VINTAGE ENAMEL SIGNS

Enamel signs originated in the mid 1800s as a form of advertisement for food, household items, petrol and a variety of services in the United Kingdom. Before the emergence of all-in-one supermarkets and multi-product stores, specialist shops selling only one type of product were usually the norm. Hence, enamel signs became an effective advertising tool to indicate to shoppers where they can find specific products they were looking for.

Also known as ‘street jewellery’, enamel signs were made through the process of vitreous enamelling where coloured glass were fused to iron plates. Since enamel signs were often displayed in the outdoors, vitreous enamelling also ensured that the enamel signs were waterproof and able to last long. In addition, catchy phrases of specific products were also included in the brightly coloured enamel signs thus making enamel signs an effective branding tool for companies to set them apart from other similar products.

In The Public Galley’s enamel collection, the enamel signs on display will give you an insight to the daily lives of the middle-class consumers in the 1800s to the mid 1900s before they were replaced by temporary advertising hoardings in the 1950s.