Posted 12 years ago
ahartley
(1 item)
I begged my mom to buy this for me for my 13th birthday since my name started with an "A" and I had brown hair, it was $50 at a junk shop, didn't even realize it was a beer ad until I was 16. 25 years later and I have actually just found out that it is an original advertisement and not part of the 70's deco-page craze. It is Litho on Wood, about 30 x 24 1/2 inches, titled "American Woman" by Knapp Co. copyright 1893. Other than that, I have no clue about it other than I still love it.
How did you find out it "was not part of the 70's deco-page (podge) craze". Having lived thru that, I would say that is exactly what you have. A reproduction print that was deco-podged onto a wood raisen tray. The trays were used to put grapes out in the sun to dry into raisen's. Until some crafty hippie came along and started recycling them and making these. Another 70,s craze was making reproductions of vintage advertising posters, Many had the original date it was printed on the poster, then the reproduction date on the white outer border. This always got cut off, to get that scalloped edge effect.
As antique poster collector I can tell you this, if it was a original 1898 poster it would be worth thousands. That is, if it were not glued to the wood. Mounted like that it might be worth the $50 you paid. It's value is strictly as a decorator item. Enjoy it and pass it down to your kids, someday 70's deco podge may become a collectible.
By the way, in the 70's I was one of those crafty hippies selling deco-podge in craft shows.