This striking pictorial enamel sign for "Black Cat Cigarettes" is one of the iconic pieces of early 20th century enamel advertising. 

 

The Black Cat cigarette was introduced in 1904 and was one of the first machine-made cigarettes manufactured in Britain. The cat was used in some of the earliest cigarette promotions and an intensive marketing campaign ran from the cigarette's introduction through the first world war, only stopping when production was paused during the second world war. 

 

This sign is likely to date to the 1920s, it's survived the decades in decent order though there are some patches of enamel loss and corrosion; mainly around the outer edges of the sign but also with a hole just below the 'Black Cat' title. 

Although initially the cat looks like a silhouette there's surprising amounts of detail with fur and whiskers achieved through subtly contrasting black and grey enamel layers. In this example the grey enamel layer has lost some of it's gloss along the left side of the cat's face giving more of a contrast than usual. 

Despite some deterioration the sign does retain it's vibrant colours and a generally good gloss. They key areas of the cats face and the pictorial of the cigarettes / packet all remain in good order and it hangs / displays well. 

 

The sign measures 92cm high x 61cm wide 

 

S/N: #1596