Lamp, from the Novelties series (N228, Type 5) issued by Kinney Bros.

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of 19th advertising with this petite *Lamp* from Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company's Novelties series (N228, Type 5), in 1889. Produced as collectible inserts for cigarette packs, these cards captivated smokers and enthusiasts alike, blending everyday motifs like elegant women and ornate lamps with the era's booming tobacco trade. Kinney Bros., a prominent New York firm, flooded the market with such "trade cards," turning promotional ephemera into coveted keepsakes that reflected Victorian fascination with domestic beauty and illumination. Crafted as a commercial color lithograph—a pioneering technique for mass-producing vivid, multi-hued images on a tiny scale (just 2 7/8 × 1 9/16 in.)—this print exemplifies the artistry of chromolithography. Its bold colors and fine details brought luxury to the masses, making high-style imagery accessible far beyond elite galleries. Women and lamps, common tags here, evoked themes of warmth, guidance, and femininity in Gilded Age America. Today, housed in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, this piece highlights ephemera's rise from disposable ads to cultural treasures, preserving a slice of commercial ingenuity and everyday allure.

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...