Antique Avon Brilliant Polish Advertising Door Plate – c.1910s–1920s

Antique Avon Brilliant Polish Advertising Door Plate – c.1910s–1920s

20 cm tall

8 cm wide

A wonderfully characterful piece of early British advertising, this we believe original tin door plate promotes Avon Brilliant Polish for Boots and Leggings.

The tall, narrow plate has a rich mustard-yellow ground framed in dark green, with bold black lettering and a detailed illustration of the original green Avon polish tin. The pictured product was advertised as a “High Class Boot Polish” suitable for glacé, box calf and other leathers, promising to preserve and waterproof the leather.

Four original fixing holes show that this was intended to be mounted on a shop or business door as a combined advertising sign and protective finger plate. In period use, “leggings” referred to leather gaiters and protective lower-leg coverings worn by soldiers, riders and outdoor workers rather than modern clothing.

Maker history

The polish-tin illustration names Wheatley’s Leather Stores of Evesham. Other surviving Avon polish tins identify Arthur H. Wheatley Ltd of Evesham as the sole manufacturer. The Wheatley family had a long association with bootmaking, leather goods and footwear retailing in Evesham, with Arthur H. Wheatley recorded at Paris House, 43 High Street, in 1887 and later trading from 24 High Street. Specialist research dates this style of Avon polish tin to before 1928, making a cautious date of approximately the 1910s to 1920s appropriate for the plate.

Please note that this Avon brand is unrelated to the later cosmetics company.

Condition

The plate remains highly decorative, with strong colours and clearly legible wording. It displays genuine age and use, including scratches, scuffs, small areas of paint loss, surface marks and wear around the edges and fixing holes. The unpainted reverse has tarnishing, staining, scratches and old residue. These imperfections give it a pleasing, authentic patina and have not been disguised or digitally removed from the photographs.

Ww believe this is an original item heavier and the words and paint round the edge shows age

A scarce and appealing piece of advertising history, ideal for a collection of antique signs, shoe-care memorabilia, militaria-related displays or vintage shop fittings.