J. Lyons & Co. were best known for their chain of tea shops which opened from 1894 and finally closed in 1981, and for the Lyons Corner Houses in the West End of London. From the 1930s Lyons began to develop a pioneering range of teas, coffees, cocoas, biscuits and cakes that were sold in grocery stores across the world.

 

Here we have a smaller sized, double-sided "Lyons' Tea Sold Here" enamel sign in the company's iconic blue and orange colour-way. This is a nice, early sign - likely to date to the 1920s/'30s. Originally this would have been a flanged sign - designed to stick out from the wall at 90 degrees and be seen in both directions. At some point a long time ago, the flange was neatly removed and fixing holes drilled into each corner. It now displays beautifully fixed flat to the wall or can be hung in a doorway or window so both sides can be seen. This is a particularly good example with strong colours and a truly fantastic surface gloss (see the angled photos where I've tried to capture this). There's a small amount of enamel loss around the outer edges and some minor blemishes to the main faces but generally both sides remain in excellent order. 

The sign measures 46cm wide x 30.5cm high.

 

S/N: #1665