Italian Tin Signs: 1890-1950

An undiscovered, intimate history of graphic design and packaging

Exploring the world of chromolithographed tin boxes--usually decorated for advertising purposes--is like taking a journey to a different time and place, where even simple, everyday objects were adorned with endless variety, imagination and creativity. Italian Tin Boxes: 1890-1950 traces the history of this humble, fascinating object in Italy from its origins through its heyday, surveying a selection of more than 500 boxes produced between the late 19th century and the early postwar period.

The tin box marshaled the talents of anonymous designers and illustrators as well as some of the greatest poster artists of their day, including Leonetto Cappiello, Achille Mauzan, Marcello Dudovich, Golia and Sepo, all drawing on the most diverse sources for inspiration. Italian Tin Boxes offers an undiscovered, intimate history of graphic design and packaging.