Chris Calle: Snuff Shop Highlander Figurehead

Artist: Chris Calle
1961 -
Nationality: American
Artwork Year: 1985
Image Size: 16.875 by 12.5 inches
Overall Size: 23.125 by 16.25 inches
Medium: Mixed Media on Hot Press Illustration Board


The use of wood carved figures for advertising in America can be traced back to England. One of the most common examples of this practice was the Scottish Highlander, "Highland Laddie," and the Snuff Highlander figures which English wood craftsmen first carved for English tobacco shops. These figures soon became symbols for tobacconists throughout colonial America. Most figures were intricately detailed and carved at life-size or larger. Typically, The Highlander would stand in the doorway of the snuff shop with its hand extended offering a pinch of snuff to the passerby, while holding his snuff pouch in the other hand. The Highlander was always carved dressed in a tartan kilt, colorful bonnet, and a sporran fur -- the traditional pouch worn at the waist by Scot Highlanders. But, as the United States won its independence, and settlers moved westward, the Highlander was replaced by a more distinctively American image -- the Cigar Store Indian.

This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood® First Day of Issue Maximum Card for the U.S. 22¢ Highlander Figurehead stamp issued October 1, 1986.

Artwork Copyright © 1985 Unicover Corporation. All Rights Reserved under United States and international copyright laws. You may not reproduce, distribute, transmit, or otherwise exploit the Artwork in any way. Images of the Artwork may be watermarked and/or digitally watermarked. Any sale of the physical original does not include or convey the Copyright or any right comprised in the copyright.
Our Stock Number (SKU): XB10079 US$ Price: $1,100.00

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