What were trade figures used for?

Merchants placed carved figures outside or inside their shops to signal specific trades to literate and illiterate customers alike. A Highland piper or tobacco figure told passers-by what goods were sold within. These pieces stood on pavements or counters as three-dimensional trademarks before modern illuminated signage existed.

How do I identify a display cabinet?

Shop display cabinets feature glazed doors and timber frames designed to showcase confectionery, sewing cottons, or tobacco products securely. They often include internal shelving and maker names incorporated into the woodwork or glass. Many examples utilise mahogany or walnut, reflecting the need for durable furniture in high-traffic retail environments.

Where were enamel signs placed?

Enamel signs were mounted on exterior brickwork, railway stations, and shop facades to advertise everyday goods like starch, tea, and sausages. Their weather-resistant glass coating protected the colours from rain and sunlight. Today, collectors hang these durable metal plates indoors as wall art reflecting commercial history.

What is sign-written furniture?

Sign-written furniture consists of standard shop fittings, cabinets, or domestic chests that received hand-painted commercial lettering for a specific merchant or agricultural merchant. This lettering identified the business owner directly on the timber surface. Later sign-writing sometimes appears on older pieces, merging the age of the cabinet with subsequent retail use.