Enamel Signs | A Small History
April 12th 2022
Enamel Signs (street jewellery) were originally crafted in the mid-1800s and were a means of advertising services, food, petrol, and other goods. They could be seen in many different applications, such as on buildings, trams, and railway stations. Often, streets were lined with each individual building having its own advertising sign.
The first commercial production of enamel signs began in Birmingham when Benjamin Baugh patented the process for producing signage named vitreous enamelling in 1859 at his Salt’s Patent Enamel Works in Bradford Street. The process is a method of fusing porcelain as powdered glass poured onto rolled iron plates (or later steel plates) whereby different layers of colours were added to the initial base coat colour, the lettering intricately hand stencilled. The signs were then heated to an extremely high temperature, and as the metal became porous, it allowed the liquid glass to seep into the openings, fusing the structure together. This process makes the finished product weatherproof, durable, vibrant, and attractive. For that little extra durability, occasionally, the signs were enamelled on the rear also.
Into the late 19th century, the industrial heartlands of the midlands became a hub of enterprising producers who were manufacturing signs in their thousands. With approximately 15 manufacturers, including Imperial Enamel, Stocal Enamels Ltd of Burton, JA Jordan & Sons Ltd and the Falkirk Iron Company, many faded away as quickly as they appeared, making some signs significantly more collectable than others. Moving through to the early 20th century and a mass influx of transportation and the growing presence of motor cars meant that businesses and retailers required better branding and better advertising. Competition meant that one sign always had to be better than the next with eye-catching visuals and simplistic designs. Today there is a huge collector’s market for signs as well as market for interior decorators as popping wall décor, people from all ages can enjoy the pieces whether it be for sentimental values, that trip down memory lane or for a new modern house to give it some colour and a focal point. A truly future-proof piece of advertising.
Owner at Jacksons Antique
I am an antique dealer and owner of Jacksons Antique, specialising in fine antiques with a particular focus on Japanese art and European decorative objects. With over a decade of experience in the antiques trade, I source and curate pieces for collectors across the UK, the United States, and the international market.
Working primarily online alongside select exhibitions, I am part of a newer generation of dealers helping to modernise the way antiques are researched, presented, and acquired. My approach is built on careful attribution, transparent descriptions, and historically grounded research so clients can buy with confidence.
Through Jacksons Antique, I aim to make important historic objects accessible to both established collectors and those developing their collections.
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