Sandeman

This is an invitation to explore and be amazed by the arts, as you delve into a collection of works by generations of incredible artists and their unique perspectives on Sandeman’s legacy. 

The ‘Sandeman Don’ – the mysterious silhouette in a Portuguese student’s black cloak and Spanish hat representing Sandeman’s Port and Sherry, became one of the first wine logos in the industry and continues to be one of the most iconic images in the drinks business. Often described as a ‘quiet’ man, there is little public information about his career and work other than this design for Sandeman, where he dropped the name ‘Brown’ when signing in order to enhance the Continental aura of his work. At the beginning of World War II, George Massiot Brown returned to Scotland, where he died in his late 60’s.

Around 1910, Sandeman bought some of these paintings, namely the ’Picador’ and ‘Spanish Dance’ (later known as ‘Sherryland’), which were adapted into posters, wine labels and advertising along the years. In 1926, Sept E. Scott created an extended newspaper campaign for Sandeman called ‘The Partners’ that, with wit and humour, helped clarify the company’s position, which was quite audacious and controversial at the time. An acclaimed and versatile artist, Sept E. Scott was a renowned painter, illustrator, poster designer and, in the latter part of his life, he produced and illustrated comics, almost up until his death in 1965.

It was during this period that he created the ‘Sandeman Port’ poster (circa 1925), a striking image of a woman in a wide-brimmed hat holding a glass of red Port. Over the years, the colour of the glass was often presented in amber shades when used by the company to promote its Sherry wines, thus originating the ‘Sherry Girl’. Loxton Knight’s work was extensively displayed, he was a member of multiple arts societies, and is also well known for his watercolour and woodcut paintings, which form a part of many public and private collections. He lived and worked in his hometown, where he died on the first day of January, in 1993.

D’Ylen once said that 'a poster must be expressive, colourful and have an attraction that captures the attention of a passer-by'… and that defines the four posters he created for Sandeman in 1926 – ‘Jester’, ‘Lady Dancing’, ‘Woman with flower’ and the fantastic ‘Centaur’, that caused quite a stir at the time. A prolific and admired artist, he produced exuberant posters for renowned names worldwide, first with Vercasson and then with Weiner in London, starting in 1934. Sadly, Jean d’Ylen died prematurely four years later, in his early fifties.