Michael Joseph (1941-) - Offley Orgy, unique sepia-toned print
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€ 34
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Selected by Elena Vaninetti
Has over ten years of experience in art, specialising in post-war photography and contemporary art.
Estimate € 500 - € 600
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Description from the seller
“Offleys – Knebworth House”
Michael Joseph, 1966
Original darkroom print, signed
A theatrical feast — lavish, unruly, and alive with character.
At first glance, it feels like a lost painting:
a great hall glowing with candlelight,
tables heavy with food and silverware,
and guests in period costume filling every inch of the frame.
But step closer — and the scene crackles with Michael Joseph’s unmistakable wit.
This is no quiet banquet.
It is a riot of gesture and chatter:
a woman raises her goblet in wild enthusiasm,
a servant leans in with a platter,
musicians strike up a tune in the corner,
and the gallery above teems with onlookers
peering down at the commotion below.
Joseph revels in the chaos.
Every face in the crowd is performing a story,
every object a piece of deliberate clutter:
the candelabra tilting in mid-toast,
the heaped dishes,
the gleaming pewter,
and the richly carved architecture of Knebworth House
holding the entire spectacle together like a stage set.
Created as an advertisement for Offley’s,
this photograph transforms a simple commercial commission
into a full-blown historical fantasia —
a scene that feels part Hogarth, part theatre,
and entirely Joseph.
The warm sepia toning heightens the illusion of antiquity,
while the composition — dense, energetic, masterfully controlled —
reveals the photographer’s genius for orchestrating complexity.
This is the same imaginative flair
that would soon lead to his legendary work with The Rolling Stones,
where he again turned a dining hall into a world of stories.
Printed in the late sixties, this original
darkroom print remains a rare surviving piece
from one of Joseph’s most ambitious advertising productions,
preserved in the artist’s archive
and released by his daughter.
Mounted to 50 × 40 cm.
It will be packaged with great care and devotion,
with the same respect given to every unique, vintage print
from Michael Joseph’s personal collection.
Seller's Story
My father, Michael Joseph, was an advertising photographer based in London from the mid-sixties to the early nineties. During that time, he created some truly remarkable work — his most famous moment being the Beggars Banquet gatefold for the Rolling Stones.
My ongoing mission is to share and celebrate what we call 'the other photos' — the lesser-known but equally captivating pieces from his archive. Within this collection, you'll find a mix of test prints, images from specific photo shoots, and more personal works, all created with his characteristic passion and devotion.
Many of these images owe their atmosphere to the magic of the darkroom: intricate group scenes, striking still lifes, and moments that draw the viewer in and stir emotion. Variety is key - and I often offer unique, one-off pieces.
I hope you enjoy discovering my father’s work, and I look forward to sending you a genuine piece of photographic history.
Translated by Google Translate“Offleys – Knebworth House”
Michael Joseph, 1966
Original darkroom print, signed
A theatrical feast — lavish, unruly, and alive with character.
At first glance, it feels like a lost painting:
a great hall glowing with candlelight,
tables heavy with food and silverware,
and guests in period costume filling every inch of the frame.
But step closer — and the scene crackles with Michael Joseph’s unmistakable wit.
This is no quiet banquet.
It is a riot of gesture and chatter:
a woman raises her goblet in wild enthusiasm,
a servant leans in with a platter,
musicians strike up a tune in the corner,
and the gallery above teems with onlookers
peering down at the commotion below.
Joseph revels in the chaos.
Every face in the crowd is performing a story,
every object a piece of deliberate clutter:
the candelabra tilting in mid-toast,
the heaped dishes,
the gleaming pewter,
and the richly carved architecture of Knebworth House
holding the entire spectacle together like a stage set.
Created as an advertisement for Offley’s,
this photograph transforms a simple commercial commission
into a full-blown historical fantasia —
a scene that feels part Hogarth, part theatre,
and entirely Joseph.
The warm sepia toning heightens the illusion of antiquity,
while the composition — dense, energetic, masterfully controlled —
reveals the photographer’s genius for orchestrating complexity.
This is the same imaginative flair
that would soon lead to his legendary work with The Rolling Stones,
where he again turned a dining hall into a world of stories.
Printed in the late sixties, this original
darkroom print remains a rare surviving piece
from one of Joseph’s most ambitious advertising productions,
preserved in the artist’s archive
and released by his daughter.
Mounted to 50 × 40 cm.
It will be packaged with great care and devotion,
with the same respect given to every unique, vintage print
from Michael Joseph’s personal collection.
Seller's Story
My father, Michael Joseph, was an advertising photographer based in London from the mid-sixties to the early nineties. During that time, he created some truly remarkable work — his most famous moment being the Beggars Banquet gatefold for the Rolling Stones.
My ongoing mission is to share and celebrate what we call 'the other photos' — the lesser-known but equally captivating pieces from his archive. Within this collection, you'll find a mix of test prints, images from specific photo shoots, and more personal works, all created with his characteristic passion and devotion.
Many of these images owe their atmosphere to the magic of the darkroom: intricate group scenes, striking still lifes, and moments that draw the viewer in and stir emotion. Variety is key - and I often offer unique, one-off pieces.
I hope you enjoy discovering my father’s work, and I look forward to sending you a genuine piece of photographic history.
Translated by Google TranslateDetails
Date of print
1969
Artist
Michael Joseph (1941-)
Sold by
Owner or reseller
Title of artwork
Offley Orgy, unique sepia-toned print
Condition
Original State
Technique
Gelatin-silver print
Height
27 cm
Edition
Grainy darkroom print by the photographer
Width
36 cm
Signature
Hand signed
Genre
Fine art photography
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