Opera Disc Company (Germany) / 1921
Corporate background:
In 1921, German-owned Opera Disc took
advantage of a pre-WWI arrangement with Victor to market
recordings of classical music in the U.S., but within a year
was prevented from doing so by Victor.
Design: Images
of females plucking stringed instruments seems to have been a
popular motif for German-designed labels (see Homokord, Homophon, Odeon).
The rise of German nationalism during the
late 19th and into the early years of the 20th century had led
to a popularization of pagan mythology, furthered by the music
of Richard Wagner, and a longing for the trappings of the
greatness of past empires.
Also, the relatively new science of
archaeology, which had brought to light many astounding
artifacts of ancient times, had generated extreme popular
interest in the ancient world.