A lithographed sheet metal advertising plate for Belga cigarettes with their iconic logo
The metal sheet is mounted on a wooden plate and has a hanger on the back
It features the iconic ‘Miss Belga’ design
The Swiss-Belgian commercial artist Leo Marfur designed their logo in 1925, it was based on the face of Paula Colfs-Bollaert, known as Miss Belga
In the 1930s, René Magritte created a new design which is the logo as it appears on this billboard
With her black hat, yellow boa and red background, the advertising image would soon become a symbol of Belgium
A packet of Belga also cost one Belga at the time – as the Belgian currency was then called
It shows typical signs of wear and tear as well as rust but somehow it adds character to the piece
Rare and iconic Belgian brand advertisement of the 50s