Olympia and after : advert issued by W S Crawford Ltd., London & Berlin : in 'Advertising Display", September 1927 : artwork by Edward McKnight Kauffer
An advert for advertising; and one that links together three important names in the history of UK advertising. It was issued in September 1927 following the British Advertising Exhibition held in London during the July of that year and is for the noted London based advertising agency of W S Crawford. The company was founded by William Crawford in 1914 and for much of it's existance was based in High Holborn; it's later HQ building with a striking stainless steel facade survives close to Holborn Tube Station. During the 1920s and '30s they maintained an office in Berlin and this speaks of the ready acceptance of continental practises and movements, such as the Bauhaus, on Crawford's approach to business for their clients.
One of the names most associated with the company at this time, and for the next two decades, was that of Ashley Havinden who had joined as a trainee in 1922 and who by 1929 was artistic director. Interestingly, the lettering in this advert slightly echoes lettering designed by Havinden for the important client of Chrysler Cars and that was later issued by Monotype as a commercial typeface. It appears that here, the German typeface Neuland, by Rudolf Koch and first issued in 1923 is used.
The advert itself is by Edward McKnight Kauffer who by this date was one of the most successful designers and artists at work in advertising. American born but since WW1 based in London, McKnight Kauffer's early break had come with commissions for Frank Pick at the London Underground Group and he became one of the more influential 'advertising artists' in the 1920s and '30s.
Olympia and after : advert issued by W S Crawford Ltd., London & Berlin : in 'Advertising Display", September 1927 : artwork by Edward McKnight Kauffer
An advert for advertising; and one that links together three important names in the history of UK advertising. It was issued in September 1927 following the British Advertising Exhibition held in London during the July of that year and is for the noted London based advertising agency of W S Crawford. The company was founded by William Crawford in 1914 and for much of it's existance was based in High Holborn; it's later HQ building with a striking stainless steel facade survives close to Holborn Tube Station. During the 1920s and '30s they maintained an office in Berlin and this speaks of the ready acceptance of continental practises and movements, such as the Bauhaus, on Crawford's approach to business for their clients.
One of the names most associated with the company at this time, and for the next two decades, was that of Ashley Havinden who had joined as a trainee in 1922 and who by 1929 was artistic director. Interestingly, the lettering in this advert slightly echoes lettering designed by Havinden for the important client of Chrysler Cars and that was later issued by Monotype as a commercial typeface. It appears that here, the German typeface Neuland, by Rudolf Koch and first issued in 1923 is used.
The advert itself is by Edward McKnight Kauffer who by this date was one of the most successful designers and artists at work in advertising. American born but since WW1 based in London, McKnight Kauffer's early break had come with commissions for Frank Pick at the London Underground Group and he became one of the more influential 'advertising artists' in the 1920s and '30s.