Ikonographia Archive provides a unique lens into American and international popular culture, showcasing the work of illustrators, photographers, and designers, focusing on 20th-century advertisements. A Story is the core module of Ikonographia. It’s a curated collection of images on a given topic, surrounded by all available contexts, including historical background and text transcripts.
The most intriguing British Dunlop ads of the thirties.
Explore an extensive collection of Dunlop’s most intriguing campaigns from 1933 to 1938, featuring beautiful illustrations created by talented artists with different styles and perspectives. The illustrations are carefully crafted to depict a variety of social situations.
Most of these images are exclusive and not available online.
The hi-res files are digitally restored, preserving the detail and feel of the originals.
The Art Deco Glass Objects by Serge Roche, 1930s
This story presents an overview of the Art Deco glasswork of French artist Serge Roche during the 1930s, highlighting his innovative techniques like “Oxidations” and “Eglomisation” in creating mirrors and glass objects.
We showcase several of Roche’s notable creations, including unique mirrored furniture and a grand mirror fireplace, often commissioned by elite clientele.
Portfolio Magazine by Brodovitch Winter 1950 Issue
Selected Contents from Portfolio N.2. Summer 1950. Each issue of “Portfolio” was filled with remarkable content, and we are dedicating a story to each issue. This is a focus on Issue No. 2, published in Summer 1950.
The introduction texts and the captions are taken from the original magazine.
Art Deco Masterpieces. The Rene Chambellan Grilles at Chanin Building NYC
This story is the second installment in a series celebrating the 2025 centenary of Art Deco, focusing on the renowned master René Paul Chambellan. We will highlight the remarkable radiator grilles in the vestibules of the Chanin Building.
These grilles feature a geometric, abstract design symbolizing human thought and emotion, showcasing exceptional Art Deco craftsmanship in New York City.
The Eve Book by Anne Harriet Fish 1916
The “Eve Book,” also known as “The First Book of Eve,” is a historical gem published in 1916 by Brentano in the US and the Tatler in the UK. Introducing the new star illustrator, Anne Fish, it is a curated collection of drawings published on the Tatler from 1914 to 1916 in the column “The Letters of Eve,” offering a unique glimpse into the dark days of World War I.
The Nonexistent Knight – The Armour Collection of Ferdinand Von Hapsburg
Discover the Armor collection of Maximilian II of Hapsburg.
Starting in 1577, the Tyrolese Archduke Ferdinand of Habsburg, who later became Holy Roman Emperor, amassed a diverse collection of art and wonders at his Ambras Castle, near Innsbruck, which astounded his contemporaries. His primary focus was on the armory, where he collected the armor owned by all the famous personalities of both his own era and previous centuries—from princes to military commanders.
Celebrating the Art Deco Centenary. 1925-2025
The Coca-Cola History Trough Ads. A fascinating journey starting in 1896, when nine drinks a day were sold, marking the humble beginnings of a global phenomenon.
This first part chronicles the period 1896-1919, including the story of the original Coca and Cola extract recipe, the Trademark registration, the first ads, the Coca-Cola Branding Journey, and Imitation Fighting.
The whole story will spam into the 1960s.
The Coca-Cola History Through Ads. 1 – 1886-1919
The Coca-Cola History Trough Ads. A fascinating journey starting in 1896, when nine drinks a day were sold, marking the humble beginnings of a global phenomenon.
This first part chronicles the period 1896-1919, including the story of the original Coca and Cola extract recipe, the Trademark registration, the first ads, the Coca-Cola Branding Journey, and Imitation Fighting.
The whole story will spam into the 1960s.
The Bugatti Catalogs Functional Design. 1920s and 1930s
Ettore and Jean Bugatti, the creative minds behind Bugatti’s iconic designs, also oversaw the creation of Bugatti’s literature with an obsessive attention to detail. Their influence can be seen in every catalog, advertisement, poster, and factory technical drawing.
Bugatti’s literature had a home-made taste. The Company didn’t have the budgets of most car makers, but its brochures were original and elegant—a class from itself.
Augustus Jansson’s Ink Beasts Parade for Queen City Ink 1905
Augustus Jansson, a Swedish-American illustrator and designer, established a reputation through his original and superior work when he began a seven-year working period for Queen City Printing Ink.
Bugatti Masterpieces of 1920s and 1930s. By Roberto Bigano
Ikonographia is proud to showcase a gallery of the most iconic vintage Bugatti masterpieces, highlighted by the splendid images of Roberto Bigano. The models range from the legendary Type 13 and Type 35 racing models to the stylish Type 57 Atalante and Atlantic designed by Jean Bugatti.
Social Events in 1920s High Society. By Fish
A second compilation of pages from Vanity Fair and the book “High Society” on “Social Events in 1920s High Society,” illustrated by Anne Fish.
Any double-page plate focuses on a specific topic providing a unique, rich lens into American and international high society’s lifestyles of the 1910s and 1920s. Rigorously in black and white, these inimitable sketches are completed with entertaining captions.
Divina Bugatti. A Timeless Legend Celebrated in a Timeless Book
Divina Bugatti. The legendary Brand celebrated in a Timeless Book, created as a joint effort between Romano Artioli, owner of Bugatti Automobili, and Franco Maria Ricci—immersing readers in the making of the book, the characters, and a selection of the most breathtaking pictures.
Gluyas Williams Cartoons from “Ourselves as Others See Us.” 1920s
Gluyas Williams Cartoons from “Ourselves as Others See Us.” This story features the entire run of double-page illustrations published in Cosmopolitan in 1928. This was the golden age of the magazine’s illustration, featuring splendid plates from artists such as Gluyas Williams, Charles Dana Gibson, and Anne Harriet Fish in the same issues.
Portfolio Magazine by Brodovitch as never seen before. 1950
“Portfolio,” conceived by Frank Zachary and designed by Alexey Brodovitch, at the time, art director of the iconic Harper’s Bazaar magazine, was published in the Winter of 1950.
It was decided that Portfolio would run without ads, freeing up more space for the overall design. However, the enormous costs of the publication and lack of advertising revenue soon killed the magazine. Only three numbers were issued; the last was in the Spring of 1951.
Flirting, Engagement, Weddings & Divorce in 1920s High Society. By Fish
A first compilation of pages from Vanity Fair and the book “High Society” on Flirting, Engagement, Weddings & Divorce, illustrated by Anne Fish.
Any double-page plate focuses on a specific topic providing a unique, rich lens into American and international high society’s lifestyles of the 1910s and 1920s. Rigorously in black and white, these inimitable sketches are completed with entertaining captions.
Flair Magazine by Fleur Cowles as never seen before. 1950
Conceived and produced by visionary editor Fleur Cowles, Flair Magazine existed for only one year and twelve issues. Nevertheless, Flair launched a new aesthetic paradigm for mass-produced lifestyle magazines. The magazine combined art, fashion, travel, and reportage to take the most out of its Editor’s formidable influence in promoting European and American talent.
The double spreads pages are reproduced from the originals.
Cadillac’s World War II Iconic Advertisements
On January 16, 1942, 39 days after Pearl Harbor, President Roosevelt, with an executive order, created the War Production Board (WPB) to convert peacetime industrial production to meet the needs of the war.
Only 55 days after automobile production ended, Cadillac delivered the first tank. Just 17 days later, the second was shipped. Production was beginning to roll and soon to become a flood.