{"product_id":"le-paquebot-oxus-1906-ostrich-menu-art-by-auguste-vimar","title":"Le Paquebot Oxus 1906 (Ostrich) Menu Art by Auguste Vimar","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Oxus was among the fleet of the Messageries Maritime, a French merchant shipping company that transported passengers and also delivered packages and mail to people living in far-flung places. Launched in 1879, this magnificent steamship sailed with staterooms for 81 First Class passengers, for whom this menu was made. There was room too for 46 Second Class passengers, 36 Third Class passengers and as many as 1200 in steerage. It sailed from to Hong Kkong, China, Aden and Madagascar and was eventually scuttled in 1918 after service in the First World War.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis 1906 menu image of an ostrich balancing a foaming glass of beer on its left leg was created by the French illustrator and watercolor artist Auguste Vimar. Born in Marseille, France, in 1851, he became an illustrator for children’s books and also contributed some of his wonderful animal images to Le Figaro Illustré. He died in 1916. The dandified ostrich the monkey waiter being nipped by a lobster were part of Vimar’s contribution to the fashion at that time for fantastical art images – later this style of artwork became known as magical realism.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis was a hearty dinner menu which included items such as scallops, roast beef and aubergine curry.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRobert Bacon, the former American Secretary of State who served only 37 days in his post in 1909 until President Theodore Roosevelt left office, sailed on the Oxus to Hong Kong and China and described it as a “large and comfortable” ship. He noted in his published letters that armed men stood guard to prevent mutiny by the hundreds of Chinese passengers who were kept below decks and who obviously did not enjoy the luxuries of First, Second or Third Class.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOther menus in this series feature a fox, a lion, a tiger and a rhinoceros as waiters.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCourtesy Private Collection.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGallery quality Giclée print on natural white, matte, 100% cotton rag, acid and lignin free archival paper using Epson K3 archival inks. Custom printed with border for matting and framing.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cb\u003eAll printed in USA.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Love Menu Art","offers":[{"title":"8.5x11\" Archival Print (Unframed) $25.00","offer_id":57491687014566,"sku":"deb1790051674009","price":16.75,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"11x14 Archival Print (Unframed) $30.00","offer_id":57491687047334,"sku":"mcj1790051674010","price":23.4,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"13x19 Archival Print (Unframed) $40.00","offer_id":57491687080102,"sku":"pxl1790051674011","price":31.6,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"16x20 Archival Print (Unframed) $55.00","offer_id":57491687112870,"sku":"pij1790051674012","price":42.9,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"20x24 Archival Print (Unframed) $85.00","offer_id":57491687145638,"sku":"hbk1790051674013","price":62.9,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"24x36 Archival Print (Unframed) $135.00","offer_id":57491687178406,"sku":"hyd1790051674014","price":85.05,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/9133\/8662\/files\/le-paquebot-oxus-1906-ostrich-menu-art-by-auguste-vimar_1.webp?v=1790051678","url":"https:\/\/coffeetamper.shop\/products\/le-paquebot-oxus-1906-ostrich-menu-art-by-auguste-vimar","provider":"My Store","version":"1.0","type":"link"}