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Object Timeline
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1921 |
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1922 |
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1963 |
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2013 |
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2015 |
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2021 |
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2025 |
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Poster, London Museum of Practical Geology
This is a Poster. It was designed by E. McKnight Kauffer and printed by Vincent Brooks, Day & Son and made for (as the client) Underground Electric Railways of London Company Ltd.. It is dated 1921, printed 1922 and we acquired it in 1963. Its medium is lithograph. It is a part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design department.
<!--td {border: 1px solid #ccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}--> ISSUE OF WHAT IS DEPICTED NEEDS TO BE CONFIRMED BY CURATORS. DESCRIPTION CALLS IMAGE "SKYSCRAPER," BUT BASED ON THE MUSEUM ADVERTISED, THE OBJECT'S FORM, AND THE WORD "STIBNITES" UNDER THE DRAWING, I BELIEVE THE DRAWING DEPICTS STIBNITES, A JAGGED MINERAL. When Kauffer arrived in England in the mid-1910s as a painter, he became involved in avant-garde artists' groups. Finding success in posters—and seeing no status differentiation between fine and commercial arts—he decided to give up painting for advertising design. He received his first poster commission in 1915 from Frank Pick, London Underground Electric Railways’ publicity manager, who helped to bring a progressive, modernist image to the Underground. Kauffer eventually designed around 150 posters and car-cards for the Underground. Each poster design typically had a 1,000-issue print run, 150 of which were reserved for selling to individuals, schools, and businesses, who used the modern designs as wall decoration. Kauffer’s posters were widely praised, and he helped to forge a renaissance of British poster design during the interwar period, employing in his designs fine-arts styles from Cubism to expressionism. He promoted simple, geometric designs that attracted attention, as shown in this abstract depiction of the jagged, metallic mineral stibnites that could likely be found at the advertised London Museum of Practical Geology. As was typical of Kauffer, he used a symbolic form rather than a realistic depiction or shocking image to promote a place or product.
This object was
donated by
Mrs. Edward McKnight Kauffer.
It is credited Gift of Mrs. E. McKnight Kauffer.
- Poster, Airs de Paris
- screenprint on paper.
- Gift of M/M (Paris).
- 2015-4-4
- Mirror from Traveling Dressing Case Mirror
- glass, wood, leather.
- Gift of Danny J. H. Kauffman.
- 1984-133-1-d
- Poster, Museum of Natural History
- lithograph.
- Gift of Mrs. E. McKnight Kauffer.
- 1963-39-25
Our curators have highlighted 4 objects that are related to this one. Here are three of them, selected at random:
- Poster, The Flea at The Natural History Museum
- offset lithograph on paper, lined.
- Gift of Mrs. E. McKnight Kauffer.
- 1963-39-39
- Poster, London History at the London Museum
- lithograph.
- Gift of Mrs. E. McKnight Kauffer.
- 1963-39-24
- Poster, Vigil, The Pure Silk
- lithograph.
- Gift of Mrs. E. McKnight Kauffer.
- 1963-39-18
Its dimensions are
101.6 × 63.2 cm (40 in. × 24 7/8 in.)
It is signed
Signed in black ink, center right: E.McKnight Kauffer, 1921.
It is inscribed
Printed in black ink, lower margin: 1,000. 14. 7. 1. 22.; VINCENT BROOKS DAY & SON Ltd.Lith. London. W.C.2.
Cite this object as
Poster, London Museum of Practical Geology; Designed by Edward McKnight Kauffer (American, active England, 1890–1954); Printed by Vincent Brooks, Day & Son; Client: Underground Electric Railways of London Company Ltd.; England; lithograph; 101.6 × 63.2 cm (40 in. × 24 7/8 in.); Gift of Mrs. E. McKnight Kauffer; 1963-39-19
This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition Underground Modernist: E. McKnight Kauffer.
