Hofbrau

Object/Artifact

-

Museum of Neon Art

Name/Title

Hofbrau

Entry/Object ID

2004.12.1

Description

Sequentially-animated sign from a bar in Oakland, CA. Text: "HOFBRAU"

Category

Signs

Made/Created

Date made

circa 1950 - 1959

Dimensions

Height

80 in

Width

6 ft

Depth

13 in

Dimension Notes

Double-sided. 33 amps. Transformers: 5/15k 5/12k 1/9k

Materials

Material Notes

15mm layered glass

Exhibition

There’s More to Neon Signs than Liquor, Motels & Live Nude Girls

Interpretative Labels

Label

Hofbrau 1950s Gift of Rick Mitchell, 2004 Of all of MONA’s animated neon signs, The Hofbrau from Oakland, California is among its most complex. The tubes are almost all original to the sign and intricately bent in layer upon layer. Imagine the animation as our friendly, blond and blue-eyed bartender pulls a tap and fills a beer glass until it foams on top. He then turns his head to the viewer and reveals a great, big smile. And don’t forget this neon sign is also double-sided. It’s spectacular!