{"product_id":"a-rare-collection-of-four-victorian-tole-servants-call-bell-signs","title":"A Rare Collection of Four Victorian Tole Servants’ Call Bell Signs","description":"\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eA rare surviving collection of four original Victorian japanned tole servants’ call bell signs, formerly mounted beside a mechanical servants’ bell board within a large country house or institutional building.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eMade from thin japanned sheet iron and hand-painted in gilt lettering upon a black ground, the collection comprises:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-style: italic;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eDRAWING ROOM\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-style: italic;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eWAITING ROOM\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-style: italic;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eOFFICE\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-style: italic;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003ePARLOR\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eEach sign retains its original fixing holes and displays the honest wear, oxidation and untouched patination expected from many decades of practical use.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eBefore the widespread introduction of electric bell systems, large country houses relied upon complex mechanical servants’ call bell installations. A pull on a bell cord from one of the principal rooms activated a corresponding bell within the servants’ hall or butler’s pantry. Painted iron signs such as these were mounted adjacent to the individual bells, allowing servants to identify immediately which room required attention.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eAlthough mechanical bell systems once formed an essential part of every substantial household, very few of the associated signs survive today. Most were discarded when houses were modernised during the twentieth century, making complete or near-complete groups increasingly difficult to find.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eOne particularly interesting feature is the spelling \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e“Parlor”\u003c\/span\u003e rather than the now more familiar British \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e“Parlour.”\u003c\/span\u003eAlthough today the spelling is generally associated with American English, \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e“Parlor” continued to be used in Britain throughout the nineteenth century and appears regularly in Victorian British newspapers, advertisements and trade catalogues alongside “Parlour.”\u003c\/span\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eA particularly attractive and increasingly scarce collection of original Victorian servants’ call bell signs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eMeasuring:  \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eEngland, circa 1860–1890\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p5\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition:\u003c\/b\u003e Untouched original condition with expected surface wear, minor paint loss, oxidation and age-related patination consistent with long practical use. They have not been over-cleaned or restored, preserving their originality and character.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rob Hall Antiques","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48092220424357,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1151\/3980\/files\/IMG_8288_954098a3-4923-4834-8bc3-b573bfbc9413.jpg?v=1785944635","url":"https:\/\/robhallantiques.com\/products\/a-rare-collection-of-four-victorian-tole-servants-call-bell-signs","provider":"Rob Hall Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}