James Spratt was an American entrepreneur and his company Spratt's was the first 'large-scale manufacturer of dog biscuits'... As this sign suggests he didn't just limit his range to canine customers but also produced bird seeds and parrot food! 

 

The production number in the lower right corner of this sign shows that it was produced in July 1910 which correlates to the Victorian / Edwardian fashion for keeping parrots as pets. A lovely, early example of enamel signage which, like many of Spratt's early signs, has beautiful shading and shadowing around the typography. Spratt's produced their own signage and this is marked as such in the lower left.

 

Parrot Food is one of the more fun and unusual subject matters for enamel advertising and this example survives in remarkably good condition; especially for an early piece. 

A couple of small chips to the main face and a little corrosion around the outer edges but generally it's vibrant, glossy and displays fantastically. 

 

The sign measures 75.5cm wide x 50cm high. 

 

S/N: #2183