177 - St. Raphaël Quinquina, c. 1950

St. Raphaël Quinquina, c. 1950 Illustration by Charles Loupot. Not credited. Original flat, beveled-edge enamel advertising plaque/banner for public benches and the subway. 79.6 x 14.5 cm. “Les Arcs” The “Les Arcs” agency was created specifically by Saint-Raphaël for Charles LOUPOT. A total of 1,400 copies of this plaque were commissioned (Ref.: “Histoires de plaques” by Pierre Meyer) In good overall condition— The enamel has a superb luster and remarkably fresh colors, with a deep, vivid red that has been well preserved. A few localized chips, mainly along the edges, and some discreet micro-scratches from normal use on the surface, which do not detract from the visual quality. According to legend, the story begins in 1830 when Dr. Adémar Juppet created a quinine-based aperitif and invoked the Archangel Raphael to cure his blindness, thus giving the beverage its name. In reality, Saint-Raphaël Quinquina was invented by the Lyon-based industrialist Pierre-Marie Juppet, who founded the company in 1884 in Lyon and later in Paris in 1897. From 1923 until the late 1950s, its exclusive production was entrusted to the Sète-based firm Cazalis & Prats. The brand’s image remains inextricably linked to its “Twins,” two waiters—one in red and one in white—who embody the two varieties of the aperitif, masterfully stylized in the late 1930s by the famous poster artist Charles Loupot. These two silhouettes, also known as the “Jumeaux,” were inspired by two actors: Armand Bernard and Paul Marien (known as “Pauley”) The black-and-white photographs, not included in the sale, are an integral part of the description and serve to illustrate the lot. Rhône/Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes/Île-de-France