Description: Minnehaha Brand. This rare vintage 1910s stone lithograph orange crate label depicts a scene from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's 1855 epic poem “The Song of Hiawatha”. We see Hiawatha carrying his lover Minnehaha over a rushing river, bringing life to the two lines from the poem printed on the label: “Over wide and rushing rivers In his arms he bore the maiden; Brought the sunshine of his people, Minnehaha, Laughing Water” In the poem, Minnehaha comes to a tragic end. The name, often said to mean "laughing water", literally translates to "waterfall" or "rapid water" in Dakota. The figure of Minnehaha inspired later art works such as paintings, sculpture, music, and orange crate labels. The Death of Minnehaha is a frequent subject for paintings. Minnehaha Falls (now in Minneapolis, Minnesota) and her death scene inspired themes in the New World Symphony by Antonín Dvořák. Longfellow's poem was set in a cantata trilogy, The Song of Hiawatha in 1898–1900 by the African-English composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor. Longfellow's poem also inspired Hugo Kaun's symphonic poems "Minnehaha" and "Hiawatha" composed in 1901. Native Americans and scenes of Native American life were often portrayed in American art during the 1800s. Charles Bird King, George Catlin, and Karl Bodmer painted numerous realistic portraits of Native Americans in the first half of the century, which were exhibited and published in book form. Later in the century, a more stereotyped image developed, made famous by the popularity of dime novels with garish cover illustrations, and by the traveling Wild West shows of Buffalo Bill Cody. Publicity accompanying these shows usually depicted Plains Native Americans, often on horseback, wearing feathered war bonnets, beads, and colorful blankets. These stylized representations, on millions of posters and advertisements promoting the Buffalo Bill shows, served as the model for most Native Americans depicted on orange box labels. While the scenes and costumes were not especially true to life, the treatment was usually dignified, showing Native Americans in scenes ranging from mountain lakes to inhospitable deserts. This label is vintage - not a copy and is in mint / pristine condition - remarkable for a 100+ year old label! The image shown in this eBay listing is a high-quality accurate-color scan of the actual label that is for sale. Minnehaha Brand Label version 2 of 3 printed by Schmidt Lithograph Company, Los Angeles, CA Used by the Rialto Packing Company, Rialto, San Bernardino County, CA Year: 1910s Scarcity Rating: Rare Condition: Mint Dimensions: 10" x 11"
Price: 1800 USD
Location: Richmond, Virginia
End Time: 2024-05-02T03:24:06.000Z
Shipping Cost: N/A USD
Product Images
Item Specifics
All returns accepted: ReturnsNotAccepted
Brand: Minnehaha
Type of Advertising: Sign
Color: Multi-color
Date of Creation: 1910s
Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
