DESIGNER UNKNOWN CRISTAL MANDARINE. Circa 1906. 51x33 inches. Emile Charles and Files, Limoges. Condition B+: minor losses and abrasions along vertical and horizontal folds. At the turn of the century, the alcohol business was flourishing. New kinds of liqueurs abounded and little distilleries all over France tried their hand at mixing sugars, fruits or herbs in with their product to create new drinks. Finding an exotic flavor was easy compared to marketing a new product given the competition. Companies that advertised survived, and advertisers realized that posters were the most efficient and spectacular manner in which to get their product in front of the eyes of the general public. This image was an attempt to compete by a small distillery in Limoges, one of the many that didn't survive. Although highly decorative, the generic concept, of a beautiful woman enjoying her mandarine-flavored liqueur, didn't have what it took to propel the company to lasting prosperity.
