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Vintage Color & Design: Japanese Matchbox Labels

Vintage Color & Design: Japanese Matchbox Labels

By evad // October 17, 2008
12 comments

Here's some color inspiration by way of 1920 - 1940's Japan in the form of matchbox labels. Thanks to Mariad for sharing her grandfather's wonderful collection in this Flickr set. If you enjoy these Mariad, recommends the book "Matchbox Label Collection 1920s-40s." To see more Japanese matchbox labels check out this link.

matchbox-6.png
Building_Matchbox girl_matchbox_label
matchbox-7.png

matchbox-4.png
MASHIMA cherry_blossom_label
matchbox-5.png

maatchbox-1.png
Mt._Fuji_Matchbox circular_rainbow

matchbox-3.png

matchbox-12.png
bottle_matchbox 		matchbox-13.png
Mt._matchbox_label
matchbox-16.png
bird_matchbox_label 		matchbox-18.png
STANDBAR_BONGI

matchbox-2.png

matchbox-8.png

matchbox-9.png

matchbox-10.png

matchbox-11.png

matchbox-14.png matchbox-15.png
matchbox-19.png matchbox-20.png

Written by evad

www.colourlovers.comDavid Sommers has been loving color as COLOURlovers' Blog Editor-in-Chief for the past two years. When he's not neck deep in a rainbow he's loving other things with The Post Family (http://thepostfamily.com/), a Chicago-based art blog, artist collective & gallery.

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12 Comments
Showing 1 - 12 of 12 Comments
Reply

Mitternacht

Posted Oct 17, 2008
I knew this set and it is absolutely fabulous. I was thinking of creating palettes from some of the labels. A few days ago I gathered a handful of links to this kind of resources after seeing the matchbox set because I wanted more. It's here if you like Chinese and Japanese old prints.
Reply

Miaka

Posted Oct 17, 2008
Oh, I love these! They're so bold!
Reply

gaiagraphics

Posted Oct 17, 2008
Wow! Love it!!
Reply

lightningmccarl

Posted Oct 17, 2008
awesome!
Reply

koimotif

Posted Oct 18, 2008
I'm sooo excited by these wonderful designs. I lived in Japan for some time & collected vintage bookcovers. Some are so wonderful... I'll have to upload them for you! Feelin' inspired. Thanks xx
Reply

wingedvictory

Posted Oct 18, 2008
And these are just for matchboxes? Wow. I'd frame those for my room if I could. Love em! Thanks for the post :)
Reply

greenie

Posted Oct 18, 2008
Ahhhh-some!
Reply

hellowest

Posted Oct 18, 2008
looooooooooove this.
Reply

sevenlayercake

Posted Oct 18, 2008
ah, so cool!
Reply

awesomeimages

Posted Oct 20, 2008
I'm realliy digging the old fibrous paper slightly coming through the designs. Colors slightly mis-pressed and covering others.
Reply

moonstonestreet

Posted Oct 25, 2008
Vintage indeed. :)
Reply

Amanda2081

Posted Aug 1, 2010
Exotic matchbox labels from Japan. I am very keen on the "Secret Life of Geisha" at present. Oriental Labels

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