Monthly Archives: January 2012

Art overtaken by life

By crownfolio | Published: January 30, 2012

See my urgent book. I have had to read it very quickly, because tomorrow it goes back to the British Library for someone else to read urgently too. Now its subject – modernism, bombsites and English culture – might not seem immediately applicable to our concerns here on Quad Royal.  But in fact it’s been [...]

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A life of surprises

By crownfolio | Published: January 27, 2012

Odd times indeed on eBay.  When I pointed out this poster last week, it was more for entertainment than investment value. But it went for £104.  Not so funny indeed. I should have been less surprised that these two pieces of prime psychedelia went for £143 each.  They’re by the wonderful Dan Fern and printer-fresh. [...]

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The forgotten man

By crownfolio | Published: January 25, 2012

I’ve said it before, and I will no doubt get around to saying it again, but Harry Stevens is a very underestimated poster artist.  That thought is mostly provoked by this 1954 poster, which we bought a copy of recently, (although one which I have to admit is slightly more battered than this picture). It’s [...]

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A curiosity

By crownfolio | Published: January 23, 2012

Once again, found in the great warehouse of curiosities which is eBay.  It’s a Fitton, not a poster this time but a painting. And I’m pretty sure it’s the same Fitton too.  Certainly the signature matches those on the paintings in the Dulwich Art Gallery catalogue. But even were it not signed, that acid green [...]

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Mr Black will see you now.

By crownfolio | Published: January 20, 2012

I haven’t finished with exhibition design, not by a long way.  A copy of Misha Black’s Exhibition Design recently arrived in the post. He’s a much droller read than Beverley Pick – as well as designing some rather nice exhibitions too – so parts of that will definitely be appearing on here one of these days. [...]

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Sax, vandalism and underwear

By crownfolio | Published: January 18, 2012

While eBay is still quiet after the holidays, there are a few things worth noticing up for sale at the moment.  Of which my favourite are these musical instrument posters. There are nineteen of them altogether, and they were produced, so the listing usefully notes, between 1946 and 1949, with the editor of the series [...]

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