Motorcycle poster – Fabrique Nationale D’Armes de Guerre poster – Dudovich – 1913

Motorcycle poster – Fabrique Nationale D’Armes de Guerre poster – Dudovich – 1913

The Fabrique Nationale d’Armes de Guerre was established in the city of Herstal near Liège in 1889. The National Factory of Weapons of War was initially set up to fulfill an order for 150,000 Mauser Model 89 rifles, ordered by the Belgian Government. It has gone on to design, manufacture, and supply some of the most well-known firearms in the world. The company, now known as Fabrique Nationale Herstal or simply FN, is currently the largest exporter of military small arms in Europe.

FN was an important manufacturer of motor vehicles in Belgium Its production of cars began in the early 1900s with the introduction of motorcycles in 1901. Fabrique Nationale manufactured one of the world’s first four-cylinder motorcycles, and were famous for the use of shaft drive in all models from 1903 to 1923, achieving success in sprint and long-distance motorcycle racing, and after 1945, also in motocross. Production of FN motorcycles continued until 1965.

This early vintage motorcycle poster was created by Marcello Dudovich, an artist better known for his fashion posters for the Italian Méle department store. It depicts a motorcycle rider racing up a hill on his  1913 FN Four motorbike. When we say ‘racing up the hill’, the bike only had a top speed of 40mph. Going uphill this speed would be reduced, obviously giving Dudovich to capture the rider in motion! The 1913 FN Fours had a two-speed gearbox and clutch, at the rear of the shaft drive. The motorbike’s bicycle pedals were also switched for permanent footrests.

Because the poster was designed by Marcello Dudovitch, the connection to FN Herstal and because of its rarity, original copies of this poster currently sell for in excess of £3,600.

Our posters are carefully and professionally created from vintage originals. Whilst great care is taken in the production of these posters, we also try to maintain a vintage feel, so there may be small imperfections, fold marks, scuffs, tears or marks that were part of the original poster master. If these do appear they should be visible on the larger views of the item on this listing. The originals of many of the posters we offer can cost many thousands of pounds, so whilst these posters look great, especially framed and mounted on a wall, they are intended as a fun, affordable reproductions and not intended fine art prints.

The 50x70cm version has been specially produced to be used in conjunction with Ikea’s 50x70cm Ribba picture frame which currently retails for around £12. So you can bag a bargain of print and frame for a great price.