Above is an advertising postcard for Porch Furniture with a May 1914 calendar. This style of postcard was designed to be sent by furniture sellers. This, and other advertising postcards with calendars, typically were published in series, with one card for each month.
The postcard above does not list a publisher. The two postcards below also have pictures of wicker porch furniture. These were published by Grand Rapids Furniture Record Co. © 1912 and have verses on the front and 1913 calendars and advertising messages on the backs. Grand Rapids, Michigan was a major furniture manufacturing center, and the Grand Rapids Furniture Record was a publication of the Grand Rapids Furniture Manufacturers Association.
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There's just something about sitting comfortably on a porch surrounded by plants & lovely scenery that feels so happy and relaxing! I'd love to have that rosey padded wicker chair the first gal is sitting in.
ReplyDeleteI wonder - was wicker furniture a European style, or perhaps from the Orient? It seems very Indian...
ReplyDeleteRattan, cane, bamboo, wicker. I always thought these were interchangeable words bu tI've just been a-hunting and found out that they are not. Sepia Saturday always throws up some challenges to us. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteFabulous cards. I well remember a wicker chair that we had, although having just read boundfor's comment, I suspect it might have been rattan. Consumer goods tend to be such transient objects these days, I wonder whether they will live on in the memories of the current young people.
ReplyDeleteGreat post cards of wicker chairs, porches and pretty Victorian ladies. Ah to have servants to take care of all the housework!
ReplyDeleteGreat cards. Interesting bit of competitive copy writing with Flagg and Willis mentioning lighting the path to joy with Hymen's torch; James Scully's verse states, " no shining Edisonian torch is needed if you please". Take that you Flaggs and Willises!
ReplyDeleteGreat examples of the way early advertising would seduce the imagination. Before air conditioning, how else could someone seek relief from the summer heat except on a cool porch with wicker furniture? I think I'll get some this weekend.
ReplyDeleteVery suitable postcards, as usual - I imagine your collection must be absolutely enormous, and very well-catalogued!
ReplyDeleteDo people still sit on the front porch? Not around here - everyone uses the outdoor deck areas at the rear of their homes.
ReplyDeleteAnd after Barbara's comment I'm wondering whether my two woven chairs are wicker, cane, rattan or bamboo!
Wicker chairs are so comfortable and cool in the summer heat.
ReplyDeleteThe advertising copy uses some interesting language and syntax!
I love the pictures you featured - I know often derided as "chocolate box nostalgia" , but they present an image of grace, beatify and relaxation and I am happy to indulge in that!
ReplyDeleteFine post. I just realized, I have never seen a wicker chair outside of a photo studio setting. Not even a snapshot!
ReplyDeleteThose pictures would also make excellent illustrations for some of the books of those times. In fact, I bet the same people did both.
ReplyDeleteInteresting conjecture there Kristin. I think you may be correct. I love these postcards and the copywriting is just ...welll...fascinating. What on earth is Hymen's torch? The lady in the first postcard doesn't really look blissed out does she? I do wish our Junk Mail looked a bit more like this. I might keep it instead of chucking it every week.
ReplyDeleteIt never ceases to amaze me how you just keep coming up with such fitting postcards!
ReplyDeleteOh dear those verses are so awful as to be wonderful (Surely the same copywriter was employed by both companies) and Helen’s comments made me smile. The illustrations however are lovely.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it fascinating to think that there were once jobs for illustrators doing so many interesting jobs like these? Now they'd just slap a photo on it. These cards made the customer feel as if the seller was really interested in them.
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