Description
This magnificent Cordon Rouge Galop champagne poster represents one of the most prestigious moments in champagne advertising history. Originally created in 1877 for G. H. Mumm & Co. of Reims—the legendary French champagne house—this Art Nouveau champagne design showcases the ornamental mastery and luxury positioning that defined turn-of-the-century French marketing.
The poster’s dedication reads “Respectfully dedicated to Messrs F. De Bary & Co, New York,” revealing a sophisticated transatlantic distribution strategy. De Bary & Co. functioned as the exclusive New York importer, making this vintage champagne poster a document of how premium French houses penetrated American markets during the Gilded Age. The partnership between Reims’ most celebrated champagne house and Manhattan’s elite wine merchants elevated Cordon Rouge to status symbol territory among New York’s wealthy.
G. H. Mumm & Co. had already established a formidable reputation by 1877. Founded in 1827, the house pioneered innovations in champagne production and marketing, recognizing that champagne required an artistic presentation befitting its luxury positioning. The Cordon Rouge Galop (the “galop” refers to a spirited musical composition) embodied this philosophy: the champagne bottle itself becomes the compositional center, dressed with an elegant red ribbon, surrounded by exquisite floral design elements—ornate scrollwork, flowering vines, delicate botanical flourishes—that establish an ornamental context befitting the luxury product.
The Art Nouveau champagne poster aesthetic dominates: sinuous lines, organic forms, decorative abundance without chaos. The artist Edmund Wolsieffer (composition opus 36) brought sophisticated design sensibility to what might have been mere product advertisement, creating instead a collectible art object that elevated the brand experience.
This reissue, produced in 1990 by Seagram’s Classic Wine, was printed on heavier archival paper rather than linen, making it an accessible entry point for collectors seeking authentic 1877 design without 19th-century scarcity premiums. The 26.25″ x 34.125″ format commands wall presence in dining rooms and wine spaces alike.
Condition: very good. Display-ready. IVPDA-certified. Includes Certificate of Authenticity. A landmark Art Nouveau champagne advertisement connecting French prestige with American gilded-age luxury culture.
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