Michael Joseph (1941-) - Smirnoff office party, seventies group photo
02
days
16
hours
37
minutes
58
seconds
Current bid
€ 24
No reserve price
Expert
Selected by Elena Vaninetti
Has over ten years of experience in art, specialising in post-war photography and contemporary art.
Estimate € 600 - € 750
 | €24 | |
|---|---|---|
| €21 | |
| €18 | |
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Michael Joseph’s hand-signed C-type colour photograph titled “Smirnoff Office Party,” printed in 2025.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Smirnoff Office Party – A Spectacular Scene of Seventies Excess!
Michael Joseph | London, circa 1972–1975 | Original Glossy C-Type Colour Print | Hand-Signed in Gold
A Feast of Fantasy, Fabulous Characters & Glorious Chaos!
Welcome to the wonderfully wild world of Michael Joseph, where decadence meets disorder, glamour meets grotesquery, and magnificent mayhem reigns supreme!
Smirnoff Office Party is an extravagantly theatrical tableau, bursting with eccentric personalities, flamboyant fashions, curious creatures, classical statues and a generous helping of Seventies surrealism.
From the glamorous blonde presiding over a fantastical stag's head to the colourful characters gathered around a lavishly laden table, every corner reveals another wonderfully bizarre detail.
Yet beneath the apparent chaos lies meticulous composition and masterful orchestration – Michael Joseph's unmistakable photographic signature.
The Master of Magnificent Mayhem
Michael Joseph (born 1941) was one of London's most inventive advertising photographers, celebrated for his elaborate ensembles, eccentric elegance and extraordinary ability to direct large groups of people and animals.
His imaginative campaigns for White Horse Whisky, Schweppes and other major brands established his reputation for spectacular photographic storytelling.
Indeed, such ambitious group compositions became so closely associated with his work that they were sometimes referred to within the industry as “a Michael Joseph”!
He is perhaps best known for his legendary 1968 Rolling Stones Beggars Banquet photographs, staged at Sarum Chase in London.
Smirnoff Office Party, photographed a few years later for a British Smirnoff advertising campaign, carries that same spirit of theatrical excess, playful provocation and barely controlled anarchy.
It's almost as though the Beggars Banquet guests have invited a whole new collection of colourful characters to continue the party!
A Rare, Hand-Signed Colour Photograph
This is an original glossy C-type colour photographic print, produced using traditional analogue photographic techniques.
Its rich colours and intricate details bring this extraordinary composition vividly to life.
Only one signed copy exists in this particular 40 × 30 cm format, making it an especially appealing collector's piece.
The photograph bears Michael Joseph's handwritten title, dating and original signature in gold pen along the lower margin.
A fascinating piece of British advertising history, preserved for decades in the photographer's archive.
Artwork Details
Photographer: Michael Joseph (b. 1941)
Title: Smirnoff Office Party
Date: London, circa 1972–1975 (estimated)
Commission: Smirnoff Vodka advertising campaign, attributed to Young & Rubicam
Medium: Original glossy C-type colour photographic print
Paper size: 40 cm wide × 30 cm high (landscape)
Signature: Hand-signed and annotated in gold pen
Provenance: Michael Joseph photographic archive
Condition: Please examine all photographs carefully before bidding.
A Collector's Piece with Personality!
For lovers of vintage photography, Seventies style, surrealist imagery and unconventional advertising art, this is a wonderfully captivating composition.
Not simply a photograph, but a party, a performance and a perfectly orchestrated piece of photographic pandemonium!
A fabulous conversation piece, revealing another peculiar personality or playful detail with every viewing.
A Little Note About the Illustrations
We've included a photograph of the original Smirnoff advertisement to illustrate how Michael Joseph's image appeared in British magazine advertising, including the sort of colour supplements popular at the time. This advertisement is for reference only and is not included in the sale.
We've also included an AI-generated interior staging image showing how the photograph might look framed. This is purely illustrative: the frame is not included, and the AI representation may not accurately reflect the artwork's scale.
Please refer to the actual dimensions of 40 × 30 cm, rather than the staging image, when considering your purchase. Thank you for understanding!
From Seventies Spectacle to Your Sitting Room…
A fabulous fusion of colour, character, creativity and controlled chaos, straight from the Michael Joseph archive.
Let the party continue – and happy bidding!
#MichaelJoseph #SmirnoffOfficeParty #1970sPhotography #VintagePhotography #CTypePrint #SignedPhotography #BritishPhotography #AdvertisingPhotography #BeggarsBanquet #RollingStones #SeventiesStyle #SurrealPhotography #FineArtPhotography #PhotographyCollectors #Catawiki
Seller's Story
My father, Michael Joseph, was a London-based advertising photographer from the 1960s to the early 1990s, perhaps best known for his iconic photographs for the Rolling Stones’ Beggars Banquet album.
Such was Michael’s extraordinary talent for orchestrating elaborate group scenes, often bringing together large numbers of people and animals in seemingly effortless harmony, that these wonderfully theatrical compositions became known within the advertising industry simply as “a Michael Joseph” - a style so distinctive that his name became a description in its own right.
Our continuing mission is to share what we affectionately call “the other photographs”: lesser-known treasures from his remarkable archive, including original vintage darkroom prints, experimental test prints, alternative images from major shoots, celebrated group compositions and more intimate, personal photographs.
Among our most exciting discoveries is Michael’s extraordinary 1964 Vietnam archive, photographed when he was just 23. Many of these powerful images have never previously been exhibited or offered for sale, revealing a fascinating, lesser-known side of his career.
There is also a wonderfully poetic quality to much of his work: unexpected encounters, fleeting moments and what we like to call “immortalised instants” - those unrepeatable fragments of everyday life that might otherwise have gone unnoticed.
All beautifully summed up in Michael’s favourite adage:
“Always keep a camera handy, every minute of your living day.”
A philosophy he certainly lived by, leaving us an extraordinary collection that we are still discovering today.
Alongside Michael’s authentic vintage prints, we are introducing new interpretations of his work: striking photographic prints on aluminium and handmade cyanotypes, created from his original negatives and transparencies using the Dordogne sunshine. Some are produced on vintage papers from Michael’s own photographic library, giving these historic materials a wonderful new lease of life.
Together, these works celebrate photographic history and contemporary creativity - from unique prints made by Michael himself to imaginative new interpretations of his archive.
We hope you enjoy discovering these photographs as much as we enjoy bringing them to light!
A Small Note About the Presentation Photographs
Some of our in situ illustrations showing artworks displayed in interiors have been created using artificial intelligence (AI).
These are intended simply to help you imagine how a piece might look in a home, office or gallery. Although we aim for faithful representations, proportions and scale may occasionally vary.
Please refer to the actual artwork photographs and stated dimensions for an accurate representation of your purchase.
A Personal Note About Packaging
We prepare and pack every artwork ourselves, taking great care to protect each piece with several layers of suitable materials.
To keep costs down and minimise waste, we reuse and upcycle packaging wherever possible. Your parcel may therefore contain recycled cardboard, protective sleeves, old photographic boxes or envelopes - occasionally even materials from Michael’s own photographic library!
And please don't be surprised if the outside looks rather plain, or even a little unattractive. This is often deliberate! We prefer valuable or irreplaceable artworks to travel as inconspicuously as possible.
One small favour: please unwrap your parcel slowly and carefully.
We sometimes use several layers of cardboard, paper and protective wrapping, secured with tape. Please take particular care when using scissors or a blade, as tape can occasionally catch on adjoining layers or items inside.
We would rather spend a little extra time protecting your purchase than risk damage in transit, and hope you will forgive our occasionally unconventional packaging!
After all, it's what's inside that matters, not the wrapping!
Every purchase helps us preserve, explore and share Michael’s remarkable photographic archive, while giving these images a new home and another chapter in their history.
For US Buyers
Customs duties and applicable import charges are paid at source and included in the shipping cost. No additional charges should normally be payable upon delivery, subject to changes in customs regulations.
Smirnoff Office Party – A Spectacular Scene of Seventies Excess!
Michael Joseph | London, circa 1972–1975 | Original Glossy C-Type Colour Print | Hand-Signed in Gold
A Feast of Fantasy, Fabulous Characters & Glorious Chaos!
Welcome to the wonderfully wild world of Michael Joseph, where decadence meets disorder, glamour meets grotesquery, and magnificent mayhem reigns supreme!
Smirnoff Office Party is an extravagantly theatrical tableau, bursting with eccentric personalities, flamboyant fashions, curious creatures, classical statues and a generous helping of Seventies surrealism.
From the glamorous blonde presiding over a fantastical stag's head to the colourful characters gathered around a lavishly laden table, every corner reveals another wonderfully bizarre detail.
Yet beneath the apparent chaos lies meticulous composition and masterful orchestration – Michael Joseph's unmistakable photographic signature.
The Master of Magnificent Mayhem
Michael Joseph (born 1941) was one of London's most inventive advertising photographers, celebrated for his elaborate ensembles, eccentric elegance and extraordinary ability to direct large groups of people and animals.
His imaginative campaigns for White Horse Whisky, Schweppes and other major brands established his reputation for spectacular photographic storytelling.
Indeed, such ambitious group compositions became so closely associated with his work that they were sometimes referred to within the industry as “a Michael Joseph”!
He is perhaps best known for his legendary 1968 Rolling Stones Beggars Banquet photographs, staged at Sarum Chase in London.
Smirnoff Office Party, photographed a few years later for a British Smirnoff advertising campaign, carries that same spirit of theatrical excess, playful provocation and barely controlled anarchy.
It's almost as though the Beggars Banquet guests have invited a whole new collection of colourful characters to continue the party!
A Rare, Hand-Signed Colour Photograph
This is an original glossy C-type colour photographic print, produced using traditional analogue photographic techniques.
Its rich colours and intricate details bring this extraordinary composition vividly to life.
Only one signed copy exists in this particular 40 × 30 cm format, making it an especially appealing collector's piece.
The photograph bears Michael Joseph's handwritten title, dating and original signature in gold pen along the lower margin.
A fascinating piece of British advertising history, preserved for decades in the photographer's archive.
Artwork Details
Photographer: Michael Joseph (b. 1941)
Title: Smirnoff Office Party
Date: London, circa 1972–1975 (estimated)
Commission: Smirnoff Vodka advertising campaign, attributed to Young & Rubicam
Medium: Original glossy C-type colour photographic print
Paper size: 40 cm wide × 30 cm high (landscape)
Signature: Hand-signed and annotated in gold pen
Provenance: Michael Joseph photographic archive
Condition: Please examine all photographs carefully before bidding.
A Collector's Piece with Personality!
For lovers of vintage photography, Seventies style, surrealist imagery and unconventional advertising art, this is a wonderfully captivating composition.
Not simply a photograph, but a party, a performance and a perfectly orchestrated piece of photographic pandemonium!
A fabulous conversation piece, revealing another peculiar personality or playful detail with every viewing.
A Little Note About the Illustrations
We've included a photograph of the original Smirnoff advertisement to illustrate how Michael Joseph's image appeared in British magazine advertising, including the sort of colour supplements popular at the time. This advertisement is for reference only and is not included in the sale.
We've also included an AI-generated interior staging image showing how the photograph might look framed. This is purely illustrative: the frame is not included, and the AI representation may not accurately reflect the artwork's scale.
Please refer to the actual dimensions of 40 × 30 cm, rather than the staging image, when considering your purchase. Thank you for understanding!
From Seventies Spectacle to Your Sitting Room…
A fabulous fusion of colour, character, creativity and controlled chaos, straight from the Michael Joseph archive.
Let the party continue – and happy bidding!
#MichaelJoseph #SmirnoffOfficeParty #1970sPhotography #VintagePhotography #CTypePrint #SignedPhotography #BritishPhotography #AdvertisingPhotography #BeggarsBanquet #RollingStones #SeventiesStyle #SurrealPhotography #FineArtPhotography #PhotographyCollectors #Catawiki
Seller's Story
My father, Michael Joseph, was a London-based advertising photographer from the 1960s to the early 1990s, perhaps best known for his iconic photographs for the Rolling Stones’ Beggars Banquet album.
Such was Michael’s extraordinary talent for orchestrating elaborate group scenes, often bringing together large numbers of people and animals in seemingly effortless harmony, that these wonderfully theatrical compositions became known within the advertising industry simply as “a Michael Joseph” - a style so distinctive that his name became a description in its own right.
Our continuing mission is to share what we affectionately call “the other photographs”: lesser-known treasures from his remarkable archive, including original vintage darkroom prints, experimental test prints, alternative images from major shoots, celebrated group compositions and more intimate, personal photographs.
Among our most exciting discoveries is Michael’s extraordinary 1964 Vietnam archive, photographed when he was just 23. Many of these powerful images have never previously been exhibited or offered for sale, revealing a fascinating, lesser-known side of his career.
There is also a wonderfully poetic quality to much of his work: unexpected encounters, fleeting moments and what we like to call “immortalised instants” - those unrepeatable fragments of everyday life that might otherwise have gone unnoticed.
All beautifully summed up in Michael’s favourite adage:
“Always keep a camera handy, every minute of your living day.”
A philosophy he certainly lived by, leaving us an extraordinary collection that we are still discovering today.
Alongside Michael’s authentic vintage prints, we are introducing new interpretations of his work: striking photographic prints on aluminium and handmade cyanotypes, created from his original negatives and transparencies using the Dordogne sunshine. Some are produced on vintage papers from Michael’s own photographic library, giving these historic materials a wonderful new lease of life.
Together, these works celebrate photographic history and contemporary creativity - from unique prints made by Michael himself to imaginative new interpretations of his archive.
We hope you enjoy discovering these photographs as much as we enjoy bringing them to light!
A Small Note About the Presentation Photographs
Some of our in situ illustrations showing artworks displayed in interiors have been created using artificial intelligence (AI).
These are intended simply to help you imagine how a piece might look in a home, office or gallery. Although we aim for faithful representations, proportions and scale may occasionally vary.
Please refer to the actual artwork photographs and stated dimensions for an accurate representation of your purchase.
A Personal Note About Packaging
We prepare and pack every artwork ourselves, taking great care to protect each piece with several layers of suitable materials.
To keep costs down and minimise waste, we reuse and upcycle packaging wherever possible. Your parcel may therefore contain recycled cardboard, protective sleeves, old photographic boxes or envelopes - occasionally even materials from Michael’s own photographic library!
And please don't be surprised if the outside looks rather plain, or even a little unattractive. This is often deliberate! We prefer valuable or irreplaceable artworks to travel as inconspicuously as possible.
One small favour: please unwrap your parcel slowly and carefully.
We sometimes use several layers of cardboard, paper and protective wrapping, secured with tape. Please take particular care when using scissors or a blade, as tape can occasionally catch on adjoining layers or items inside.
We would rather spend a little extra time protecting your purchase than risk damage in transit, and hope you will forgive our occasionally unconventional packaging!
After all, it's what's inside that matters, not the wrapping!
Every purchase helps us preserve, explore and share Michael’s remarkable photographic archive, while giving these images a new home and another chapter in their history.
For US Buyers
Customs duties and applicable import charges are paid at source and included in the shipping cost. No additional charges should normally be payable upon delivery, subject to changes in customs regulations.
Details
Date of print
2025
Artist
Michael Joseph (1941-)
Sold by
Owner or reseller
Title of artwork
Smirnoff office party, seventies group photo
Condition
Extremely fine
Technique
C-Print
Height
26 cm
Edition
C-type with black border
Width
38.5 cm
Signature
Hand signed
Genre
Pop Culture
Sold by
