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This is nothing short of an incredible vintage find! Authentic & exceedingly rare, this vintage drugstore pharmacy sign hails from Chicago, Illinois, and was hand painted for use in the early to mid-1950’s. Norwell Drug Company was situated at the intersection of North Avenue & Wells Street (hence the name Nor-Well Drug Company) during that time — 172 North Avenue, to be exact. At that time, this reverse painted glass sign hung right outside their store.
Reverse painted signs, though a rare practice, were highly sought after in early & mid-century America. In order to display the words and logos properly, the backside of these glass signs have to have the words mapped out backwards. The backwards letters, logos, & images are then painstakingly painted by hand before drying for use.
CONDITION
This item is in fair condition, with damage that is commensurate with its age. As seen in the listing photos, the paint on this sign has incurred a significant amount of wear over the years, which has resulted in parts of the paint fading. The glass sign itself is in good condition; there are some areas of glass that are chipped around the perimeter of the glass, but overall, it’s still solidly structurally intact. The lettering on the sign is still very much visible & it can certainly be displayed in its current condition.
DIMENSIONS
•Length: 25.5-inches
•Width: 0.25-inches
•Height: 15-inches
