The iconic imagery that once adorned the sides of local garages and and shops the length and breadth of the country in order to advertise their merchandise. The beautiful biscuit, confectionary and tobacco tins that lined the shelves of 19th Century and early 20th Century shops, all considered a utilitarian necessity in a world pre digital marketing and plastic. Now these beautiful and iconic pieces of artwork are in high demand for their importance in the world of early consumerism and just because they look great ! They now have a new lease of life adorning the walls of domestic kitchens, loft apartments and trendy restaurants and bars as artwork in their own right. Here at Fieldings, we have a wealth of experience selling advertising wares including enamel signs, show cards and ephemera with great success. So 2022 sees the opening of a new department dedicated to all things advertising related. Whether it be a single enamel sign or a collection of pre-war tins, we’d be happy to discuss auction values and potential sales. Read more
We offer a free valuation service every Tuesday, 10am-4pm at our saleroom, strictly by appointment, as well as events in other venues.
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Alison's most memorable find - In 2013, on a valuation day, a gentleman came into our Tuesday valuation day with a car full of enamel signs – it transpired the gentleman’s family had been involved with the demolition of various factories and shops in and around the West Midlands in the 1950s and 1960s. His job was to collect anything salvageable, which included the enamel signs and posters. Lot 36 in our July 2013 sale was a Webbs of Wordsley enamel sign, it had been cut down to the shape of an arched window and used to replace a damaged pane. It sold for £340. The gentleman was amazed that someone wanted it and paid that much for it, I was amazed that something so amazing had been used in this way!
Alison's dream find - – I would love to see some of the late 19th Century promotional pieces that came from the chocolate factories of the time (especially Cadburys) – the mirrors, the shop counter tins and the beautiful pictorial posters and enamel signs.
An early 20th Century enamelled advertising sign for Webbs Seeds of Wordsley, Stourbridge - SOLD £340
Carlton Ware - A Guinness advertising lamp modelled as a black sea lion holding a globe shade - SOLD £250
A large enamel advertising sign Webbs' Seeds, Wordsley Stourbridge - SOLD £1,350
An early 20th Century pictorial advertising poster for The Wolverhampton & Dudley Breweries Ltd - SOLD £2,000
A 1920s pictorial cardboard advertising shop display sign for North British 'Clincher' Motor Tyres, the artwork by J. Grainger - SOLD £850
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