This vintage real photo chrome postcard features an African American man and his custom 1952 Pontiac. This automobile is certainly “one of a kind”. Text on the reverse of the postcard indicates that the car has painted seat covers. In addition, the description asserts that the chrome work took years to finish. The artist decided to remain anonymous. This photograph was taken in Houston, Texas in 1973. The photographer was Chip Lord and the publisher was Foto Folio, located in New York City. Additional credits were attributed to Dover Press. This postcard was mailed in 1984, eleven years after the photograph was taken. It was mailed from Everett, Washington, to Erie, Pennsylvania. The photographer, Chip Lord (1944- ) is a very successful American media artist and has led an interesting life. He is best known for being a co-founder and practitioner at the media collective, known as Ant Farm. The firm was started in 1968. Wikipedia asserts that his work is often “nostalgic, but edged with an ironic detachment”. A graduate of Tulane, he became an architect. He taught at the University of Houston (Go Cougars….I got my graduate degree there). He also taught at a couple of the University of California Campuses. Lord is also known for many of his projects, including the “Cadillac Ranch”. He shares credit for this public art installation and sculpture with other artist from Ant Farm. The exhibition is comprised of ten half buried cadillacs facing nose-first in the ground. The cars ranged from 1949 through 1963, and the exhibition illustrated the evolution of Cadillac’s tail fins. In addition, there is symbolism. Cadillacs represented 1950’s America and a “symbol of aspirations”. The sculpture is located in Amarillo,, Texas and a photo of the project can be seen below.. Lord has had many publications and his works appear in many fine museums. (SOLD)
“CADILLAC RANCH”
Four young couples pose in front of a dusty car that is parked on a dirt driveway. Three of the women stand in front of a man, likely their beaus. The fourth woman is keeping her distance from the fellow who stands behind her. The three men who are standing behind the three women appear to be quite “handy”. One supposes that we are looking at a photograph of a “quadruple date”. The setting may be a Texas ranch. This photograph was found in the Texas Hill Country. Do you think these four couples arrived at this location via the car that is parked behind them? If so, the seating must have been quite crowded. The image was photographed by Foxco in 1946. The company has an interesting history. The Fox Photo Studio was opened by Arthur C. Fox in 1906 in San Antonio, Texas. Fox sold the studio for seven hundred dollars to Carl D. Newton in 1909. Newton was a clever entrepreneur. One of his gimmicks was to offer a free camera to anyone buying three rolls of film and prepaying developing and printing fees. His successor to the business was Carl D Newton II. By the mid 1930’s Fox advertised itself as the world’s largest Kodak finishers. Their processing plant was in operation around the clock. The company expanded and opened facilities in Dallas, Houston, Louisiana and Oklahoma. The company grew and grew and ultimately reached 12,000 dealers nationwide. In 1986, the company was sold to Kodak. Carl D Newton III kept the retail division of the business, calling it Fox Photo. Later, the business changed hands a number of times until it faded into history. This photo was taken somewhere near San Antonio. The photo is printed on paper thinner than stock used for cdvs or cabinet cards. This photograph measures about 3 1/4″ x 2 1/4″ and is in good condition (see scans).
THE CABINET CARD GALLERY 