1. Creator/Author:
  2. Illinois Watch Company (1)

The Lincoln Watch

Creator:
Rudolph Bohunek, Illinois Watch Company
Location:
Illinois, Sangamon County, Springfield
Origin Date:
Unknown
Materials:
paper
Measurements:
overall: 14 in x 11 in
Item ID:
71.2009.081.0072
Holding Institution:
Lincoln Financial Foundation Collection, courtesy of the Indiana State Museum
Available for Viewing:
No
Category:
Fine Art

Description

This portrait depicts President Abraham Lincoln from the shoulders up, facing the viewer's right. He is wearing a black jacket and bow tie with a white shirt. The background is a dark brown, and the seal of the Illinois Watch Company is stamped in the bottom right corner. The print is signed and dated by the artist in the upper right corner. The artist gave Lincoln green eyes and brown hair and beard. This portrait of Lincoln is actually a chromolithograph on canvas that was mass-produced and used as an advertisement and promotion for the Illinois Watch Company out of Springfield, Illinois. The print was given to vendors to display next to the “A. Lincoln” style watches that they sold in their stores. The “A. Lincoln” was produced in 1907 in three sizes by the Bunn Family, who sold over 102,000 until its sale to the Hamilton Watch Company in 1928. The watch had continued success and spawned a popular engraved watch fob and other promotional activities such as an essay contest. Part of the Lincoln Financial Foundation Collection, courtesy of the Indiana State Museum