VINTAGE Hawaiiana Art - Eugene Savage - 1950

Pricing & History

Sold for
Start Free Trial or Sign In to see what it's worth.
Sold Date
Source eBay

This auction is for a lot of 5 vintage dinner menus1950 "The History of Hawaii"from Matson Lines cruise ship S.S. Lurline These are original menus, NOT reproductions in excellent collectible condition. All covers are clean, very minimal wear to edges. Suitable for framing. Paper shows minimal yellowing from age. 21" x 12-7/8" The cover art is created by Eugene Savage (1883-1978), a native of Indiana, arrived in Hawaii only to find himself soon engaged in the painting of nine 8' wide and 4' high murals for the Matson Shipping Company. The murals, completed in 1940, were never used as Matson's ships were drafted for the war effort. In 1948, however, nine-color lithographed menu covers based on these designs made their appearance on the company's flagship S.S. Lurline. Two years later Savage was bestowed the highest possible award of the American Institute of Graphic Arts for his menu covers, the Certificate of Excellence. A year tafter The Smithsonian Institution exhibited them, and today the series is part of its permanent collection. For the collector of originals it's interesting to learn that Matson also reprinted Savage menu covers for sale. Naturally, these have a lesser value than the printed and dated original menus featuring the dishes of the day. Currently, Savage's art is regarded the finest that the period produced and no collection of Hawaiian nostalgia would be complete without these examples of Savage's fine art Excerpts below are taken from inside each menu "A word about the subject of the cover painting"ISLAND FEAST: Dinner menu, July 17, 1950 For ancient Hawaiians, all events of importance called for a feast...every high point in life was signaled by a luau. The celebrations were marked by abject attention to every whim of the king or chief who might be present, by music and dancing, by idols to keep the gods in mind, and above all, by a plenitude of food. A luau such as the artist has depicted had to begin long before the feast was actually served...the preparations took hours. But they were regarded as part of the fun which ran on merrily from beginning to end." A GOD APPEARS: Dinner menu, July 25, 1950 "Captain James Cook lands on the island of Kauai, January 1778. The islanders believe he was an incarnation of their god Lono. Eugene Savage's painting has caught the spirit of the occasion. The meeting at the edge of the sea...the welcoming gesture, a gorgeous flower lei...the eager acclaim of the warriors...the joy of the assembled throng at the appearance of their god...the abundant preparations for the luau that awaits the visiting deity...all are in the Hawaiian tradition." FESTIVAL OF THE SEA: Dinner menu, July 30, 1950 "To the Hawaiian of old, fishing was not only a means of livelihood but an art and a sport. In the hukilau it became a gay, exciting community festival. Several large nets were fastened together to make one huge one...It was hauled out from shore in outrigger canoes...Swimmers followed the canoes, gatd the ends of the ropes and started shoreward. Then laughing, singing, shouting nearly the entire village went out into the water to help draw the net to shore. The artist has centered attention on the exciting climax." POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE: Dinner menu, July 31, 1950 Kingship in ancient Hawaii had to be won by strength and skill in battle and held againt all rivals...little wonder what man who could do that was esteemed by his people as a demi-god...But as great as was their awe of the king, it could not suppress the Hawaiian's natural love of merrymaking...The artist vividly suggests the forms it took...hula dancing to chanted music and the pounding of gourds...lively games...horsemanship and sports of the sea...and always as a climax a well provisioned, flower-decked luau. " HAWAII'S DECISIVE HOUR: Captain's Dinner menu, August 1, 1950 "The annexation of Hawaii, August 12, 1898. The historic event took place on the balcony of Iolani Palace... read more

Items in the Price Guide are obtained exclusively from licensors and partners solely for our members’ research needs.

Flag item for content or copyright

If this item contains incorrect or inappropriate information please contact us here to flag it for review.

If you are the originator/copyright holder of this photo/item and would prefer it be excluded from our community, contact us here for removal.