Letter Opener
Object number2007.169.3
Artist
B&B
MediumPlastic; paper; ink
Credit LineGift of Joe Mosko
DescriptionPlastic letter opener. Handle screen-printed picture of a female with brown hair, red rose in proper right hand, naked torso, and green mermaid tail with scales. Dimensions8.875 x 11.875 in. (22.5 x 30.2 cm)InscriptionsBack: on handle, under green plastic, label, "H.H. SEIFERTH / "At The Sign of The Mermaid" / 209 Water St. - ATlantic 1-4983 - PGH. 22, PA. / Signs - Silk Screen - Charts - Showcards" [capitalization as found on object]; at top, embossed maker's mark.
MarksEmbossed: "B&B ST. PAUL, MINN, U.S.A."
Historical NotesLetter opener from the H.H. Seiferth Company; used also as an advertising piece. Howard H. Seiferth was a local artist and also owned and operated the HH.H. Seiferth Sign Company. The company was started in 1890 in an alley between Penn Avenue and Duquesne Way in downtown Pittsburgh. The company created signs for Pittsburgh retail businesses, factories, and political campaigns. It was located on Fancourt Street from 1919 until around 1950, when it was forced to relocate due to the development of the Point State Project. Following the move, the company had locations Water Street, East Street, and Fort Pitt Boulevard. In 1942, H.H. Seiferth passed away, leaving the shop to his daughter, Jane Seiferth Markowitz who became one Pittsburgh's few female business owners at that time. Howard's daughter Jane met her husband Bill Markowitz when they both worked in the print shop of the Seiferth Company. Besides working for the company, they were both artists and owned a house in Perry Township that they covered with murals. The letter opener was donated by their nephew Joe Mosko after Bill's death in November 2006.
Related person
Markowitz, Mark
Related person
Seiferth, Herman
Related person
Markowitz, Jane
Related institution
H.H. Seiferth Company
Subjects
On View
Not on view
c. 1999
A. & B. Smith Company
c. 2001
Martin B. Leisser
