Loterie Nationale

The French Loterie Nationale is a weekly drawing, widely advertised with bold, bright, graphic posters. French lotteries had been abolished in 1836, but nearly 100 years later, in 1933, a new Loterie Nationale was established. It halted for a period during World War II, but was later reopened and continues running and producing posters today. The subjects of the pieces vary widely, but aim to appeal to the everyman of French citizens; a point of optimism that could encourage them to take a chance, buy a ticket, and maybe take a moment to dream. Many posters also champion government and social programs funded via the Loterie Nationale.

Images via the William Payne Poster Gallery.

One Big Dr. Pepper.

Our friend and restoration-sensai Dan stopped by the other week with this AMAZING Dr. Pepper 24-sheet billboard. We attempted to lay it out... and found that we might need a whole parking lot, rather than a drive-way. Great piece!

Negativity.

We recently had these Begian Airline posters for Sabena come through the studio, and were struck with the loveliness of integrated negative space of the background to the figure.

These pieces also reminded us of some of our favorite illustrations from Ludwig Hohlwein, a German architect turned artist working in the early 1900's.

If there's one thing we love -- it's thoughtful negative space.

Dreams DO come true.

After restoring vintage posters for a number of years, it's often that they appear in the restorer's dreams. This usually involves some sort of hidden cache of priceless pieces, that just happen to be ripped into a myriad of pieces. But we can fix them! (Okay, half-dream... maybe half-nightmare.)

Well, we were struck by the real-life discovery of amazing posters from 1956 to 1959, found at the Notting Hill Gate Tube station in London. Uncovered in a bygone lift passageway, the poster time-capsule was shut off from the rest of the station when the lifts were replaced by escalators, and the passageway was abandoned. The pieces will be left intact within the station.

Story via BANGBACK

Photo credits to the London Underground

Rowland and Fortiner's PORTLAND

We recently linen-backed this lovely map for our client Elisabeth Burdon of Old Imprints.


Couldn't resist finding our neighborhood on the map, and marveling at how the grid has (and hasn't) changed.

Tyrrell Antiques & Paige Auction

We took a field-trip to Frank Tyrrell's antique shop in Southwest Portland today to drop off some pieces and check out his new project, Paige Auction. Frank is renovating the building where his shop is housed at 6429 SW Macadam Ave. to include a gallery-like auction house that will host live and internet auctions for antiques and collectibles.

Here's his leaflet with more information:


Frank's shop is a wonder in itself, full of fantastic stuff, and an easy place to get caught-up in for a whole afternoon, and then some!

Back from New York!

The Ford Mansion.

Leigh is back in the studio after a lovely trip to the east coast for her brother's wedding. While traveling she came across a mammoth restoration project, at the Genesee Valley Farm Discovery Center. The project entails the restoration of the nearly crumbling Ford family mansion, barn, milk house, and farm, built in the early 1900's. The complex will serve as a learning center for past and modern agriculture, food systems, and the conservation of natural resources. This ambitious project promises to be a truly engaging combination of historical restoration and education -- we can't wait to see how it evolves!

One handsome farm ambassador.

Interior of the barn.