Art & the Artist Bespoke Living

Ski Posters for Your Mountain & Ski Chalet

Elevate your mountain ski chalet style with these classic ski posters

Few activities make the snowy winter months more enjoyable than skiing. On a clear day with the winter sun on your face and an icy wind at your back, speeding down the slopes gives a thrill like no other. After an invigorating day on the piste or in the powder, arriving home to your luxury chalet filled with friends and family, a crackling fire, and all the comforts and conveniences of a five-star hotel truly raises the après-ski experience to new heights.

Chalets are mountain lodgings traditionally associated with Switzerland and other alpine regions of Europe. These picturesque homes are typically constructed from wood and feature sturdy, gently sloping roofs reinforced against heavy snowfall, often with widely overhanging eaves and decorative wooden elements. The origin of the Swiss chalet is a humble one. They were constructed as simple shelters for dairy farmers pasturing their cows at higher altitudes during the warm, if brief, summer season in the mountains. All winter long, these seasonal homes remained empty and thus were built to weather snowstorms unattended.

It wasn’t until the turn of the 20th century that the chalet came to represent luxurious slope-side lodging. Enterprising farmers had begun to open their unoccupied seasonal homes to hikers and skiers during the winter, and soon an alpine travel industry was born. By the 1930s, all-inclusive ski vacation packages were starting to entice travelers from all over the globe, and some even included accommodations in luxury chalets complete with hosts and catered meals. Christie’s January Ski Sale celebrates the golden age of mountain tourism with nearly 200 fine vintage posters advertising the most iconic ski resorts in Europe and North America. These stylish and striking graphics were designed to evoke the magic of a winter holiday when hung in travel agencies and train stations. Today, they add the perfect seasonal touch for turning your holiday home or chalet into a winter wonderland.

While the rustic early chalets lacked even basic conveniences like running water, the modern chalet can be packed with all the comforts and amenities you’d expect of a world-class resort. Jetted tubs, gourmet kitchens, heated floors, multi-car garages, pools, home theaters, and ample accommodations for guests are just some of the features shared by many luxury chalets. But that’s not all. The gorgeous views of snow-dusted ranges, the clean alpine air, and the ski-in/ski-out convenience offered by chalet living makes heading for the hills sound like just the thing this winter…especially when your chalet is decorated with festive vintage ski posters.

French Alp Fantasy

Perched high in the French Alps, this incredible chalet is located in a gated enclave just minutes away from Courchevel 1850, a rugged peak that’s part of Europe’s largest ski area. With three floors, this home provides plenty of room for relaxing after a day on the slopes. Its charming appearance and rustic wood and stone finishes offer plenty of traditional appeal, but this chalet updates the concept with refined décor in leather, cashmere, and glass. Amenities include a swimming pool and spa, home theater, elevator, and wine cellar. Residents can ski in and ski out with ease via its dedicated ski room equipped to handle all snowy gear. With nearby Mont Blanc rising in the distance, there’s hardly a more fitting tribute to Europe’s highest peak than this vibrant poster designed by Charles Hallo, known professionally as “Alo” (1884-1969).
Lot 164 Alo (Charles Hallo, 1884-1969) CHAMONIX-MONT BLANC lithograph in colours, 1924, printed by Cornille & Serre, Paris, condition B+; backed on linen 411Ž2 x 30 in. (105 x 76 cm.) Estimate £4,000-6,000 © Christie’s Images Limited 2016
Lot 164 Alo (Charles Hallo, 1884-1969) CHAMONIX-MONT BLANC lithograph in colours, 1924, printed by Cornille & Serre, Paris, condition B+; backed on linen 411Ž2 x 30 in. (105 x 76 cm.) Estimate £4,000-6,000 © Christie’s Images Limited 2016
This masterful work captures the mountain in all its glory in a travel advertisement originally created for the resort region of Chamonix and printed by Cornille & Serre, Paris, in 1924. An intrepid skier is depicted mid-jump, demonstrating perfect form and nonchalant control, while dramatic, snow-covered mountains loom large in the background.

Schweiz on the Prize

This mountain estate in the heart of Italian-speaking Switzerland is a far cry from the farmer’s modest chalet. At five stories, the luxury lodge attains rarefied heights when it comes to mountainside accommodations. Elegant timberwork inside and out bring warmth to the home along with the charm of traditional Swiss craftsmanship. This rare alpine gem will treat residents to spa-like luxury with its wellness area featuring a massive swimming pool, dazzling hammam, fitness room, and massage space. Details like fine stonework and Asian-inspired décor offer a touch of the unexpected and exotic. With an expansive wine cellar, gourmet kitchen, and seven-car garage, this estate offers the perfect place to host winter gatherings with family and friends. To the German-speaking Swiss, Canton Ticino is known as the Sonnenstube (sun porch) of Switzerland due to its mild alpine climate and sunny weather year-round. This poster advertising St. Moritz by Alois Carigiet (1902-1985) encourages one to venture out and enjoy the sunshine, especially in the long winter months.
Lot 117 Alois Carigiet (1902-1985) ST. MORITZ lithograph in colours, 1932, printed by Wolfsberg, Zürich, condition B+; backed on linen 40 x 251Ž2 in. (102 x 65 cm.) Estimate: £3,000-5,000 © Christie’s Images Limited 2016
Lot 117 Alois Carigiet (1902-1985) ST. MORITZ lithograph in colours, 1932, printed by Wolfsberg, Zürich, condition B+; backed on linen 40 x 251Ž2 in. (102 x 65 cm.) Estimate: £3,000-5,000 © Christie’s Images Limited 2016
Printed in 1932 by Wolfsberg, Zürich, it offers a reminder that it’s always wise to stay alert on the slopes. A smiling woman sporting a bright yellow ski ensemble stands ready to throw the snowball she’s holding in her hand.

Alpine America

Europe isn’t the only place to find a luxury chalet. Plenty of mountain towns in the United States and Canada boast rugged alpine architecture, much of it featuring distinctly North American details. Colorado is one of the best places for skiing in the American West. This six-bedroom home in Telluride, Colorado, inspired by the traditional chalet in its rustic log construction and balconies, offers views of the nearby Northern Peaks. On the main floor, a roomy, open-plan living area surrounds a monumental stone fireplace. Natural light streams in through the massive windows and French doors in practically every room. Downstairs is perfect for cozy family gatherings around the fireplace or the saloon-inspired bar. A classic poster advertising Sun Valley, Idaho, by Dwight Shepler (1905-1974) circa 1950 demonstrates that downhill skiing has become a fundamental part of winter sports in the United States.
Lot 194 DWIGHT SHEPLER (1905-1974) SUN VALLEY offset lithograph in colours, c. 1950 Estimate: £3,000 – 5,000 © Christie’s Images Limited 2016
Lot 194 DWIGHT SHEPLER (1905-1974) SUN VALLEY offset lithograph in colours, c. 1950 Estimate: £3,000 – 5,000 © Christie’s Images Limited 2016
While Western explorers first charted peaks in the mountain states in the 1800s, it wasn’t until after World War II, when American troops returned from Europe with a taste for downhill skiing, that the ski industry really took off. Today, some of the world’s top skiers call places like Colorado home, and American mountains hold their own when ranked with the prized peaks of Europe.