Graphic Props - Historic Fun Facts
Info
”Did you know, that …“ … an ongoing graphic props series to illustrate historic fun facts.
l
My role
Self promo for my instagram account.
No.1/ Agatha Christie
Fun Fact
Did you know, that … Agatha Christie was a qualified apothecary’s assistant with a vast knowledge of poisons. She completed the examination of the Society of Apothecaries, and worked at a hospital dispensary after World War I. This explains her frequent literary use of poisons.
l
And in 1926, Christie who was already really famous at that time, left her home in London and disappeared for 11 days without a trace. Her husband Archie had recently disclosed he had fallen in love with another woman and wanted a divorce. The next morning, after her disappearing, the vehicle was found abandoned with a fur coat and a drivers licence left inside. A police manhunt ensued, although it was unnecessary: Christie had simply driven out of town to a spa, possibly to get her mind off her tumultuous home life. The author made no mention of it in her later autobiography; some speculated it was a publicity stunt, while others believed the family's claim that she had experienced some kind of amnesic event.
l
Tasks
Research, design, calligraphy, skull sketches, prop production
l
Bottle of poison prop details
Original 1940s paper, self drawn skull and lines, coffee stains.
l
Drivers licence prop details
Original 1920s drivers licence cover. I love how tiny and elegant they were in that time period, wish the were still like this. I used Original 1940s paper.
No.2/ Houdini
Fun Fact
Did you know, that … Harry Houdini who became famous as the “King of Handcuffs” went on a personal crusade against “Spiritualists”, people who claimed to be able to contact the deceased, in his later years. Houdini often visited séances in disguise to expose their leading mediums as frauds. He even offered a $10,000 reward to any psychic who could present “physical phenomena” that could not be explained rationally.
l
Tasks
Research, design, digital illustration, prop production
l
Poster prop details
Poster design and illustration based on an original poster. Reproduction done by hand in procreate on my iPad Pro. Printed on original 1940s Din A3 paper. Photographed on an old cemetary wall. ;)
l
Letter prop details
Design based on an original letter written to Dr. Daniel F. Comstock in relation to their investigation of psychic Mina Crandon, aka “Margery”, who claimed that she channeled the spirit of her dead brother Walter Stinson. Misspelling intentional. Printed on original 1940s paper.
