In World War Two, the British aircraft parts company Helliwells used a series of images of a nude female model to promote their work – no other evident reason beyond the obvious one! However it certainly ensured their advertising stood out from the rest. They often (but not always) used the tagline ‘They Who Look…
Tag: Figurine
Forward Pilot
A pilot sculptural bust, near life-size today. Listed by the vendors as a ‘Rare large bronze sculpture of a pilot. Marble base. Excellent condition. Signed in the bronze and engraved “bronze”. Circa 1930. 35cm 30cm 18.5cm. Created by Russian sculptor Ghanu H. Gantcheff. Gantcheff was schooled in Paris and worked in the early 20th century…
Brassy Demoiselle
A very neat piece of silverware, with a brass aircraft, representing a Santos-Dumont Demoiselle. More later. James Kightly, Vintage Aero Writer.
Cheerful Plane Postie
Today’s Poster, from Britain’s General Post Office (GPO). ‘Send Your Overseas Parcels By Air Mail’. So much going on with this artwork, but the basic design, by Harry Stevens, works very well with the postman figurine shaped like an aeroplane. Simple, Memorable. James Kightly, Vintage Aero Writer. Image source: Here, details: original poster PRD 797…
Mind the Dame
Today’s Poster is to promote the cars of now-forgotten prestige French car maker Cottin & Desgouttes. If in doubt, add a semi-nude female – here with wings, but the aviation connection isn’t her, but the aircraft in the background, and that Cottin & Desgouttes were used as an engine builder (Gnome et Rhône radials) in the…
PlaneSkiMan
Today’s Poster. This mountain circuit International Flying Meet, was based in Zurich (love the Umlaut in the ‘u’). I can’t find any online references to the event beyond the poster – which is very strange. In 1922 aircraft were not ‘sleek’ or simple to a modern aesthetic at all, but this hasn’t slowed Swiss artist…
Deco DH
I posted this image, on Facebook in February 2018, a year ago. It was taken by my friend and colleague the artist Ian Bott. It’s a magnificent Art Deco artwork featuring de Havilland DH.86 motif as used on an inter-war ocean liner. It’s between three and five foot long and was on show at the…
Tintin At Ninety
Today*, the immortal cartoon character Tintin is ninety years old, as it’s ninety years since he first appeared in print. A few years ago, a series of aircraft and cars, each accompanied by a character from the books was released. As well as a number that are iconic and crucial to the plots, a few…
Venetian Aviator Memorial
Fame transitions. To many Italians, ‘Pierluigi Penzo’ is a Venetian sports stadium, in the same way for tennis fans, ‘Roland Garros’ is a tennis tournament, not a 1900s aviator. But aeronaut Pier Luigi Penzo (born, Venice 5 May 1896, died 29 September 1928) is also remembered by this beautiful memorial in one of Venice’s treasured…
A Year of Aviation Illustration & Art 