Lion and Unicorn
Lot 119
This original color lithographed sheet music cover titled The Tin Gee-Gee or The Lowther Arcade features a lively and whimsical illustration associated with the British music hall tradition. Written and composed by Fred Cape and revised and sung by Mel B. Spurr at the Egyptian Hall, Piccadilly, the song was also performed nightly at The Palace by Miss Fanny Wentworth. The illustration, executed in period style, depicts a gentleman in top hat and gloves evaluating mechanical toys evocative of the famed Lowther Arcade, a celebrated London venue known for its toy shops and amusements. Victorian-era British music hall illustration, combining graphic design, caricature, and popular entertainment iconography. The use of typography and hand-drawn figures aligns with the late 19th-century sheet music aesthetic, emphasizing theatrical flair and narrative charm.Published by Francis, Day & Hunter at 195 Oxford Street, London, the sheet music includes credit to the American publisher T. B. Harms & Co., suggesting transatlantic circulation. The artwork captures late Victorian commercial illustration with bold lettering, caricature-like figures, and period costume, all in muted tones with pops of red and yellow. The piece is dedicated to Mrs. John Wood of the Court Theatre, adding a personal and theatrical provenance. Presented under glass in a double-matted black frame.Issued: c. 1890Dimensions: 15.25"L x 20"HCountry of Origin: EnglandCondition: Age related wear.