Description
Original antique porcelain-on-steel advertising sign featuring Piedmont Cigarettes – "The Cigarette of Quality" alongside Brunswick Carom and Pocket Billiards advertising. This uncommon combination appears to have been intended for display in a billiard hall or pool room where Brunswick tables and Piedmont tobacco products were promoted together.
Measures approximately 30 inches long by 5 inches tall and is constructed from heavy porcelain-enameled steel approximately 0.055–0.060 inch thick.
The sign retains outstanding gloss and color with honest age-related wear including scattered edge chips, mounting wear around the grommets, and minor porcelain loss consistent with decades of display. The reverse retains its original gray porcelain enamel finish.
This sign has been carefully examined and researched. Based on its construction, porcelain characteristics, steel thickness, firing quality, edge wear, and mounting details, it is believed to be an authentic early twentieth-century porcelain advertising sign. While it has not been submitted to a professional authentication service, every observable construction detail is consistent with original period porcelain signs.
Please review all photographs carefully, as they are part of the description.
Features
Heavy porcelain enamel on steel
Approximately 30" × 5"
Approximately 0.055–0.060" thick steel
Original brass mounting grommets
Excellent color and gloss
Raised porcelain lettering
Original gray porcelain reverse
Honest age-related wear
Rare Brunswick / Piedmont combination
Year Manufactured: c. 1915–1930 (estimated)
An adult signature will be required upon delivery.
Why We Believe This Is Authentic
The following observations support our conclusion that this is an original antique porcelain sign:
Construction
✓ Heavy steel substrate measuring approximately 0.055–0.060 inch
✓ Thickness matches early porcelain advertising signs
✓ Correct folded porcelain edge profile
Porcelain Enamel
✓ True fired porcelain enamel—not paint
✓ Classic orange-peel porcelain texture
✓ Raised lettering from multiple porcelain firings
✓ Deep cobalt blue typical of early porcelain signs
✓ Original gray porcelain enamel on the reverse
Age Characteristics
✓ Natural edge chipping exposing black ground coat before steel
✓ Honest wear surrounding original mounting holes
✓ Brass grommets exhibit age-appropriate oxidation
✓ Dirt and oxidation embedded inside porcelain chips
✓ Random wear patterns rather than artificial distressing
Manufacturing Details
✓ Small firing imperfections
✓ Minor kiln speckling
✓ Slight glaze variations throughout the surface
✓ Correct porcelain wrap around the edges
What We Did NOT Find
No evidence of:
Screen printing
Vinyl overlay
Powder coating
Modern paint
Artificial rust
Laser printing
Reproduction steel
Recently installed hardware
Remaining Uncertainty
Because the sign has not been professionally authenticated in hand, we cannot state with absolute certainty that it is original.
The only remaining questions are:
No visible manufacturer's mark was found.
Additional historical documentation of this exact Brunswick/Piedmont advertising combination would further strengthen the attribution.
Based on the physical evidence alone, we estimate an extremely high probability that this is an authentic antique porcelain advertising sign.
Measures approximately 30 inches long by 5 inches tall and is constructed from heavy porcelain-enameled steel approximately 0.055–0.060 inch thick.
The sign retains outstanding gloss and color with honest age-related wear including scattered edge chips, mounting wear around the grommets, and minor porcelain loss consistent with decades of display. The reverse retains its original gray porcelain enamel finish.
This sign has been carefully examined and researched. Based on its construction, porcelain characteristics, steel thickness, firing quality, edge wear, and mounting details, it is believed to be an authentic early twentieth-century porcelain advertising sign. While it has not been submitted to a professional authentication service, every observable construction detail is consistent with original period porcelain signs.
Please review all photographs carefully, as they are part of the description.
Features
Heavy porcelain enamel on steel
Approximately 30" × 5"
Approximately 0.055–0.060" thick steel
Original brass mounting grommets
Excellent color and gloss
Raised porcelain lettering
Original gray porcelain reverse
Honest age-related wear
Rare Brunswick / Piedmont combination
Year Manufactured: c. 1915–1930 (estimated)
An adult signature will be required upon delivery.
Why We Believe This Is Authentic
The following observations support our conclusion that this is an original antique porcelain sign:
Construction
✓ Heavy steel substrate measuring approximately 0.055–0.060 inch
✓ Thickness matches early porcelain advertising signs
✓ Correct folded porcelain edge profile
Porcelain Enamel
✓ True fired porcelain enamel—not paint
✓ Classic orange-peel porcelain texture
✓ Raised lettering from multiple porcelain firings
✓ Deep cobalt blue typical of early porcelain signs
✓ Original gray porcelain enamel on the reverse
Age Characteristics
✓ Natural edge chipping exposing black ground coat before steel
✓ Honest wear surrounding original mounting holes
✓ Brass grommets exhibit age-appropriate oxidation
✓ Dirt and oxidation embedded inside porcelain chips
✓ Random wear patterns rather than artificial distressing
Manufacturing Details
✓ Small firing imperfections
✓ Minor kiln speckling
✓ Slight glaze variations throughout the surface
✓ Correct porcelain wrap around the edges
What We Did NOT Find
No evidence of:
Screen printing
Vinyl overlay
Powder coating
Modern paint
Artificial rust
Laser printing
Reproduction steel
Recently installed hardware
Remaining Uncertainty
Because the sign has not been professionally authenticated in hand, we cannot state with absolute certainty that it is original.
The only remaining questions are:
No visible manufacturer's mark was found.
Additional historical documentation of this exact Brunswick/Piedmont advertising combination would further strengthen the attribution.
Based on the physical evidence alone, we estimate an extremely high probability that this is an authentic antique porcelain advertising sign.