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Early American Currier & Ives Firefighter Print Fireman Gift Poster Fire Department

Product Description

The2FunAdGuyz offer a new print of a spectacular Early American Currier & Ives Firefighter print showing a fireman, hose in hand, standing alone against the fire demon, much the way knights in the middle ages stood along against the fire-breathing dragon.

Fighting The Enemy is the title of this print, one of four in a series called The American Fireman. All are available on this site. This dramatic poster is an ideal gift for a fireman.

HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: In the 1800s, fire was always a major danger in both large cities and small villages. A fire in a single wood building could spread and destroy a block or an entire section of a city or town, as happened in the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. The local firefighters and fire departments were all that stood against an unmitigated disaster that could destroy lives and property. As a result, then, as now, men sought membership in a fire department, whose firehouses frequently became the hub of the fireman’s lives. Some even had saloons, libraries and furnishings to rival the best of homes. These fire departments provided an early social network

DESCRIPTION: This is a classic, Early American style that Currier & Ives helped to foster and create with rich detail of a simple scene. Forsaking the usual bold colors of Currier & Ives prints, this scene holds much of the grayness of a fire scene, except for the fireman’s face and the fire itself. In an obvious allegorical reference, the lone fireman stands on a pile of rubble. His hands hold a fire hose that douses the last remnants of his enemy—a destructive fire. A glimpse of the firefighting gear of the day is presented in this print.

CAPTION: The American Fireman – Facing The Enemy.

ORIGINAL DATE OF CREATION: The stone lithograph on which this print is based was originally done in 1858.

ARTIST: Louis Maurer (1832—1932) is credited with the artwork for the original stone lithograph on which this print is based.

CURRIER & IVES: While most Americans have heard of Currier & Ives, most do not know that both of them were members of their local fire department. Nat Currier and Jim Ives printed the original lithograph on which this new print is based. From their business on Spruce Street in Brooklyn, New York, Currier and Ives printed over 1 million prints covering over 7500 different titles from 1834 to 1907. Their work chronicles an era in America before the printing press could produce colored prints and stone lithography were the only method for doing color prints in quantity. Though their lithographs are in high demand today, they once described their business as Publishers of Cheap and Popular Pictures.

DECORATING USES: Because of its antique, Early American style, many of our customers find this poster useful for a home den, recreation or family room. Of course it would look grand on the walls of any firehouse, anywhere in the world.

PAPER QUALITY: This new print is on a highest quality, acid-free, 100-pound glossy premium text paper that allows for maximum color brilliance and fidelity for older images.

AVAILABILITY: In Stock! – Usually Ships Within 2 Business Days.

Image Size: 10.5 inches wide by 16.5 inches high.

Paper Size: 11 inches wide by 17 inches high. This allows for a small border around the image for matting and framing. When matted, this format is perfect for a standard 16-inch x 20-inch frame, a manageable size for a wide variety of decorating purposes.

We have many more firefighter posters, prints, photos and ads. To view them Click Here.

PLEASE NOTE, The watermark (The2FunAdGuyz) across the thumbnail does NOT appear on the item you will receive.

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