his speed and bold, cartoon-like style. His banners were painted with quick caricatures, and only the essential details of the performer were outlined in black to make them stand out. The bright and colorful banners drew in the crowd with the mystery of circus excitement and surprise. Wyatt is considered to be among the top in his field. This "Block Head" banner is 8' by 10", and is in all original condition and signed by the artist. Bright color with little fading, with good definition to the artist signature. It has some repairs to the canvas and to the eyelets used in hanging, but a wonderful survivor by a great circus poster painter. Last offered for sale at Guerney's Coney Island Auction in 1988. Condition (Good). Dimensions 108" x 118".
Morphy Auctions
Nov. 20, 2019
SNAP WYATT "ALLIGATOR SKIN MAN" CIRCUS BANNER.
Est: $1,500 - $3,000
This is a circus or sideshow banner painted and signed by the artist Snap Wyatt. Snap Wyatt was a prolific painter of circus banners and created a substantial number of banners over the years. He was known for his speed and bold, cartoon-like style. His banners were painted with quick caricatures and only the essential details of the performer were outlined in black to make them stand out. The bright and colorful banners drew in the crowd with the mystery of circus excitement and surprise. Wyatt is considered to be among the top in his field. This "Alligator Skin Man" banner is 8' by 10", in all-original condition and signed by the artist. Bright color with little fading, good definition to the artist signature. It has repairs to the canvas and to the eyelets used in hanging, but a wonderful survivor by a great circus poster painter. Last offered for sale at Guerney's Coney Island Auction in 1988. Condition (Good). Dimensions 105" x 118".
Morphy Auctions
May. 07, 2019
Snap Wyatt 'Alive' Sideshow Banner
Est: $2,000 - $4,000
Snap Wyatt 'Alive' Sideshow Banner 1940s Painted canvas banner, signed Snap Wyatt (lr). Height 6 feet 9 inches, width 9 feet 10 inches. One of the best-known and most widely collected of the sideshow banner painters, David C. "Snap' Wyatt created banners throughout the 1940s and 50s, employing bold colors and heavy black outlines. Wyatt studied at Cooper Union, and following WWII, moved to Tampa where, for the price of $85 each, claimed he could complete a banner in a single day. C
DOYLE Auctioneers & Appraisers
Dec. 12, 2018
Snap Wyatt "Hoppy And Mignon" Sideshow Banner.
Est: $2,500 - $4,500
This is a beautiful and original sideshow banner made by Snap Wyatt. It features Hoppy the Frog Boy and Mignon the Penguin Girl with great colors and strong graphics. There is some light surface wear from use and two patches on the back of the banner. Condition: (Excellent).Dimensions: 117" x 99 -1/2".
Morphy Auctions
Aug. 27, 2016
Snap Wyatt SEALO the Seal Boy Sideshow Banner
Est: $1,500 - $3,000
Beautiful original banner by Snap Waytt (1905-1984). Sealo was Stanislaus Berent (1901 1980) who suffered from Phocomelia. He performed at many freak shows as well as Coney Island from 1941-1976. Banner is C-1965and is EX-NM. 102" x 70"
Milestone Auctions
Jun. 19, 2016
Circus Side Show Banner, Snap Wyatt, Mona
Est: $3,000 - $5,000
Snap Wyatt (American, 1905-1984), "Mona," hand-painted circus side-show banner depicting Mona dancing with a live snake, artist name signed lower left, including in the publication: "Freakshow: Sideshow Banner Art", illustrated on page: 78, Provenance: Carl Hammer Gallery, Chicago, IL,overall: 142"h x 114"w
Clars Auctions
Mar. 26, 2016
Snap Wyatt (American, 1905-1984) Banner: 104" x 360"
Est: $10,000 - $15,000
Snap Wyatt (American, 1905-1984) Banner: 104" x 360"(264 x 914 cm), "World's Strangest Girls!", 1960's, paint on canvas. An outstanding and extremely large Sideshow Gaff Banner (the central, wide horizontal banner that anchors the stage) produced for promoter Dick Best, who in the early/mid 60's toured an all girl show with "born" and "working" (tattooed, fire eaters, sword swallowers, metamorphosis illusions) acts. Dick Best provided shows to both the Royal American and Chicago's Riverview amusement park during this period. In contrast to Fred Johnson's pastoral/painterly banners, Wyatt's banners have simpler backgrounds and exaggerated Coney Island style black outlines, giving them a pop art comic book quality that is believed to have influenced some early Chicago Imagists, many of whom saw them at the Riverview. In addition to generic acts, "World's Strangest Girls" features a Frog Girl, an Alligator Lady, a dancing midget and the Tattooed Lady Betty Broadbent. The central figure with sprouting plant appendages went by the name Bipty/Beepy; she had smallish calcium concretions which were greatly exaggerated in the painting. Literature: featured on pages 113-114, Freaks, Geeks & Strange Girls: Sideshow Banners of the Great American Midway; Hardy Marks Publications, 1994. Exhibition: The Big Day Out Art and Music Festival, Sydney and Melbourne, 1997; The Human Hammer Meets the Two-Headed Woman: Banner Paintings from the Great Midway, Contemporary Arts Center of Cincinnati, 1998.
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