Figural cameos
I should be dissertating. But instead, I have been poring over the collection of figural cameos over on the beautifully exhaustive (and seemingly bottomless, thankfully) SHEAFF EPHEMERA, and I feel compelled to share with you all, particularly because I know many of you are (vintage) mail and postage stamp lovers like myself. Trust me, you're in for a doozy.
In case you're wondering what the hell I mean by "figural cameos," here's a little description from Richard D. Sheaff, with images that follow:
Some of my favorite cameos are those where the design is made to look like the product, profession or industry it advertises. These “figural” or “shaped” cameo designs are actually quite scarce. I have documented only 250 out of 5,500+ cameo designs known -- that’s less than 5% of the total.
In figural cameos, the advertising text is placed within a design that resembles the product it advertises. Examples of these would be padlocks, kegs, water pitchers, boots, books and many others. The most commonly found are books (opened or closed) for booksellers, publishers and stationers; padlocks, anvils, axes, saw blades and other tools for hardware merchants and agricultural implement dealers; mortar & pestles for druggists, etc.
The vast majority of cameos are not "figurals," but found in tightly framed cartouches. Most often these frames are scalloped but also come in shields, octagons and ovals. Sometimes the borders are decorated with garlands and other decorative elements. Once in a while elaborate rococo style cartouches are found as well as some rare types such as those with lacework borders. Almost always the frames are symmetrical rather than free flowing. Text and graphics are encapsulated within these various frames and render a pleasing and colorful advertisement. In many ways, cameos resemble store shingles and wall plaques found on many storefronts and commercial buildings erected throughout the United States in the mid-19th century, when most commercial signage displayed text with decorative touches like curleques, stars, eagles, etc. Rarely were other graphics added. Sometimes the store shingle was a shaped sign like a boot, a pair of eyeglasses, a pocket watch, a pair of scissors, a mortar and pestle, a saw, or other product.
Mr. Sheaff goes on to explain that the lovely figural cameos featured on his site hail from the José Rodriguez Cameo Collection, as well as from an assortment of public periodicals such as auction catalogs and business directories. I've displayed some of my favorites below. Enjoy.
January 2, 2011
Reader Comments (13)
wow, thank you so much for sharing these. they're brilliant!
My head just blew up. Thank you for sharing this - it is design crack!
How great are these? What a fabulous collection!
Love the glove and the little rabbit. I've never come across Figural Cameos before, they're fantastic. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks, all, for your awesome comments on these awesome vintage specimens! Aren't they ridiculous?? (I mean that in the best way possible) I can (and do) spend HOURS UPON HOURS on Sheaff Ephemera.... unbelievable...
I spent hours there after this post too...whew! Fabulously exhausting. I mentioned you (and Sheaff) on a post:
http://www.fleurishingblog.com/fleurishing/2011/01/new-year-ephemera.html
freelance writer
There are pretty interesting design, I like the most the one with the wine or beer barrel. When I got my viagra online They send me one with a pill in from and it was pretty amazing.
It is the first time that I heard something like that. but it is something that it isn't common like other post cards. Even the most original that I have ever seen of xl pharmacy doesn't compare.
Examples of these would be padlocks, kegs, water pitchers, boots, books and many others. The most commonly found are books (opened or closed) for booksellers, publishers and stationers; padlocks, anvils, axes, saw blades and other tools for hardware merchants and agricultural implement dealers; mortar & pestles for druggists, etc.
Mr. Sheaff goes on to explain that the lovely figural cameos featured on his site hail from the José Rodriguez Cameo Collection, as well as from an assortment of public periodicals such as auction catalogs and business directories. I've displayed some of my favorites below.
Thanks, all, for your awesome comments on these awesome vintage specimens! Aren't they ridiculous?? (I mean that in the best way possible) I can (and do) spend HOURS UPON HOURS on Sheaff Ephemera.... unbelievable...
Thanks for this post! the information very well. good luck