Italian Art Nouveau Vintage Poster for ‘S. Stein’, by Metlicovitz, c.1906

This Italian Belle Epoque poster was originally designed in 1900 by Leopoldo Metlicovitz for the Mele Department Store, however, in 1906 it was redone for their partner store S. Stein in Beirut, Lebanon.

Mele Department Store, which was known for their high-end clientelle, found Beirut as a good extension for their business – known at the time as the ‘Riviera of the Middle-East’ with their high-class, wealthy populous.

The poster is printed in French, compared to Italian, as French was considered the high-class language.

On the top in Arabic is the name of the store “S. Stein” in a flowery design, reminiscent of classical lettering.