L.A.'s Empiric Studios

One King's Lane introduced me to the shop and services at Empiric Studios. In 1996 they started off as a digital printing studio that is still operating in house and making beautiful large format images on French and British watercolor paper. The images, mostly based on 20th century ephemera, are individually printed in small quantities. They soon expanded to offer mid-century furniture, original designed furniture and new antiquarian curiousities. Here are just some of the objects you can find there.
Image of Marjorie Gestring. At the age of just 13, Los Angeles native, Marjorie Gestring won the gold medal in 3-meter springboard diving at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany. She was the youngest person ever to achieve this honor. This image is printed on museum quality, 225 g/m², acid free paper to preserve images. It is 100% cotton rag for long term durability made by Crane & Company, paper makers since 1801. Pricing: 8x10 and smaller $25; Larger sizes .30/sq inch.

Pfurtscheller Zoological Wall Chart - Country: The Netherlands Date: Early 1900's Description: Wall map of Thoracostraca Astracus. Issued by Martinus Nijhoff ‘s Gravenhage. Chart mounted on paper with wooden sticks on top and bottom. This series of wall-plates all depict dissected animals. This specific chart deals with the Crawfish. Wear and tear typical for a delicate piece from this period. Dimensions: 48"W X 60"H122cm W X 152.5cm HMaterials: Paper, Wood Condition: Original Number of items: 1 Item ID: 6111Price: $995

Collection of Vintage Catchers Masks - Description: Collection of 6 assorted, vintage metal and leather masks. Examples manufactured by Yale, Spalding, and Rawlings show the evolution of this equipment for America's favorite past time. Average mask dimension below. Dimensions: 8"W X 3"D X 9"H20.25cm W X 7.5cm D X 22.75cm HCondition: Original Number of items: 1Item ID: 14824 Price: $625

Marked by time, this mid-19th Century monochrome intaglio plate puts the planets in perfect alignment to bring astronomic appeal to your study or library. Intaglio printing is similar to etching, with metal-chasing tools (burins) instead of chemicals used to create the design. Ideal for detailed line art, Intaglio book illustrations, usually printed on paper different from the rest of the book and later tipped in, were two-tone, with additional colors added later by hand. This image is printed on museum quality, 225 g/m², acid free paper to preserve images. It is 100% cotton rag for long term durability made by Crane & Company, paper makers since 1801. Pricing: 8x10 and smaller $25; Larger sizes .30/sq inch.

Marked by time, this mid-19th Century monochrome intaglio plate puts the planets in perfect alignment to bring astronomic appeal to your study or library. Intaglio printing is similar to etching, with metal-chasing tools (burins) instead of chemicals used to create the design. Ideal for detailed line art, Intaglio book illustrations, usually printed on paper different from the rest of the book and later tipped in, were two-tone, with additional colors added later by hand. This image is printed on museum quality, 225 g/m², acid free paper to preserve images. It is 100% cotton rag for long term durability made by Crane & Company, paper makers since 1801. Pricing: 8x10 and smaller $25; Larger sizes .30/sq inch.

Swim for Health - In this WPA commissioned 1940 public health poster, the FDA and a smiling young woman invite Ohioans to swim for health in safe and pure pools. Its invitation is difficult to resist. The Works Progress Administration (renamed during 1939 as the Work Projects Administration; WPA) was the largest "New Deal" agency, employing millions of people and affecting almost every locality in the United States, especially rural and western mountain populations. It was created by Franklin Delano Roosevelt's presidential order, and funded by Congress with passage of the Emergency Relief Appropriation Act of 1935 This image is printed on museum quality, 225 g/m², acid free paper to preserve images. It is 100% cotton rag for long term durability made by Crane & Company, paper makers since 1801. Pricing: 8x10 and smaller $25; Larger sizes .30/sq inch.