Marco Polo Vintage Tea Poster by Ludwig Hohlwein, 1910
Opera d’arte autentica
L’opera d’arte che stampiamo è fedelmente restaurata dalla fonte originale - solitamente un museo, una biblioteca o una collezione privata. Non sostituiamo mai, ridisegniamo o inventiamo l’opera dell’artista usando l’IA generativa.
Restaurata nel nostro laboratorio di Londra dall’opera originale del 1910 e stampata in qualità museale. Descrizione completa
L’offerta del Collezionista
Scegli due opere idonee e ricevi il 20% di sconto su entrambe. Scegline tre e quella al prezzo più basso è in omaggio, con un risparmio massimo del 33%.
Abbina liberamente mappe standard idonee e stampe d’arte fine art. Non è richiesto alcun codice; l’offerta viene applicata automaticamente al checkout.
Sono incluse le configurazioni standard su ordinazione. Sono esclusi formati su misura, design personalizzati e lavori su commissione.
Hai bisogno di consegne a indirizzi diversi? Contattaci prima di effettuare l’ordine.L’offerta del Collezionista
Scegli due opere idonee e ricevi il 20% di sconto su entrambe. Scegline tre e quella al prezzo più basso è in omaggio, con un risparmio massimo del 33%.
Abbina liberamente mappe standard idonee e stampe d’arte fine art. Non è richiesto alcun codice; l’offerta viene applicata automaticamente al checkout.
Sono incluse le configurazioni standard su ordinazione. Sono esclusi formati su misura, design personalizzati e lavori su commissione.
Hai bisogno di consegne a indirizzi diversi? Contattaci prima di effettuare l’ordine.
Restaurato a Londra • Stampato e incorniciato in Canada
Opera d’arte autentica
L’opera d’arte che stampiamo è fedelmente restaurata dalla fonte originale - solitamente un museo, una biblioteca o una collezione privata. Non sostituiamo mai, ridisegniamo o inventiamo l’opera dell’artista usando l’IA generativa.
Restaurata dall’opera originale del 1910 e stampata in qualità museale. Descrizione completa
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Scegli la finitura
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Gift message & custom finish
If you want to add a gift message, or a finish (jigsaw, aluminium board, etc.) that is not available here, please request it in the "order note" when you check out.
Every order is custom made, so if you need the size adjusted slightly, or printed on an unusual material, just let us know. We've done thousands of custom orders over the years, so there's (almost) nothing we can't manage.
You can also contact us before you order, if you prefer!
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Ludwig Hohlwein’s Marco-Polo-Tee, created in 1910, condenses an advertisement for tea into a handful of emphatic forms. A stylised attendant in a...
Continua a leggereLudwig Hohlwein’s Marco-Polo-Tee, created in 1910, condenses an advertisement for tea into a handful of emphatic forms. A stylised attendant in a brilliant blue robe stands to the left of centre, presenting two small white cups on a plate. Behind the figure, deep black and green fields meet in abrupt geometric divisions, while the product name—“MARCO-POLO-TEE”—runs across the lower edge in substantial green lettering. The result is immediately legible yet unusually theatrical: figure, drink and brand appear almost as a single graphic emblem.
Hohlwein was among the leading German poster designers of the early twentieth century, admired for images that communicated at a glance without sacrificing decorative sophistication. His work belongs to a period in which printed advertising was becoming integral to modern brand identity. Rather than relying on extensive copy, designers used simplified silhouettes, concentrated colour and memorable typography to distinguish one commodity from another. Here, the name Marco Polo gives an everyday beverage associations of distant travel, mercantile exchange and cultivated refinement—ideas that carried particular commercial potency in European advertising of the period.
A closer look
The figure dominates the composition through colour rather than central placement. The robe’s saturated blue presses forward against the black ground, its silhouette sharpened by fine facial contours and small yellow decorative accents. White details at the feet punctuate the lower part of the body, preventing the dark base from disappearing entirely into the background. Although the clothing contains ornament, it has been reduced to broad, economical shapes; Hohlwein provides just enough detail to establish bearing and costume without interrupting the poster’s visual speed.
The two cups are remarkably small in relation to the figure, yet their pale surfaces make them among the first details to register. Their curved forms sit above the plate like a concise visual explanation of the product. This restrained presentation is set against an asymmetric structure: the attendant occupies the central-left area, while a green square in the upper right counterbalances the body. Its subtly varied surface softens the otherwise uncompromising division between blue, green and black.
Typography anchors the scene. The heavy serif letters along the bottom do not merely caption the illustration; their green colour connects the brand name to the upper field, binding the poster into a coherent whole. The hyphenated wording gives the title a compact, almost architectural rhythm. A small pale label appears at the lower right, but it remains subordinate to the three elements Hohlwein makes essential: the attendant, the cups and the name of the tea.
Context and significance
Marco-Polo-Tee demonstrates how effectively Hohlwein could balance representation with abstraction. The body remains recognisably human, the cups immediately readable, yet depth has largely been removed. Instead of constructing a naturalistic interior, he arranges flat colour areas that function simultaneously as backdrop, shadow and graphic framework. This suppression of conventional space was particularly suited to advertising, where an image needed to retain its force at a distance and amid the visual competition of the modern street.
The poster also records the language through which imported goods were marketed in early twentieth-century Europe. Marco Polo’s name operates less as historical narrative than as evocative branding, turning travel and trade into an atmosphere around the tea. Seen today, the design is compelling both for that cultural history and for its disciplined economy: Hohlwein allows a restricted palette, a single poised gesture and one line of lettering to carry the entire advertisement.
Choosing the right size and finish
Artwork can feel intimate at smaller sizes and dramatically more architectural at larger ones. Use the room preview, model image and size guide to see how the proportions and scale will work in your space.
If you need an exact size, specialist framing or help planning a larger display, ask our workshop for advice.
The model in the listing images is holding the 24x36in (60x90cm) version of this art print.
Where personalisation is available, you can add a short title or dedication, or one considered visual detail. See examples of personalised artwork.
Choose Original to retain the colour and character of the source artwork, or Aged for a warmer, more antique appearance. See examples of our Aged artwork.
Every piece is produced to archival standards using fade-resistant pigment inks on acid-free matte art paper. Choose an art print, framed art print or framed canvas using the finish options above.
Framed art prints use crystal-clear optical acrylic for excellent clarity, lower weight and safer delivery than glass. Each piece arrives professionally framed and ready to hang.
Selected artworks can be produced at statement sizes up to 3 metres (10ft). Custom sizing and specialist framing are also available. If the exact option you need is not listed, contact our workshop.
This artwork is also available as a float framed canvas, sometimes known as a shadow gap framed canvas or canvas floater. The work is printed on artist's cotton canvas and then stretched over a handmade box frame. We then "float" the canvas inside a wooden frame, which is available in a range of colours (black, dark brown, oak, antique gold and white). This is a wonderful way to present an art print without glazing in front. See some examples of float framed canvas art and explore the differences between my different finishes.
Ludwig Hohlwein’s Marco-Polo-Tee, created in 1910, condenses an advertisement for tea into a handful of emphatic forms. A stylised attendant in a brilliant blue robe stands to the left of centre, presenting two small white cups on a plate. Behind the figure, deep black and green fields meet in abrupt geometric divisions, while the product name—“MARCO-POLO-TEE”—runs across the lower edge in substantial green lettering. The result is immediately legible yet unusually theatrical: figure, drink and brand appear almost as a single graphic emblem.
Hohlwein was among the leading German poster designers of the early twentieth century, admired for images that communicated at a glance without sacrificing decorative sophistication. His work belongs to a period in which printed advertising was becoming integral to modern brand identity. Rather than relying on extensive copy, designers used simplified silhouettes, concentrated colour and memorable typography to distinguish one commodity from another. Here, the name Marco Polo gives an everyday beverage associations of distant travel, mercantile exchange and cultivated refinement—ideas that carried particular commercial potency in European advertising of the period.
A closer look
The figure dominates the composition through colour rather than central placement. The robe’s saturated blue presses forward against the black ground, its silhouette sharpened by fine facial contours and small yellow decorative accents. White details at the feet punctuate the lower part of the body, preventing the dark base from disappearing entirely into the background. Although the clothing contains ornament, it has been reduced to broad, economical shapes; Hohlwein provides just enough detail to establish bearing and costume without interrupting the poster’s visual speed.
The two cups are remarkably small in relation to the figure, yet their pale surfaces make them among the first details to register. Their curved forms sit above the plate like a concise visual explanation of the product. This restrained presentation is set against an asymmetric structure: the attendant occupies the central-left area, while a green square in the upper right counterbalances the body. Its subtly varied surface softens the otherwise uncompromising division between blue, green and black.
Typography anchors the scene. The heavy serif letters along the bottom do not merely caption the illustration; their green colour connects the brand name to the upper field, binding the poster into a coherent whole. The hyphenated wording gives the title a compact, almost architectural rhythm. A small pale label appears at the lower right, but it remains subordinate to the three elements Hohlwein makes essential: the attendant, the cups and the name of the tea.
Context and significance
Marco-Polo-Tee demonstrates how effectively Hohlwein could balance representation with abstraction. The body remains recognisably human, the cups immediately readable, yet depth has largely been removed. Instead of constructing a naturalistic interior, he arranges flat colour areas that function simultaneously as backdrop, shadow and graphic framework. This suppression of conventional space was particularly suited to advertising, where an image needed to retain its force at a distance and amid the visual competition of the modern street.
The poster also records the language through which imported goods were marketed in early twentieth-century Europe. Marco Polo’s name operates less as historical narrative than as evocative branding, turning travel and trade into an atmosphere around the tea. Seen today, the design is compelling both for that cultural history and for its disciplined economy: Hohlwein allows a restricted palette, a single poised gesture and one line of lettering to carry the entire advertisement.
Choosing the right size and finish
Artwork can feel intimate at smaller sizes and dramatically more architectural at larger ones. Use the room preview, model image and size guide to see how the proportions and scale will work in your space.
If you need an exact size, specialist framing or help planning a larger display, ask our workshop for advice.
The model in the listing images is holding the 24x36in (60x90cm) version of this art print.
Where personalisation is available, you can add a short title or dedication, or one considered visual detail. See examples of personalised artwork.
Choose Original to retain the colour and character of the source artwork, or Aged for a warmer, more antique appearance. See examples of our Aged artwork.
Every piece is produced to archival standards using fade-resistant pigment inks on acid-free matte art paper. Choose an art print, framed art print or framed canvas using the finish options above.
Framed art prints use crystal-clear optical acrylic for excellent clarity, lower weight and safer delivery than glass. Each piece arrives professionally framed and ready to hang.
Selected artworks can be produced at statement sizes up to 3 metres (10ft). Custom sizing and specialist framing are also available. If the exact option you need is not listed, contact our workshop.
This artwork is also available as a float framed canvas, sometimes known as a shadow gap framed canvas or canvas floater. The work is printed on artist's cotton canvas and then stretched over a handmade box frame. We then "float" the canvas inside a wooden frame, which is available in a range of colours (black, dark brown, oak, antique gold and white). This is a wonderful way to present an art print without glazing in front. See some examples of float framed canvas art and explore the differences between my different finishes.
Molte delle nostre mappe e stampe d’arte vengono scelte come regali premurosi per case, uffici, studi e luoghi significativi.
Scegli un’opzione incorniciata per il regalo più semplice, pronto da appendere, oppure scegli una stampa non incorniciata se il destinatario preferisce selezionare la propria cornice.
Realizziamo gli ordini localmente in 23 paesi in tutto il mondo, così i regali possono spesso essere prodotti vicino al destinatario. Questo li aiuta ad arrivare più rapidamente, a viaggiare in maggiore sicurezza e a evitare sorprese legate a dazi doganali o di importazione.
- Possiamo consegnare direttamente al destinatario
- I pezzi incorniciati arrivano pronti da appendere
- Le stampe non incorniciate sono accuratamente imballate in un robusto tubo protettivo
- Quasi ogni ordine viene realizzato localmente, per regali più rapidi e sicuri
- Il reso entro 90 giorni dà al destinatario il tempo di decidere
Se non sei sicuro di cosa scegliere, ti invitiamo a contattarci. Possiamo aiutarti a scegliere la mappa, il formato, la finitura o l’opzione di consegna più adatti.
Most orders are made locally and delivered in around 2–3 working days, depending on the product, size and destination.
We print and frame maps and artwork in 24 countries around the world, so your order is usually made close to you or your recipient. That means faster delivery, less time in transit, and no customs or import duty surprises.
Personalised and customised pieces usually take an extra 1–2 working days, because we prepare your design and send it to you for approval before printing.
Very large framed orders can take a little longer, as they need extra care in production and delivery.
Every order is carefully packaged: unframed prints are sent in a strong protective tube, while framed pieces are securely packed with protective materials around the frame.
If you need your order by a particular date, please contact us before ordering. We’ll check the best production route and delivery option for your location.
Express delivery is available at checkout for most countries. Next-day delivery is available in the UK, US, Singapore and the UAE.
Your order is covered by our 90-day returns policy and 10-year guarantee.
Our standard frame is a gallery-style black ash hardwood frame, with a simple, modern look. It is approximately 20mm (0.8in) wide. You can also view some lovely customer photos of framed maps and art.
We use super-clear acrylic glazing, also known as Perspex or Acrylite, instead of traditional glass. It is lighter, safer, and has lower reflectivity, giving the artwork a clearer, cleaner appearance.
Six standard frame colours are available at no extra cost: black, dark brown, dark grey, oak, white, and antique gold. Custom framing and mounting/matting is also available for customers looking for something more specific.
Most maps, art prints, and illustrations are also available as a framed canvas. We use matte cotton canvas, stretch it over a sustainably sourced wooden box frame, and then float the piece within a wooden outer frame. The finished result is beautifully presented, with no glazing between you and the artwork.
All frames are supplied ready to hang, with either string or brackets fitted to the back. Very large frames will include heavy-duty hanging plates and/or a mounting baton. If you have any questions, please get in touch.
We can also supply old maps and artwork on canvas, foam board, cotton rag, and other materials.
If you would prefer to frame your map or artwork yourself, please read our size guide before ordering.
Lavoriamo con interior designer, realtà del settore hospitality, professionisti del settore immobiliare, uffici e acquirenti aziendali per singoli pezzi e progetti coordinati di più ampia portata.
Quest'opera può essere adattata a una specifica parete, stanza o progetto e il nostro laboratorio può aiutare a coordinare dimensioni, materiale e incorniciatura prima della produzione.
- Dimensioni precise, extra-large e su misura
- Incorniciatura personalizzata, montaggio e materiali alternativi
- Pezzi coordinati per più stanze o sedi
- Personalizzazione dell'opera, per regolarne il colore e lo stile
- Consulenza su arte e incorniciatura da parte del nostro laboratorio
- Produzione locale per progetti in tutto il mondo
Ogni stampa artistica restaurata inizia dall’opera originale dell’artista—mai da una sostituzione generata dall’IA.
Il nostro studio di Londra lavora a partire da materiali di origine accuratamente selezionati da musei, biblioteche, archivi e collezioni private. Restauriamo i danni dovuti all’età, i colori sbiaditi e le imperfezioni di riproduzione, preservando al contempo la composizione, il tratto del pennello, il segno, la texture e il carattere d’epoca dell’artista.
Non utilizziamo l’IA generativa per ridisegnare, reinterpretare o inventare l’opera. Il restauro digitale viene impiegato solo per recuperare e riprodurre l’opera originale nel modo più fedele possibile.
Una volta restaurata, l’opera master viene preparata per il formato e la finitura da te scelti. Il tuo pezzo viene quindi stampato e, se selezionato, incorniciato vicino alla destinazione di consegna.
Le nostre stampe artistiche giclée utilizzano carta opaca archivistica senza acidi da 200 g/m² e inchiostri pigmentati resistenti allo sbiadimento, per una finitura ricca e di qualità museale. Le stampe artistiche incorniciate utilizzano acrilico ottico cristallino e arrivano pronte da appendere.
Sono disponibili anche tele incorniciate ed edizioni speciali su cotone-rag. Scopri di più sui nostri materiali e finiture.
Restauriamo e produciamo mappe e stampe d’arte dal 1984, e garantiamo personalmente ogni pezzo.
Ogni ordine è coperto dalla nostra garanzia di 10 anni e dalla garanzia di consegna senza danni. Se il vostro pezzo arriva danneggiato, lo sostituiremo o lo rifaremo gratuitamente. Se qualsiasi altro aspetto non fosse conforme, contattate il nostro team di laboratorio e provvederemo tempestivamente a risolvere il problema.
Per tutti i dettagli, consultate la nostra politica su resi e rimborsi.
