Archive for the ‘illustration’ Category

M & S Packaging

Friday, April 27th, 2012

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selection of Marks and Spencer food items with special Diamond Jubilee and London Olympic 2012 packaging

M & S continues to produce some fantastic packaging. We bought a few items last week – and thought we’d share photos with you in case you haven’t seen any of it.

Marks and Spencer New York pepperoni pizza box illustrated with characters of a cop and Texan tourist wearing a stetson

We’ll start with this pizza box for the pastrami pizza – with its New York cop and stetson-wearing tourist.

detail from a Marks and Spencer New York pepperoni pizza box showing a cartoon illustration of a cop detail from a Marks and Spencer New York pepperoni pizza box showing a cartoon illustration of a Texan tourist wearing a stetson and a camera around his neck

The characters are very reminiscent of Miroslav Sasek book illustrations from the 1950s & 60s.

Marks and Spencer chocolate teacake packaging decorated with illustrations of British bobby, Union Jack flags, school children, birds and bunting

The other products we picked up have much more of a British feel – perfect for this Diamond Jubilee & London Olympic year.

detail from Marks and Spencer chocolate teacake packaging decorated with illustrations of birds and bunting

These chocolate teacakes are covered with Union Jack bunting & flags. What does that pigeon know that we don’t?

detail from Marks and Spencer chocolate teacake packaging decorated with illustrations of a British bobby, Union Jack flag and bunting

Next up we have the old red telephone box.

Marks and Spencer shortbread tin in the shape of and decorated as a red British phone box with figures including a British Bobby, city gent and punk

It’s harking back to the days when telephone box queues were a common sight – pre mobile phone days – the variety of characters each waiting their turn.

detail from a Marks and Spencer shortbread tin in the shape of and decorated as a red British phone box showing the figure of a city gent

We just love the punk rocker blowing his bubblegum.

detail from a Marks and Spencer shortbread tin in the shape of and decorated as a red British phone box showing the figure of a punk

It’s a close run thing, but our favourite item of the batch is probably the biscuit tin below. Again, the artwork is very Sasek inspired – with a bit of Bill Charmatz thrown in.

limited edition Marks and Spencer biscuit tin produced to commemorate the 2012 London Olympic Games decorated with illustrations of London and other British landmarks

The design a real classic with scenes of the British Isles to the sides and traditional London sights to the lid.

detail from a limited edition Marks and Spencer biscuit tin produced to commemorate the 2012 London Olympic Games showing an illustrations of Green Park detail from a limited edition Marks and Spencer biscuit tin produced to commemorate the 2012 London Olympic Games showing an illustrations of the Mall

Also, the tin will last years and can be used over & over again.

lid from a limited edition Marks and Spencer biscuit tin produced to commemorate the 2012 London Olympic Games decorated with illustrations of London landmarks

It’s fantastic when you buy a useful & beautiful storage tin – crammed full of lovely biscuits that you just have to eat first!!

Watts Cooking?

Thursday, September 22nd, 2011

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45 record single sleeve for "Watts Cooking" by Tommy Watt & His Orchestra

We’ve just seen this record in a nearby antiques centre and liked its cover so much we took a couple of quick snaps.

Not being familiar with the work of Tommy Watt we didn’t actually buy it, but having given him a quick listen on Spotify it’s very 60s cocktail party with a bit of “Bewitched” and “I Dream of Jeannie” thrown in!

detail from the 45 record single sleeve for "Watts Cooking" by Tommy Watt & His Orchestra

Taking another look at it, the artwork is very reminiscent of one of our favourite illustrators, Bill Charmatz.

It would look great in a small frame – we might go back for it!

All Mapped Out!

Saturday, July 30th, 2011

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pile of vintage travel maps from the 1960s

This collection of vintage maps was a fabulous recent buy.

detail of a vintage travel map from the 1960s

We were quite excited when we saw them lurking at the bottom of a mixed box at auction…

detail of a vintage AAA travel map from the 1960s vintage AAA travel map from the 1960s

…their bright colours and fab period illustrations calling out to us!

detail of a vintage Enco travel map from the 1960s vintage Enco travel map of the Dakotas and Nebraska from the 1960s

They’re all from the United States – most were produced by the American Automobile Association – and petrol (or gas if you’re from the US!) companies such as Esso & Enco.

Quite unusual for them to have ended up in a small northern town in England!

detail of a vintage Esso travel map from the 1960s vintage Esso travel map from the 1960s

They were obviously picked up by a pair of adventurous travelers – also in the box were old tickets, menus, napkins, receipts, notes and other bits of ephemera – all picked up along their way.

detail of a vintage travel map from the 1960s showing an illustration of 3 peaks, forest, sun, boats and water

We’ve really enjoyed sorting through them – artwork like this is good enough for framing.

detail of a vintage travel map from the 1960s

Inside, the maps are clean & bright – untouched for 50 years or so. Full of handy hints and endless possibilities.

detail of a vintage travel map from the 1960s showing a mileage chart

The thought of setting out in a convertible or camper van with a pile of these is very appealing indeed!

Henrion haul!

Wednesday, December 29th, 2010

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collection of FHK Henrion posters bought at auction by H is for Home

We bought a large quantity of vintage posters at auction recently…

FHK Henrion 'environmental design' poster from a collection bought at auction by H is for Home

… all the work of Frederic Henrion.

FHK Henrion Hampton Court London Transport travel poster from a collection bought at auction by H is for Home

They have a wide range of dates and subject matter.

FHK Henrion BOAC poster from a collection bought at auction by H is for HomeFHK Henrion BSAA poster from a collection bought at auction by H is for Home

These examples were reprinted for an exhibition at Staffordshire Polytechnic in the 1980s. The Polytechnic was the first place to offer a graphic design course largely based upon the influence of Henrion.

FHK Henrion GPO Christmas poster from a collection bought at auction by H is for Home

They were reproduced in limited edition runs and many of them are actually signed by the artist.

FHK Henrion hand written signature on a poster from a collection bought at auction by H is for Home

F H K Henrion OBE was born in Nuremberg, Germany in 1914. After studying & working in Paris, he emigrated to England in 1939, adopting British nationality in 1946.

FHK Henrion 'For Liberty' exhibition poster from a collection bought at auction by H is for Home

During the 1940s & 50s, he worked for advertising agencies and publishers – and was Art Editor of Contact and Futura magazines. In 1951 he established the design consultancy, Henrion Design Associates.

FHK Henrion 'War on Culture' exhibition poster from a collection bought at auction by H is for Home

He produced designs for numerous organisations such as the Festival of Britain, London Transport, IBM, KLM, BEA, BOAC, the British Ministry of Information, the US Office of War Information, Olivetti and Tate & Lyle.

FHK Henrion 'Etat' poster from a collection bought at auction by H is for Home

He was art director at the Institute of Contemporary Arts in London during the 1950s. The ICA was a platform for the emergence of The Independent Group – and for the development of a widespread pop sensibility during the 1960s.

FHK Henrion Oxford Committee for Famine Relief 'Give' poster from a collection bought at auction by H is for Home

His work often used elements of photo montage and collage. He pioneered the use of surrealist juxtapositions in the language of advertising and visual communications in Britain.

He was a respected spokesperson for his profession and his work won many international awards. He was awarded an OBE for his contributions to the Festival of Britain pavilions.

FHK Henrion Punch magazine poster from a collection bought at auction by H is for Home

He was an influential teacher who lectured at the Royal College of Art (1955-65); was President of Alliance Graphique Internationale and Master of Faculty at Royal Designers for Industry (1972-73); and was Leader of the Faculty of Visual Communication at the London College of Printing (1976-79). In 1982 he became consultant at Henrion, Lund and Schmidt – corporate identity specialists.

FHK Henrion Philips 'Philishave' poster from a collection bought at auction by H is for Home

The FHK Henrion Archive & Research Library can be found at University of Brighton, Faculty of Arts’ Design Archives. A book of his designs (one of the popular Antique Collectors’ Club series) has recently been published and is available at Amazon UK & Amazon USA

We’ve started a Flickr group for sharing images of Henrion’s work – have a look and share any that you have!

It’s a date!

Wednesday, December 15th, 2010

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detail from a 1979 Arabia Kalevala date plate designed by Raija Uosikkinen

Any of you vintage fans born in 1979?  This could be the perfect thing for you.

detail from a 1979 Arabia Kalevala date plate designed by Raija Uosikkinen

It’s one of a series of ceramic date plates produced annually by Arabia of Finland.

detail from a 1979 Arabia Kalevala date plate designed by Raija Uosikkinen

Designed by Raija Uosikkinen, they take their inspiration from the Kalevala – the epic national saga of Finland.

Here’s an extract from the English translation of Rune 33 from which this plate draws its reference:

From a tree the raven answered:
“O thou little silver buckle,
Only son of old Kalervo,
Why art thou in evil humor,
Wherefore sad in thy demeanor?
Take a young shoot from the thicket,
Take a birch-rod from the valley,
Drive thy herd across the lowlands,
Through the quicksands of the marshes;
To the wolves let one half wander,
To the bear-dens, lead the other;
Sing the forest wolves together,
Sing the bears down from the mountains,
Call the wolves thy little children,
And the bears thy standard-bearers;
Drive them like a cow-herd homeward,
Drive them home like spotted cattle,
Drive them to thy master’s milk-yards;
Thus thou wilt repay the hostess
For her malice and derision.”

detail from a 1979 Arabia Kalevala date plate designed by Raija Uosikkinen

You don’t have to be born in 1979… they were made from the mid 1970s to the late 1990s. That gives a good span of potentially significant years – birthdays, anniversaries etc.

And don’t mind if there isn’t a special date to be marked… the artwork is so fabulous, they’re covetable for the patterns alone.

1979 Arabia Kalevala date plate designed by Raija Uosikkinen

Having said that, there’s sure to be a few completists out there who are just going to have to have the full set – and we wouldn’t blame you!!

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