The age of Art Deco: Beautiful vintage advertising posters, including one featuring an early version of the Michelin Man, will be on display in a new exhibition in London
- The exhibition opens on Saturday in the luxury London hotel 45 Park Lane
It was a style that represented luxury, glamor and rich exuberance.
The Art Deco era lasted from the 1910s to the early 1930s and was popular throughout Europe, having originated in France.
Now a new exhibition in London reveals some of the most iconic advertising posters from the era.
One from 1910 depicts an early version of the world-famous Michelin Man, the mascot of the French tire manufacturer of the same name.
Another promotes the automotive prowess of France’s premier car company, Renault, in its heyday in the 1920s.
Also on display is a 1933 London Underground advertisement for Hyde Park, complete with images of the well-dressed upper classes.
Other posters in the exhibition promote the delights of Australia, Nice and Swiss ski resorts, among others.
The exhibition, held in collaboration with the London gallery AntikBar, opens on Saturday at the luxury hotel 45 Park Lane.
Kirill Kalinin, founder of AntikBar, said: ‘We are delighted to be able to exhibit these exceptional, rare vintage posters in such an iconic Art Deco-inspired hotel. The focus on travel, leisure and luxury is a beautiful combination for such a design-oriented space.’
Dating from 1910, this poster promotes Michelin tires and features the French company’s famous mascot, Bibendum. He is better known as the Michelin Man. The figure was introduced in 1894 by cartoonist Marius Rossilon
This London Underground poster promoting the delights of Hyde Park was printed in 1933. We see elegant gentlemen in top hats, ladies in colorful dresses and a nanny glancing at a dashing soldier
London was once crossed by trams, until the system was dismantled in favor of buses. This 1923 poster told Londoners they could take the tram to play and watch Polo on Avery Hill in Eltham, south-east London
For Londoners in 1936, the enjoyment of ‘The Continent’ was offered. Customers were lured in by a railway company with scenes of well-dressed travelers enjoying themselves in a European city
This seductive advertisement for Campari – printed in 1926 – was designed by Italian artist Marcello Nizzoli. The scene featured a bottle and glass of liquor, along with a fancy soda siphon
This Spanish poster read: ‘Wine is the healthiest and most hygienic drink’. The slogan, printed in 1940, was a quote from the famous French chemist Louis Pasteur
This poster from 1930 advertised the ‘anti-knock’ fuel from fuel manufacturer Shell. A knocking noise – due to premature fuel ignition in the engine – was a common problem on early cars and aircraft
This poster from the 1920s advertised the automotive power of the French car company Renault
This 1934 poster featured an Art Deco graphic design by Italian artist Paolo Garretto. It promoted a fuel made by the British oil and gas company BP, which was founded in 1909
An advertisement from the 1930s for ‘the most luxurious flying boat in the world’. The Imperial Airways aircraft carried both passengers and mail
This 1930s poster advertised the delights of the city of Canberra. It was established as the capital of Australia in 1913. The scene above, by designer James Northfield, shows the beauty of the city
For those looking for a place to ski, St. Moritz in Switzerland has long been a popular destination. This poster advertising the sun-drenched slopes dates from 1948
This poster from the 1930s attracted travelers to the French seaside resort of Nice. It remains a hugely popular holiday destination for casual tourists and celebrities alike
A 1928 poster advertising the joys of skiing above the Swiss village of Adelboden
An Italian poster from 1937 with a beautiful image of a polo player mounted on a majestic white horse. In the background, a woman swings a golf club in a picturesque setting
An Argentine advertisement from the 1930s promotes the beautiful beaches of the port city of Necochea