28. August 2025

Tiger Balm is one of the most recognized Chinese brands in the world, yet few know of its international origin story, its eccentric founders & that at one point it was even banned in China. Let's take this 1930s ad from our collection to explore the famous ointments history.

30. July 2025

This exquisite 1926 map of Shanghai features an ad for Nestlé chocolate of which we also have an original packaging in our collection. Researching it, we came across the fascinating story how the well-known brand crowdsourced its first English & Chinese slogans for the China market.

26. April 2025

Novartis is one of world’s largest pharma corporations and was formed in 1996 by the merger of Ciba-Geigy & Sandoz – originally three independent businesses all from the same small town of Basel, which is strategically located in Switzerland on the border to France and Germany. The surprisingly progressive 1929 calendar poster advertisement from our collection was produced for the most successful of these companies in China…

31. March 2025

Vaseline is one of the most recognized brands globally and these artefacts from our collection showcase how over 100 years ago, the famous petroleum jelly already found its way into Chinese households, becoming a trusted name in health and beauty.

14. February 2025

This rare, late Qing Dynasty wrapping paper from our collection bears the coat of arms of a family that was once among the wealthiest in the world and shaped China like no other. It tells a story filled with drugs, family feuds, and vast fortunes won and lost…

26. January 2025

Happy Chinese New Year 2025 from the MOFBA with this enchanting 1930s ad for BASF Indanthrene dye from our collection.

20. October 2024

This magnificent 1938 advertising sign for Agfa films from our collection, connects several brands, celebrities and stories we’ve previously covered. It is also a reflection of the profound cultural & societal changes that transformed China during this period.

12. July 2024

Cross-dressing KOL’s, German dyes and Republican China’s most prolific commercial artist: This gorgeous 1925 calendar poster for BASF from our collection, ties back to a lot of topics we previously covered. Follow along for a short but colorful review.

05. July 2024

Behold an original 1930s Philips light bulb from our collection. If you look closely, you’ll however notice a strange ad behind it: A hint at the largest global business conspiracy you have never heard of and that found its end by what eventually unfolded in China.

15. April 2024

The “father of makeup” Max Factor created the signature looks of famous Hollywood icons such as Marlene Dietrich and Marilyn Monroe, but items from our collection show how his Oscar-winning cosmetics were not limited to American stars only and already enchanted common Chinese women since the 1930s.