The infatuation for chrome, in my case, comes from an intense obsession with vintage letterforms mixed with the possibility of acquiring and collecting such pieces. Being the owner of these dimensional objects allows me to imagine the place they once belonged to: a vehicle that witnessed countless of stories, roads and panoramas.
Photos from my personal archive, in collaboration with Freddy Arenas
Looking at these pieces I get transported to a time where the pen was mighty and free to move as it pleased without any objection, where the craft of lettering was thriving and experimentation was key. It inspires me to see the many variables and possibilities explored and it invites me to picture the personalities of each car, as portrayed by their emblem.
Photo courtesy of Nora Gummert-Hauser, from her personal archive
Although my personal favorites are the small x-height scripts with a oversized uppercase, I have to admit that I’m also a sucker for the upright, high contrast emblems.
Photos courtesy of Nora Gummert-Hauser, from her personal archive
P.S. If you also share this obsession, I imagine you have already checked out chromeography, otherwise go ahead and loose yourself in time.