Looking for information on John (Johnnie) Osborne of Auckland, New Zealand
darianzam
I am seeking information on John Osborne of Auckland, New Zealand, known to friends as Johnnie.
He was likely born between 1920-1925. The family resided in the area of the bays along the south shore of Auckland Harbour - so Okahu Bay , Mission Bay, St Heliers, Howick etc. One snippet I was able to find out is that while he was in his late teens to early twenties, his father, apparently a GP,died suddenly.
He attended art school at Elam around 1943-1945 or possibly as late as 1947 and was friends with some well-known commercial artists such as Linwood "Lin" Lipanovic who created some of the iconic TEAL airways posters. He was very active in the Arts community attending many Arts Balls and other events in Auckland in the 1940s and 1950s.
Johnnie founded a commercial art service named JO-EB Studios in the mid-late 1940s. Obviously, the JO part is his initials, but who EB is I do not know. There were a few people in his years at Elam with surname B: Baker, Brightwell, and Bailey. Auction house Art + Object sold a large lot of his commercial illustrations in July 2009.
He never married and was living in Glendowie, Auckland in the early 1990s.
I've found so little information on him that I strongly suspect that John was not his government name. I'm hoping someone will recognise him from my description and add to the information for a story.
Waitemata Ale, Johnnie Osbourne
by darianzam
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Social historian, writer, artist.
Comments
ngairedith on 2014-06-22 18:18:03try contacting ART OBJECT (pdf) The 21st Century Auction House
The 20th Century Design Catalogue features a splendid suite of 27 booklets of advertising illustrations by John Osborne dating from 1946. At over 100 individual illustrations the collection is a fascinating insight into the world of advertising long before the advent of the computer. The collection will be offered at auction on August 20 6.45 pm at 3 Abbey Street, Newton, Auckland. Phone 93544646
Scroll to page 15 for a list of his booklets:
451 John Osborne
Booklet of 6 Waitemata Beer Advertising Designs.
Football, Golf, Baseball, Boxing, Lacrosse & Wrestling
Goauche on paper, c.1940s
Each approx. 180 x 205mm
$125 - $175
452 John Osborne
Booklet of 6 Womens? Fur Coat Fashion Designs.
Goauche on paper. Inscribed copywright ?JO-EB? Studio,
1946. Each approx. 145 x 145mm
$75 - $125
453 John Osborne
Booklet of 3 Dominion Wine Advertising Designs.
Never a Grizzle or Whine, The Toast of a Connoisseur etc
Goauche on paper. Inscribed copywright ?JO-EB? Studio,
1946. Each approx. 150 x 150mm
$75 - $125
454 John Osborne
3 Booklets of Advertising Designs Daisy Petal Loveliness,
Lotus Loveliness, All Hot Numbers & 3 x elegant
women?s fashion sketches ? 5 in total. Goauche on
paper. Inscribed copywright ?JO-EB? Studio, 1946.
Various sizes
$100 - $150
455 John Osborne
2 Booklets of Advertising Designs inc. Dominion Wine x
2 & Queen Anne Chocolate x 2. Goauche on paper
Inscribed copywright ?JO-EB? Studio, 1946. Various Sizes
$100 - $150
456 John Osborne
Booklet of Rhythmic Designs. Goauche on paper.
Inscribed copywright ?JO-EB? Studio, 1946. Each approx.
150x115
$75 - $125
457 John Osborne
Large Booklet of 6 Queen Anne Chocolate Advertising
Designs.
Ronald rushes Ruth, Ruth Rushes ?Queen Anne?; Hector
Holds Heather etc
Goauche on paper. Inscribed with copywright stamp and
typewritten verse
Each approx. 180 x 200mm
$500 - $1000
458 John Osborne
Booklet of Seaside Advertising Illustrations. Child with
Bucket & Spade, Boy with Ball etc. Goauche on paper
Circa 1940s. Each approx. 147 x 335mm
$100 - $20
459 John Osborne
Booklet of 17 Advertising Designs on Ice Cream theme
inc. Ice Cream Frolics, No Need to Make a Hog of Yourself
but by Golly it is Good etc. Goauche on paper
Inscribed copywright ?JO-EB? Studio, 1946. Each approx.
165 x 150mm
$500 - $1000
460 John Osborne
Booklet of 4 Taylor?s American Shoes promo. Designs
& a sheet of preliminary pencil sketches. Goauche &
Graphite on paper. Circa 1940s. Various Sizes
$75 - $12
461 John Osborne
Booklet of 2 Advertising Designs inc.
Feminine Perfection & Your Hearts Desire
Goauche on paper. Inscribed copywright ?JO-EB? Studio,
1946. Each approx. 140 x 95mm
$100 - $150
462 John Osborne
2 Booklets of Advertising Designs inc. Shoe Repair & Furs
Goauche on paper. Inscribed copywright ?JO-EB? Studio,
1946. Various Sizes
$100 - $150
463 John Osborne
2 Booklets of Bags Advertising Designs inc. Bags for All
the Family & as LIGHT as a FEATHER etc. Goauche on
paper
Inscribed copywright ?JO-EB? Studio, 1946 with typed
descriptions and handwritten annotation in graphite
Each approx. 190 x 150mm
$175 - $250
464 John Osborne
Booklet of 4 Gloves & Hosiery Advertising Illustrations
In a Variety of Elegant and Modernist designs. A superb
period piece indicating the influence of modern art in
the mass media. Goauche on paper. Inscribed copywright
?JO-EB? Studio, 1946. Various sizes
$175 - $300
465 John Osborne
Booklet of 22 Menswear Advertising Designs: Ties for
Tom, Dick & Harry, Avoid Hoarseness ? Wear a Scarf etc
Goauche on paper. Inscribed copywright ?JO-EB? Studio,
1946. Various sizes
$400 - $600
466 Possibly John Osborne
3 Illustrations on card and one printed sign. 2 part
vehicle cavalcade, Women?s Fashion Pose & Findlay?s
Gold Krust Bread. Various sizes
$75 - $125
467 John Osborne
Large Booklet of 5 Advertising Designs for Homeware
and Women?s Fashion. See For Yourself, ?OOH! What
Corker Colour? etc. Goauche on paper
Inscribed copywright ?JO-EB? Studio, 1946. Each approx.
170 x x 190mm
$125 - $200
468 John Osborne
Large Booklet of 13 Advertising Designs for Bags &
Fashion: Modern Bags for Modern Misses, Travel of the
Future etc. Goauche on paper. Inscribed copywright "JO-
EB" Studio, 1946. Various Sizes
$250 - $400
469 John Osborne
Booklet of 10 Advertising Designs for Women?s Fashion
& Beauty. Silhouette of Beauty, Lady Look Lovely, Be
Beautiful it Becomes You, Personalized Pansies etc
This is a particularly highly finished and elegant booklet
of designs showing Osborne?s versatility and ability to
capture mood. Goauche on paper. Inscribed copywright
?JO-EB? Studio, 1946. Each approx. 138 x 152mm
$500 - $1000
470 John Osborne
Booklet of 13 Footwear Advertising Designs: Let Us
Shoe Them, Companions for Fun and Frolic, A Streamlined
Shoe for a Streamlined World. A variety of dynamic and
ingenious designs shows Osborne?s creative range
Goauche on paper. Inscribed copywright ?JO-EB? Studio,
1946. Each approx. 140 x 155mm
$500 - $1000
471 John Osborne
3 Loose Advertising Designs for Unique Creations Home
Products: Soap Holder, Chip Basket etc. Goauche on
paper with annotations in Graphite.
Each approx. 120 x 160mm
$75 - $125
darianzam on 2014-06-22 22:20:55Thanks.