a players navy cut/ senior service cigarette art sailors sweetheart oval rosette, dating from the early part of the 20th century.
The practice of working card sits within a long tradition of "maritime folk art sailor's crafts" (like scrimshaw or ropework), where mariners used whatever materials were readily available during long, monotonous stretches at sea. Cigarette packets were a perfect resource: they were abundant,durable and brightly coloured. folded and cut packets were arranged in interlocking circles or ovals and glued together to form intricate, multi layered starbursts or kaleidoscope-style rosettes. Because cigarette brands printed incredibly symmetrical, high-contrast graphics, the resulting rosettes featured beautiful, complex geometric patterns that hid their humble origins. Today, surviving cigarette card rosettes are considered rare pieces of social history and vintage paper craft.cigarette packet rosettes were rarely kept by the sailors themselves; instead, they were made as " sweet heart " love tokens. a gift for a wife, girl friend or familly member as a souvenir of time away.
the player's navy cut logo of a bearded royal navy sailor was based on the painting 'head of a sailor' by arthur david mccormick (1860–1943), which is believed to depict thomas huntley wood, who served twenty-four years in the royal navy in the nineteenth century. the painting was then used as inspiration by players for their logo and was printed on every cigarette packet for over half a century. the sailor image was known as 'hero' because of the name on his hat band.
thomas huntley wood whose bearded face appeared on millions of cigarette packets for over 50 years, served in the royal navy for 26 years. he was a boatman on hms edinburgh in 1897, when a photographer impressed by his stalwart maritime appearance, took a photograph which was published in a magazine.a year later the picture appeared for the first time in a tobacco advertisement. wood, advised by his senior officer, wrote to the firm and received what he asked for ... 2 shillings and some tobacco for himself and his mates. wood sat for several portraits by arthur david mccormick which were used in players navy cut artwork and advertising.
senior service cigarettes were introduced in 1937, J.A. Pattreiouex Ltd was acquired by gallaher group, which expanded and marketed Senior Service nationally across the United Kingdom.
overall frame size ... 510mm x410mm
