Measuring 6ft wide and 3ft high, this early Earles & King Ltd, Liverpool enamel sign is a real statement piece. The company are listed as being 'seed crushers' and according to this sign were 'manufacturers of pure linseed cake, cottonseed cakes, compound feeding cake and all descriptions of meals'. I've never seen another example of this sign and it's very likely that it was produced in small quantities / is perhaps even a one-off. Judging from the styling and manufacture, it's likely that this sign dates from the early 1900s - about as early as enamel signage comes. 

 

A wonderfully bold piece, in the iconic blue and white colourway with some lovely styling details... This sign has survived the decades in decent order considering it's size - the lower corners have both suffered some damage and enamel loss and there's further enamel loss and some discolouration around the outer edges as well as some weathering / mottling to the blue enamel background - however in my opinion, this all adds to the charm / character of the piece. The sign has been mounted to a chunky, dark stained timber frame work - it's not quite the way I'd mount an enamel sign, but it's been done well and is effective so I've decided to leave it be. With the framework, the sign sits flat and with the addition of mirror plates or similar could be wall mounted with ease. It's worth noting that, as is typical with early enamel signage, thicker base metal was used and subsequently this is a weighty piece so some consideration would have to be given to the suitability of the structure you'd be hanging it from or consider sitting it on a surface and using mirror plates to stop it falling fowards...

 

The sign measures 183cm (6ft) wide x 92.5cm (3ft) high x approx 4.5cm deep.

 

S/N: #1100