BACK TO THE FUTURE..........
Welcome to a place featuring images of the future that once was. The post war era, (from around 1948-1964) seemed to have had a fixation on an idealic vision of the future . Indeed, visionary artists of that time quickly took to portraying that future in sweeping lines and shapes with bold distinctive styling, embuing everything with "Rocket-Like" dynamics and "Push-Button convenience." Evidence of this styling can be most easily witnessed in the design of everything from automobiles to coffee shops of the POPULUXE era or in the newsreel footage and television shows of the day such as The Jetsons or even in Walt Disney's Original Tomorrowland.
Truth be told. I, too, have always been facinated by this naive and innocent projection into the 21st Century from the time I was a small child and first able to grasp the concepts of Past, Present and Future. And now I find that even though we are on the threshold of that future with the 21st century looming before us, our whole culture seems to be holding a grand sense of disappointment in what has actually come to be and even a nostalgia for the past's eye toward tomorrow. I even have considered that this phenomena of cultural enoui has even helped usher in a trend towards "retro" design as we see even in the "new" look of toasters, blenders, even the iMac. Indeed, new "Retro / Fifities" Coffee Shops are being put up almost as fast as short sighted developers can tear down the original (and far superior) versions that were left to decay in the 1970s and early '80s. And take a look at the streamlined appearance of the popular "new" Volkswagen Beetle or Chrysler's PT Cruiser while you get ready for Ford Motors to introduce it's restyled Thunderbird which harkens back to the original 1955 body style that strongly resembled images of streamlined rocket ships or the early space years.
The whole intent of this page is to happily present to interested individuals with an eye for high style, the images below. These are scans of a selection of exquisite original art pieces I purchased at a Southern California swap meet some time ago. It is a unique portfolio of design artwork right out of the heyday of that wonderful Eames Era of Modern Design. These images are vintage paintings and designs which strongly reflect that American dream of futuristic perfection that seemed to die with the dismantling of the 1964-1965 New York Worlds Fair.
The Artwork was created at the Jones Decorating Company, Incorporated in Pasadena, California from what appears to be 1956 to 1959. The work was mostly generated by a now obscure artist who flambouyantly signed a number of the works as "Reinhardt." And, though not all the artwork is signed by Mr. Reinhardt, his style and personal flourishes are clearly felt in all the pieces from his stylization of people to his whimsical use of designy arrows as accents. Little to nothing is known about this fine artist and his work of this period other than what I present here. All I know is that it is a joy to look at and all in remarkable good condition for it's 40+ years of age.
Of the items I am displaying here, most have been sold, one is currently available for sale (see first item below) and the rest I am keeping in my personal collection.
Please Enjoy!
Sincerely,
Dave Pruiksma
Click below to email Comments or Questions to:
FINAL PANEL OFFERED FOR SALE FROM THIS PORTFOLIO OF ORIGINAL ART OF THE FIFTIES:
ASSOCIATED GENERAL CONTRACTORS OF AMERICA Trade Show Display (Circa 1959)
Dimensions- 20.5" X 29.5"
Artist-Reinhardt (Signed)
Medium-Ink, Gouache, photographic material and Airbrush on Illustration Board
Contact Me at
If you are interested in aquiring this fine Artwork
and
OTHER ITEMS FROM THIS VINTAGE PORTFOLIO:
B & J ELECTRONICS Display Design (circa 1959)
Dimensions- 24" x 15"
Artist-Reinhardt (Signed)
Medium-Ink, Gouache and Airbrush on Illustration Board
The piece sold in February 2000 on eBay.
1957 CADILLAC BROUGHAM INTRODUCTION Auto Show Display Design (Dated 1957)
Dimensions- 32" X 17.5"
Artist-Reinhardt
Medium-Ink, Gouache and Airbrush on Illustration Board
The piece sold in June 1999 on eBay.
GENERAL ELECTRIC THEATRE DESIGN (Circa 1959)
Dimensions- 20" X 32"
Artist-Reinhardt
Medium-Ink, Gouache and Airbrush on Illustration Board
The piece sold in June 1999 on eBay.
LINCOLN MOTORS CORPORATION Auto Show Design (Circa 1957)
Dimensions- 27" X 16"
Artist-Reinhardt
Medium-Ink, Gouache and Airbrush on Illustration Board
The piece sold in June 1999 on eBay.
L. C. MAJOR & ASSOCIATES Trade Show Display (Circa 1959)
Dimensions- 22.75" X 18"
Artist-Reinhardt (Signed)
Medium-Ink, Gouache and Airbrush on Illustration Board
The piece sold in February 2000 on eBay.
TURCO COMPANY Trade Show Display (Circa 1958)
Dimensions- 24" X 17.5"
Artist-Reinhardt
Medium-Ink, Gouache and Airbrush on Illustration Board
The piece sold in June 1999 on eBay.
U. S. ENGINEERING CO. Trade Show Display (Circa 1959)
Dimensions- 18.5" X 17.25"
Artist-Reinhardt
Medium-Ink, Gouache and Airbrush on Illustration Board
The piece sold in October 1999 on eBay.
INTERIOR DESIGN SHOW ORANGE CALIFORNIA SPACE DESIGN (Circa 1959)
Dimensions- 32" X 20"
Artist-Reinhardt
Medium-Ink, Gouache and Airbrush on Illustration Board
The piece sold in June 1999 on eBay.
PANEL
DETAIL
Design For Southern California Home Show Furniture Salon Display (Dated 1959)
Dimensions- 32" X 20"
Artist-Reinhardt
Medium-Ink, Gouache and Airbrush on Illustration Board
The piece sold in July 1999 on eBay.
Design for Information Booth at The National Truck Trailer & Equipement Trade Show (Circa 1959)
Dimensions- 32" X 15"
Artist-Reinhardt
Medium-Ink, Gouache and Airbrush on Illustration Board
The piece sold in June 1999 on eBay.
CHRYSLER MOTORS Auto Show Display Design (circa 1957)
Dimensions- 34" x 25"
Artist-Reinhardt (Signed)
Medium-Ink, Gouache, Pencil and Airbrush on Illustration Board
To Remain In My Personal Collection.
CANNON ELECTRIC Trade Show Display Design (circa 1959)
Dimensions- 20" x 32"
Artist-Reinhardt (Signed)
Medium-Ink, Gouache and Airbrush on Illustration Board
The piece sold in September 2000 on eBay
SMI INDUSTRIES Trade Show Display Design (circa 1957)
Dimensions- 20" x 15.5"
Artist-Reinhardt (Signed)
Medium-Ink, Gouache and Airbrush on Illustration Board
The piece sold in September 2000 on eBay
FLUIDMASTER CORPORATION Trade Show Display Design (circa 1957)
Dimensions- 20" x 15"
Artist-Reinhardt (Signed)
Medium-Ink, Gouache, Photographic Images and Airbrush on Illustration Board
To Remain In My Personal Collection.
Design For INFORMATION BOOTH At Home Show (circa 1957)
Dimensions- 16" x 15"
Artist-Reinhardt
Medium-Ink, Gouache and Airbrush on Illustration Board
To Remain In My Personal Collection.
TRADE WIND DUCTING AND FAN COMPANY Home Show Display Design (dated 1957)
Dimensions- 27 x 14"
Artist-Reinhardt (Signed)
Medium-Ink, Gouache and Pencil on Illustration Board
The piece sold in October 2000 on eBay
VALLEY HOME IMPROVEMENT COMPANY Trade Show Display Design (circa 1959)
Dimensions- 24" x 18"
Artist-Reinhardt (Signed)
Medium-Ink, Gouache and Airbrush on Illustration Board
The piece sold in October 2000 on eBay
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Updated 3/6/01