In 1824, John Cadbury, a Quaker, began selling tea, coffee or drinking chocolate in Bull Street in Birmingham, England. From 1831 he moved into the production of a variety of cocoa and drinking chocolates... By 1878 the company were successful enough to buy a 14.5 acre estate (which they re-named the Bournville Estate) and to build their new factory, later surrounded by an idylic village. Throughout the 20th century the company continued to build on their success and became a true household name in England... 

 

Measuring in at 1.5m wide, this whooper of a Cadbury's enamel sign is a real statement piece with a beautifully simple design and a striking royal-blue and white colour-way (a personal favourite). The sign probably dates to the 1930s/'40s and has survived in fairly good condition; the blue background remains rich and even, the white lettering vibrant and the surface has a good, thick gloss. There are patches of enamel loss scattered across the sign and some surface scratching that is more noticeable under a raking light... In my opinion these defects add to the character of the piece without affecting it's impact or legibility... 

 

The sign has been mounted to a basic wooden frame and can be easily hung with the attached mirror plates or the frame work could be removed so that the sign can be directly mounted to a wall. 

The sign measuers 153cm wide x 45.5cm high and with the wooden framework is 2.5cm deep. 

 

S/N: #1145