PR 095A striking image of a pipe-smoking Bedouin for German tobacco company Cruwell, and their Mekka brand tobacco. In the corner is the logo of the Cruwell-Haus originally built in 1530 and rebuilt after WWII; and also note the Droste effect in the tobacco container! An iconic advertising image, the artist is unknown. C1930 Size 60x84cm. B
Price: $400.00
Note: In the early 1900s, manufactures of Turkish and Egyptian cigarettes tripled their sales and became legitimate competitors to leading brands. One of the earliest successful Turkish cigarettes, Mecca was introduced by the Kinney Bros. Tobacco Company in 1878. The cigarette was named after the Muslim city of holy pilgrimage, Mecca, tying the cigarette closely to the exotic East. The American Tobacco Company acquired the Mecca brand in 1911 through the dissolution of the Cigarette Trust, accounting for the high quality of the Mecca advertisements in the following years. Mecca, along with other Turkish cigarette brands, referenced the “Oriental” roots of their Turkish tobacco blends through brand name, pack art and advertising images. In particular, many Mecca ads featured elegant, exotic turbaned men with heavy mustaches. The ads made use of vibrant, luxurious colors and imagery.
