Have now added some 1300 images of cigarette/tobacco advertising, on a variety of products, that were a common sight in everyday British life in the 20th century....please feel free to take a look.
We will not see the likes of such product on our shores again!
Many will say 'a good thing too'. However after collecting these items for the past 30 years I have been intrigued by the vast variation and inventiveness of form given to such simple product. Many items are a small work of art in there own right...well I think so.
We will not see the likes of such product on our shores again!
Many will say 'a good thing too'. However after collecting these items for the past 30 years I have been intrigued by the vast variation and inventiveness of form given to such simple product. Many items are a small work of art in there own right...well I think so.
| Take for example this simple Player's clear glass ashtray...just 5 inches (125mm) in diameter ...the portrait of Hero seems to have been reverse wheel cut, not moulded, on the underneath... surely craftsmanship worthy of lalique? Or the simple elegance of this square Woodbine glass ashtray from 1935. With identical slogan on all four sides and finished in a deep green. (I do like green!)  Take this simple water jug from Player's... a unique form, among other jugs, in cream glaze with royal blue banding and finished off with the red 'Player's Please' script and Hero lifebuoy. c.1936 |  The craftsman of yesteryear were great at producing functional product with a simple elegance.  |
I don't expect many, if any, to agree with my views on the craftsmanship of the simple products shown on this site. However if you would like to leave a comment please do so.
(I have never smoked...so have no views on the virtues or vices of smoking)
I will be adding more data to the images as time permits and posting some more blogs with information about items shown and the Imperial Tobacco Company and its products.
(I have never smoked...so have no views on the virtues or vices of smoking)
I will be adding more data to the images as time permits and posting some more blogs with information about items shown and the Imperial Tobacco Company and its products.
| And finally...for now. But what about this for a piece of plastic art! Well its actually Bakelite (fore runner of the plastics we now know). At some 12 x 12 inches (300 x 300mm) the hands are driven by a small mains electric motor.  Surely an icon of the advertising art of the 20th century! That's me on the left! You know who on the right! |  |
If you have an image of a related product to add, please get in touch. Thanks.
Mike
Mike
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