Schuster / Teppichhaus 1924

Schuster / Teppichhaus, created by Emil Cardinaux in 1924, is an exercise in pure atmosphere: a poster that sells not a specific carpet but the fantasy of luxury itself. Cardinaux, widely regarded as the father of the modern Swiss poster, brings his painterly instincts to a commercial commission and turns an advertisement into a small stage set of exotic reverie.

The Swiss carpet house Schuster had a reputation for hiring the best artists of the day and encouraging them to experiment, and this design rewards that trust. At its heart lies a sumptuous red carpet, its deep colour glowing against the surrounding composition like an ember. Around it Cardinaux conjures a quasi-Oriental daydream, an evocation of far-off markets and gilded interiors that invites the viewer to imagine such richness underfoot. It is a masterful piece of visual seduction, all mood and warmth rather than dry product description.

Cardinaux was a defining figure in Swiss graphic art, known for his ability to unite fine-art depth with the immediacy that a good poster demands. Where many advertisers of the period relied on hard sell, he trusted colour, tone and evocative imagery to do the persuading. That painterly confidence is exactly what gives this Schuster poster its enduring appeal a century after it first appeared.

The design belongs to the great era of the illustrated poster, when colour lithography allowed artists across Europe to transform ordinary commercial advertising into vivid public art. Names such as Cardinaux in Switzerland, alongside the celebrated French masters, elevated the humble shop advertisement into work that collectors now pursue and museums proudly hang.

Displayed large, this poster becomes an instant focal point. Its rich reds and dreamy composition bring warmth and a sense of old-world opulence to a room, holding their own above a sofa, bed or console, or anchoring a gallery wall of mixed vintage prints. It feels especially at home in a snug living room, a panelled study, a dining room or a home bar, where its glow adds depth and character to the walls.

Every print is made to order on premium 189 gsm museum-grade archival matte paper with fade-resistant pigment inks, giving rich, gallery-quality colour and crisp detail. Choose your size from the drop-down menu: 8x12, 12x18, 16x24, 20x30 or 24x36 inches. Each poster is carefully packaged and shipped rolled in a sturdy tube, or sent flat for the smallest size, with the frame not included so you can pair it with your own.

This is a faithful reproduction of the original lithograph, colour-matched and printed to archival standards rather than a flat commercial copy. It preserves the texture and character of the antique original while arriving crisp, clean and ready to frame. Reproduced from a high-resolution scan, its subtle age-toning is part of its authentic historic charm. It makes a memorable gift for admirers of Swiss design, vintage advertising and interior style, and a lasting way to bring a piece of poster history into a home, studio or workplace.