This embossed, lithographically printed tin Sunlight Soap sign is a particularly rare example of a sought after subject matter. This piece dates to the early 1900s and considering that these tin examples are far more vulnerable than their enamel counter parts it's lovely that it's survived at all. For me Sunlight's early 20th century marketing was amongst the best - a big, bold £1000 sit's above a beautifully detailed depiction of their packaging. The typography is wonderful (particularly the swirly serifs on 'Sunlight'), the writing and pictorials equally brilliant. 

 

The sign definitely shows signs of it's age, the painted (printed) surface has faded and worn thin, particularly on the raised lettering and around the outer border. The white lettering on the packet has surface rust leeching through muting it's impact and there's a heavy scattering of surface scratches. It's a lot 'darker' than the vibrant piece it would have originally been, but it remains fully legible and in my opinion now was a wonderfully antique aesthetic and would look very at home amongst Victorian country / folk decor or as a statement piece in a more modernist setting. 

 

The sign measures 51cm wide x 38.5cm high x 1cm deep.

 

S/N: #1282