135 - VOISIN AIRCRAFT - c.1920

VOISIN AIRCRAFT - c.1920 An exceptional and extremely rare original domed enamel advertising sign with deeply embossed lettering. This is the LARGE VERSION, measuring 160 x 30 cm. An exceedingly rare testament to 20th-century French industrial excellence and innovation. Has not been seen at auction for over 25 years. In excellent condition— The deep, rich midnight blue background beautifully highlights the yellow lettering, which features generous, embossed, and richly applied enamel. It retains its original luster. The central medallion depicts a Voisin automobile viewed from the front, with remarkably well-preserved colors, a beautiful sheen, and slight fading of the blue in the lower portion. There are a few minor chips, mainly located along the edges, on the letter “S” in the word “Avions,” and a very subtle one on the car’s right tire; these do not detract in any way from the overall appearance, which remains well-preserved and perfectly legible. The surface exhibits, in places, very subtle original firing imperfections as well as slight signs of rubbing in the blue cartouches only, resulting in a slightly subdued luster in those areas. Inspired by ancient Egypt and Art Deco, the brand’s emblem features a stylized scarab with outstretched wings (a symbol of rebirth), symbolizing Gabriel Voisin’s passion for that civilization, while its horizontal wings evoke and reinterpret the Voisin brothers’ aeronautical heritage; this motif was retained on the brand’s iconic enamel plaque, which features a medallion in the center depicting a car from the front, framed by two geometric wings inscribed with the word “AVIONS” on the left and the name “VOISIN” on the right. Founded in 1906 in Issy-les-Moulineaux (Hauts-de-Seine/Île-de-France) by brothers Gabriel and Charles Voisin after they purchased Louis Blériot’s workshop at 36 Boulevard Gambetta, the company first established itself as a pioneer in aeronautics, achieving the first kilometer in a closed circuit in modern aviation in 1908 before manufacturing more than 10,000 military aircraft during World War I. Renamed Société anonyme des aéroplanes G. Voisin in 1912 following Charles’s death, the firm underwent a radical shift in 1918 toward luxury automobiles under the “Avions Voisin” brand. Applying aeronautical engineering to the world of luxury automobiles, Gabriel Voisin designed legendary models with bold Art Deco lines, combining lightweight aluminum structures with patented Knight valveless engines. From speed records at Linas-Montlhéry to the C7 and C25 models, this industrial venture came to a halt in France in 1946 due to economic crises, before coming to a definitive end in Spain in 1958 with the discontinuation of the Biscúter microcar. The AI-generated atmospheric photo is presented for illustrative purposes only to help appreciate the object’s proportions in context. Only the original photographs are authoritative regarding the appearance and condition of the item offered for sale. The black-and-white photograph, which is not included in the sale, is an integral part of the description and serves as a useful illustration of the lot.