Hawthornes Antiques

Description

Painted pine board with hand decoration advertising the business of J D Hamon Ltd. Dating from the late 19th, early 20th century we do know quite a bit of its history.

We purchased the piece from a descendant of the family and it was quite literally a shed find, for at least the previous 40 years it had been used as a shelf!

J D Hamon were the in the market business based in Birmingham’s wholesale market. This sign would have hung above their large pitch where they supplied flowers to the cities many traders and shops.

We love this piece, so decorative and evocative of the period. Painted in a near black colour that has now aged to a crocodile skin texture with highlighted lettering and gilt detail to the moulding. It has naturally picked up further bumps and wear during its working lifetime and we do like the knowledge of why there has been a piece cut out of the top edge, just above the J......it was because a pipe had to be run through the area this hung so a piece was removed to accommodate!

To the bottom edge reads H. Pountney Ltd 315, Bradford Street. This is an area of Birmingham not far from the area of the wholesale market and we presume they were the signwriters for this piece.

Double sided with one side showing more wear due to its use as a shelf.