Signed & Dated 1946 Pen & Ink ANTIQUES Sign or POSTER by GRACE MURRAY for RISD

Item Details

Signed and dated pen and ink ANTIQUES sign or poster, made by Grace Murray and dated December 9, 1946. The thick paper with ink lettering on it was under a thick sheet of plastic held to the paper with masking tape. (I removed the plastic and trimmed the remaining tape to the edges of the paper). The text, on the front, that reads ANTIQUES, appears to have been done freehand with a pen in black ink. Each letter is done in a distinct decorated fashion, reminiscent of Gothic letters or the fanciful designs in some Medieval illuminated manuscripts. The back has a stamp mark at the bottom left edge that reads GRACE MURRAY. There is a signature and date at bottom right in script: G. Murray, Dec. 9, 1946. It only took me a couple of minutes of research to determine that this must be Grace Murray (1925/6-2024), a RISD graduate in the Class of 1947. I have no doubt that this was a piece done while she was a student there, perhaps as a final project for a fonts related or graphic design class. Her married name was Grace Stergis, and she lived in Massachusetts in later years. An internet search will yield a bit more about her career as an artist. The thick paper measures just over 17 ¼” by 6 ¾”, though none of the edges are straight or square. The top edge is uneven and rough, like a torn edge. There is masking tape on the back and some minor paper loss on the front and the back where tape was removed. Otherwise, this piece of artwork is free from soiling and damage around the letters. I consider it to be in good to very good condition. This would look great framed and matted in your antiques shop!