A Large Mid 20thC Vintage Pressed Metal Rectangular Sign; 'Britannia'
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Origin: British
Period: Mid Twentieth Century
Provenance: Unknown
Date: c.1940-60
Width: 52 inches
Height: 12 inches
On a forest green ground with white border, the impressed bold white lettering reading Britannia hails from an unknown industrial Britannia works.
Ready to display, the sign is in good overall condition though with some areas of rust to the edges and discolouration around the letter ‘B’; giving the piece some feeling of age and authenticity and the overall patina is pleasing. There are several punched holes for mounting purposes.
Although we are unsure of the provenance, the sign is most likely to derive from an iron foundry or some other kind of industrial works. There are several ‘Britannia Works’ complexes in the UK, many now defunct, which range from coal mining to hat factories. The large dimensions of this sign indicate it would have been displayed externally on a very large and imposing building.
With the obvious and proud connotations of ‘Rule Britannia’ this piece of metalwork surely makes good for a large and decorative sign for the kitchen or elsewhere.
