Original Art from the Grand Age of American Illustration
A whimsical roaring twenties stylized art deco pen & ink illustration by John Held Jr. for “Dutton’s Au Revoir Boxes”. Framed with the original box label this was created for, a nautically themed work with a sailor and his flapper girl sweetie. The Park Avenue, New York company manufactured durable boxes that were to be used in cruise ship travel. From the Charles Martignette estate.
Artist: John Held, Jr.
The second work from a pair of 1920s gouache paintings by the Minneapolis Minnesota artist Lee Mero, titled “Land O’ the Sky Blue Water.” This retains its brightly colored pin striped art deco enamel painted wood frame. This was likely a commissioned work for the Buzza Motto Company who prospered during the Roaring 20s Jazz Age years providing prints, plaques, bridge tallies and menu books that captured the style and aesthetics of the burgeoning modernist art deco movement. This beautiful depiction of northern Minnesota’s 10,000 lakes glory captures the fascination with Native American culture with an Indian Chief in a birch-bark canoe and blue heron birds that are indigenous to the area.
Artist: Lee Mero
A large and impressive oil on canvas by beloved American illustrator Haddon Sundblom titled “Moonlight and Roses.” An inspired and luminous, traditional southern Gone With the Wind inspired scene that was likely a commission for Maxwell House Coffee. Included in the assembled cast of characters is a self portrait of the artist himself. Framed in an ornate period gilt frame with a Louisville Kentucky verso framing label.
Artist: Haddon Sundblom
A captivating and well rendered glamour girl commercial illustration by Haddon Sundblom for Schlitz Beer. Image shows a pretty, spirited gardener quenching her thirst with a cold beer. A classic Americana image, acquired from the estate of illustrator Albert Berwinkle, who worked with Sundblom on advertising campaigns in Illinois. Berwinkle traded some of his own artwork with his friend “Sunny” and this piece was given to Berwinkle by Sundblom. Artwork is unsigned but guaranteed to be the work of Haddon Sundblom.
Artist: Haddon Sundblom (attributed)
A spirited Christmas seasonal advertising painting from the 1940s in the style of Chicago artist Haddon Sundblom. This commercial advertising illustration was created for an as of yet unidentified ad campaign in the Sundblom Shop/Chicago Studios aesthetic. It is our belief that this was painted by Sundblom himself.
Artist: Haddon Sundblom (attributed)
A charming and well rendered 1954 oil on canvas painting created for an Ohleen Dairy Calendar by the Louis F. Dow Company. The artist is Vaughan Alden Bass, who specialized in pin-up art for this Saint Paul Minnesota gone but not forgotten Calendar giant. Of particular note in this lovely painting is the adorable bakelite crib toy in the lower right corner. verso canvas is dated 1954, and stretcher is marked with Ohleen Dairy, 1954 Line and Current in pen.
Artist: Vaughan Bass
A rare surviving original advertising illustration by noted American illustrator Jean Oldham. Created in the Americana vein of Leslie Thrasher and Norman Rockwell. This piece was created as exclusive print advertising by Philadelphia Made Hardware. A fresh and new to the market Saint Paul Minnesota estate find. Comes framed in fine newer gallery frame.
Artist: Jean Oldham
This whimsical and humorous fishing scene was created in 1964 as advertising art celebrating 100 years of Hauenstein beer. A remarkably colorful and well rendered oil-on-board featuring a rural Americana scene of the sort popularized by Norman Rockwell. This is a rare surviving original Breweriana advertising illustration by Gale Hendrickson, who enjoyed a long and prolific career as commercial illustrator at Brown and Bigelow, working in a style inspired by the artistic visions of friend and fellow B&B illustrator Bill Medcalf. Comes in fine rustic gallery frame.
Artist: Gale Hendrickson
We have for your consideration an evocotive and stirring aquatic themed oil on canvas by the well listed American Illustrator Douglass Crockwell. This original advertising illustration was created for Red & White Food, and was a take off on the classic tale Moby Dick by Herman Melville. This original artwork was kept in the company’s archives and presented to an employee by the name of William E. Krapf in 1940 as the gallery label attests.
Artist: Douglass Crockwell
A delicately rendered and stylized watercolor on illustration board by the well listed commercial illustrator Alex Luders. This is a remarkable work of an art deco era harem girl enchantress entranced in a sexy exotic veiled scarf dance. The artist Alex Luders did much commercial Hollywood advertising poster art for Fox Films including Shirley Temple and Jack Holt’s starring turn in the 1935 feature film The Littlest Rebel. This is presumed to also be a commissioned work for an as of yet undetermined art deco era movie campaign.
Artist: Alex Luders
