The poster was designed and printed in Shanghai, China for the British Cigarette Co. The names of the artist and the printer of this particlular poster are unknown.
The success of these types of advertising posters meant that local artists and designers found a lucrative outlet with the growing demand for watercolour posters. Some were employed directly by companies such as the British American Tobacco Co and China Nanyang Brother Tobacco Co, others set up their own studios. This fostered a new form of expression that is a synthesis of Western ideas and technologies, and Chinese illustration technique, in which Chinese watercolour technique was effectively employed to add emphasis and a refined elegance to posters depicting familiar Chinese scenes and settings, historical figures, gods and characters of opera and legend.

Overseas companies such as the British American Tobacco Co, were the first to introduce this type of product promotion to China, which then prompted similar tactics from local Chinese companies.

Puchased by the vendor in China in 1995.

Calendar, cigarette advertising, Hatamen Cigarettes, paper/metal, British Cigarette Co Ltd, China, 1920-1940. Colour printed advertising poster on thick paper with metal strips along top and bottom. Illustration shows two young women dressed in long elaborate traditional robes and hair styles standing in a garden setting with domestic buildings behind them. At bottom left corner there is an illustration of a pack of Hatamen cigarettes with the British Cigarette Co Ltd mark visible. Inscription down right side: 'Hademen xiangyan fen liang zhong dahao putong (Big [magnum] size and normal)'. Bottom right corner 'P.D. 773'. Bottom left corner in red 'Zhong guo zhizao (Made in China)'.

Designed: Shanghai, China

Made: Shanghai, China; 1920 - 1930

96/254/2

780 mm

530 mm