Cigarette Cards

Amongst some of the antique bric a brac in Napier, I came across a basket full of old cigarette cards.
The first cigarette cards appeared in cigarette packs from 1875, to stiffen the packs and be used as advertising. The cards were typically of a set of 25 or 50 and the idea would be to collect a set, very popular by the working class children in London.

I love the ones I found, of a series 'Children of all Nations' from a British Tobacco Company of 1925. Amusing to see how the UK viewed the world and also some seriously non pc slants....

The South African child is pictured as 'Natal' - on the back - the Zulu children of Natal are brown, being darker than others but none are quite black. They are not unkindly treated, but are made to assist their mothers in hoeing weeds from the maize patch and in gathering ripe cobs. These are ground into meal, which together with curdled milk forms the cheif food of the boys and girls, the fresh milk being reserved for very young children.

The american children are noted as being obnoxious, while the Brazilian children need to be beaten by their grandfathers, cut on their arms to ensure good hunting skills and bitten by ants without complaining...

The not badly treated (obviously suprising) Zulu child

The Australian 'Black Fellow', the Hong Kong Coolie and the South African Settler

The caterpillar eating Congelese, who play a game with a big nut that resembles lawn tennis

The obnoxious and boysterious american child

Im not sure what I'll do with these...Im sure i'll find a use at some point.

Napier New Zealand

I have just been to visit a friend in the beautiful Hawkes Bay region of North island New Zealand. The area is known for its outstanding wine and beauty...it certainly didn't disappoint. One of the towns in the area, Napier, is known as the Art Deco capital of the world.

An earthquake in the early 1930's destroyed the town, it was rebuilt at the height of the Art Deco era, a movement which praised industrialisation and the machine. The movement developed after the Art Nouveau period, which drew inspiration from nature - think Paris underground station signs....

Some of the typical Art Deco symbolism are stylised sunbursts over doors and fountain motifs, both representing renewal. Speed/ go fast lines are also often seen, representing fast cars and machines of the era. The zigarat symbol which shows the stepping back of a shape, derived from the newly developed 'skyscaper' being built in places like New York, which was stepped back every few floors to allow sunlight to the streets below is another typical motif.

See the sunburst of renewal over the door

The canopy 'zigarat', a typical feature of art deco buildings, go fast spripes to the right

All buildings were in pristine condition

 

These buildings were in such a fabulous state of repair and the whole town is jammed with art deco dress up shops, antiques and decor it really feels like a wonderful step back in time.




Black Barn vineyard - keep em peeled for delicious grapes grown on the 'grimblet gravel' from Hawkes Bay - shiraz the best.



Leaving Napier

Its a beautiful spot, highly recommended if youre ever in the area.

I've been very slack of late, have started working so time is once again a precious commodity, I'm going to keep at it though. x