Andrew S. Cahan Libri

Combining wonderful graphics with fascinating history, this book is a showcase of outstanding Chinese label, packaging, and advertising art created between 1900 and 1976. These stunning images came from cities in China such as Canton and Shanghai, as well as places beyond the border such as Hong Kong, Macau, and Singapore, where large Chinese populations thrived and commercial ties to the West were strong. Export and domestic products include tea, medicine, food, cosmetics, cigarettes, dyes, matches, phonograph records, firecrackers, religious items, and more. Their labeling presents a mixture of traditional imagery and ornamentation blended with Western culture and merchandising. Over 400 visually captivating images make this an important resource for artists, designers, historians, and merchants alike.

The book showcases over 400 vintage product labels from 1890 to 1976, primarily from Chinese cities like Canton and Shanghai. It highlights the artistic and cultural significance of these labels, which reflect the everyday lives of consumers. The designs feature a unique blend of traditional Chinese imagery and Western influences, evolving through various historical contexts, including the ideology of the People's Republic of China. This collection will appeal to both designers and historians interested in the intersection of art and culture in consumer products.