Signed center left

Haddon Hubbard Sundblom (American, 1899-1976) Sea Worthy, 1958 Oil on canvas 34 x 27 inches (86.4 x 68.6 cm) Signed center left Property from the Louis and Susan Meisel Collection Sea Worthy is one of Haddon Sundblom's most expressive and beloved pin-up pieces, which appeared as part of Sylvania Electric's historic Miss Sylvania series, and as an advertising calendar for Burd Pistons—leading the work to also be known as Miss Burd. Sundblom is best-remembered as the creator of the Coca-Cola Santa Claus and mentor to Gil Elvgren. The strong comparisons between Elvgren and Sundblom are clear in this work. Sundblom perfected the lush, wet-on-wet painting style known as the mayonnaise technique that both artists employed to create the soft and glowing effect that both artists utilized to give pin-up figures warmth, volume, and immediacy. The technique is masterfully on display here, making Sea Worthy an unparalleled treasure for any pin-up collector. The work appears as figure 786 in The Great American Pin-Up by Charles G. Martignette and Louis K. Meisel (Taschen, 1996) and also as a color plate on page 32 in The Art of Pin-Up by Dian Hanson with Louis K. Meisel and Sarahjane Blum (Taschen, 2014). HID12401132022 © 2024 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved

Unlined. Minor losses along extreme edges. Light craquelure observed throughout; one spiral crack, less than 2 inches to figures shoulder. UV examined, minor areas of inpainting along extreme edges, to letter, diagonally across chair, and to ground, does not affect figure. Framed Dimensions 43 X 36 Inches