Flower Dance, from National Dances (N225, Type 1) issued by Kinney Bros.

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of 19th-century advertising with *Flower Dance*, a charming chromolithograph from the *National Dances* series (N225, Type 1), issued by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company in 1889. Tucked into cigarette packages as collectible inserts, these diminutive cards—measuring just 2¾ × 1½ inches—captured the imagination of enthusiasts, transforming everyday tobacco products into portals for cultural exploration. This ephemera exemplifies how American businesses cleverly blended commerce with artistry, promoting their brands through series depicting global folk traditions. Rendered in vivid commercial color lithography, the technique's mastery of layering up to 30 inks produced the card's lively hues and intricate details of graceful women dancers in mid-twirl, evoking joy and rhythm. Chromolithography democratized color printing, making high-quality images affordable for mass audiences and fueling the golden age of trade cards. The *Flower Dance* likely celebrates a festive, floral-themed national or folk dance, highlighting women's roles in cultural performance—a nod to Victorian fascination with international customs. Preserved in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, this tiny gem underscores ephemera's enduring value, bridging advertising history with artistic innovation and the universal allure of dance.

About the Artist

Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company · 1869–2011

**Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company (1869–2011)** Founded around 1869 by Francis Sherwood Kinney in New York City, the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company quickly rose to prominence in the burgeoning American cigarette industry. Francis, a pioneering tobacco manufacturer, experimented with hand-rolled cigarettes using blends of Turkish and Virginia tobacco, scaling to mass production by employing Europ...