Original Eugene Savage Vintage Hawaiian Shirt

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Original Eugene Savage Vintage Hawaiian Shirt

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Sold Date: 06/26/2008
Channel: Online Auction
Source: eBay
Category: Ethnic, Folk & Native American Art

For collectors of Hawaiiana or Hawaiian shirts, this is the jewel of the crown. Having been employed with American Hawaiian Cruises for years I came to appreciate the beautiful islands, the lore as well as cruise history. When I found this shirt I was thrilled beyond belief. It is time for me to divest myself of my Hawaiian collection, which includes original menus and other smaller items. However, this shirt is my most special item. It is in EXCELLENT condition. I found it in California, obviously from a person that wore it so little or not at all because it is in pristine condition. I have carefully stored it for seventeen years in appreciation and realizing that to wear it would be wrong.Each of the buttons are attached with original thread and the button holes rimmed in green thread (used throughout the garment) show no wear as well. This is a size M as noted in the "KAMEHAMEHA - made and styled in HAWAII" label on the inner back collar. The signature statement of "Original Matson Menu Design" - by Eugene Savage is found on the inner right hand front vertical selvage. Most of you probably know the history of this shirt if you are on this site. Briefly, the artist Eugene Savage lived from 1883 - 1978. A graduate of fine art colleges and Yale, he was listed as a member of the mural guild with the WPA Federal Art Program. A contemporary of other muralists of the time--Diego Rivera, Jose Orozco and Siqueiros--Savage was commissioned by Matson Shipping Lines to create a series of murals for their Hawaiian passenger ships. The murals were completed in 1940, however the onset of WWII forced Matson to undress their ships and paint them battle gray for the war and store the unmounted murals for a future time. Post war 1948 Matson decided to issue a printing of the mural art for a series of nine onboard menus. These were exhibited at the Smithsonian in 1949. Savage's stylized art was also made into clothing, the most popular being the Hawaiian Shirt you see This design features more of the original mural image (note more sky) than the menu art "Island Fest" as it was a way to create a repeat on the fabric. This extra sky serves to balance the dominate oranges and greens.