Strikingly simple and charmingly weathered - this trade sign for J. C. Lee & Son is likely to date to the turn of the century - late Victorian / Edwardian. It's been competently / professionally sign-written and would have been displayed in front of a shop / warehouse / stall... 

Slightly unusually, there are no clues as to what J. C. Lee & Son did - usually these signs would include details of the trade / profession; 'confectioner', 'tobacconist' etc but in this instance there's nothing ... The woodwork is finished on all four sides and original, so it's not been cut down - perhaps there was a secondary sign or perhaps their reputation went before them! 

 

The sign has clearly spent a chunk of it's life outside and exposed to the elements, the wood has split in areas, a bit of trim is missing from the left side and the paintwork has weathered but the lettering remains crisp. In my opinion, this genuine, natural aging is all part of the charms of the piece. 

 

It measures 163cm wide x 39cm high x 7cm deep and can be hung using the later mirror plates attached. 

 

S/N: #0858