A remarkable example of a color lithographed champagne label, bearing the appellation "Sillery Mousseux," a term used in the 19th century to designate a sparkling wine from Champagne. The spectacular decoration combines a crown, two red flamingos, vine leaves, and a bunch of grapes, with the words "Qualité" (Quality) and "Supérieure" (Superior) on a ribbon. This print, produced by the J. A. Hofmann workshop in Würzburg, demonstrates the graphic expertise of German commercial lithography intended for the wine market.
✦ Estimated period: circa 1858-1865 ✦ Origin: Germany, Würzburg – J. A. Hofmann lithographic workshop ✦ Dimensions: approx. 11.5 x 7.5 cm ✦ Material: color lithograph on paper ✦ Condition: Good overall condition; slight handling marks, tiny smudges, and subtle paper patina on the margins
This old "Sillery Mousseux" champagne label is a beautiful piece of 19th-century ephemera for collectors of lithographs, old advertisements, and the history of Champagne wine.
