Design on the Move

MODERN MADE | Design on the Move: Posters from the Shell Heritage Art Collection

This April international auctioneers Lyon & Turnbull, in partnership with poster specialists Tomkinson Churcher, will present Design on the Move: Posters from the Shell Heritage Art Collection at Mall Galleries. The specialist auction, consisting of 49 lots being sold by Shell to benefit The National Motor Museum Trust, features some of the most successful posters from Shell's celebrated mid-20th century advertising campaigns.
From the 1920s to the 1950s, Shell commissioned some powerful advertising campaigns. The company realised early on that its advertisements promoted not only petrol and oil but also motoring, and motoring meant special pleasures – exhilaration, freedom, and the joys of the countryside.
Commissioned by Jack Beddington, who had a keen eye for young talent, the list of artists reads like a Who’s Who of the British art establishment of the period – Ben Nicholson, Graham Sutherland, Edward McKnight Kauffer, and Paul Nash. Beddington’s ability to give young contemporary artists a platform to produce original advertisements made the campaigns of his era a great success.
The Shell Heritage Art Collection Manager, Nicky Balfour Penney said: “We are pleased to be offering these iconic Shell posters for auction to raise vital funds for the National Motor Museum Trust to support its world-class collections and displays in the National Motor Museum. Featuring some of our most popular works in excellent condition, this is a rare opportunity not to be missed.”
This unique collection tells the history of British art from the period and gives us many examples of different styles and influences, from Vorticism to Surrealism. It also illustrates the story of how motoring transformed the lives of Britons, opening up the countryside to middle-class urban dwellers.

The specialist auction Design on the Move: Posters from The Shell Heritage Art Collection is part of Lyon & Turnbull’s April DESIGN series at the Mall Galleries

Part of Lyon & Turnbull’s MODERN MADE DESIGN series at Mall Galleries

Auction Thursday 29 April, 6pm – Live Online Auction – No in-room bidding permitted.

View the Lots