ROYAL HUMANE SOCIETY'S APPARATUS - ENAMEL SIGN
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The Royal Humane Society was founded in England in 1774 as 'the Society for the Recovery of Persons Apparently Drowned' - it's purpose was rendering first aid in cases of near drowning. By the end of the 19th century the society had upwards of 280 depots throughout the UK, supplied with life-saving apparatus.
This enamel sign dates to the early 20th century, it has a classic and striking blue and white colourway and the thick enamel layers and deep surface gloss that one would hope to find with an early piece of enamel signage. In the early 1900s, the Society would have had stations containing first aid equipment dotted along the Thames and this would probably have been displayed above one of those stations. The mentioned office at Watergate House, Adelphi, London is an indicator of the sign's age - by the 1940s Watergate House was the first home of GCHQ so this piece is pre-dates that change in Watergate Houses' ownership. I suspect it dates to the 1910s/'20s.
The sign has survived the decades very well, the white enamel layer remains vibrant and there are minimal losses; a small scattering along the outer edges, one patch to the lower left, one on the 'H' of Humane and one small area to the left of the crown. There's an area of 'blooming' to the blue on the left side of the sign, the photographic lighting has highlighted / emphasised this and it's generally not as noticable in person. Generally the white enamel layer is wonderfully vibrant and the piece has a lovely gloss.
The sign measures 86.5cm wide x 36cm high.
S/N: #0920
c1633b25-747d-307a-e7e1-116e0668580d
c1633b25-747d-307a-e7e1-116e0668580d
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