1990s Guinness St James Gate Poster, from Guinness Museum, By John Gilroy 1959, zookeeper with Guinness animals, Wall art decor

This is a mid 1990s poster from the Guinness Museum in Dublin. It shows the zookeeper at the St James Gate of the Guinness Factory in Dublin surrounded by all the animals used in the Gilroy Guinness posters.
This is no. 2 in a series from the original artwork by John Gilroy in 1958.
Artist: John Gilroy 1958
Printed by: The Guinness Museum, Dublin, Ireland
Dimensions: 30 x 20 in (76 x 51 cm)

In the 1920s Guinness had a problem. The venerable Irish brewer had been around since 1759—nearly two centuries—but geopolitical events were threatening to render its sales flat. Irish independence had leveled a new import tax on England-bound barrels. Add this to the near total loss of a prohibition-era U.S. market and things were not looking good for the sultan of stout. Guinness needed a marketing strategy—a relatively new concept at a time when legacy brands saw advertising as desperately uncouth. The in-house tagline “Guinness is good for you” was born in 1929 (the first of many touting the beer’s health benefits) but it wasn’t until Guinness tapped London creative agency S.H. Benson that the brand’s first legendary ad campaign would begin. Illustrator John Gilroy was given the account.

Because of the age of these posters, there are areas of wear and tear, particularly on the edges. I have done my best to take photos where they are torn or stained. The good news is that when framed, the tears press up well against glass, and edges can be hidden by mats. Any wear picked up from years are part of the vintage charm.

When framed these colourful and detailed posters, with vibrant colours can become a centre piece for any room, to remind us of a simpler time.

These posters are sent as unframed. They will be delivered in a cardboard backed envelope for protection.

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